A Minister’s View of Donation Parties.
By P. Strong
In a work entitled Views of Donations, by Rev. T. Spiers, p. 74, I find the following:— 1. “I think it is a difficult matter to have such a general gathering of professors and non-professors, without making it an occasion for a great deal of sport and nonsense, if not real sin. I have witnessed several such occasions, when my heart has been much pained in observing what was transacted. I have known many preachers deeply affected that their houses should be made a place of plays and vain amusement for young people. They felt that the dignity of the Christian ministry had been thereby really lowered, and religion disgraced, by such transactions under their roof.” 2. “There is a great inconsistency in this mode of raising the preacher’s support. It is called a donation, for which, of course, the preacher must return thanks to his friends, when, in fact, it is but paying him what is justly his due, and for what he has toiled hard.” 3. “In the absence of balls and theatrical amusements, such parties are very agreeable. They answer as substitutes. A dollar donated on such an occasion will obtain half its value in food, and the other half in fun. The latter will be considered very valuable; the more so for being enjoyed at the minister’s house, and under the sanction of the church.” 4. “Such donation visits often operate unjustly on some preachers; they will generally be made only to the people’s favorite.” 5. “It operates generally to the injury of the cause of God and the prosperity of the church. . . . Who among us will dare, under such circumstances, to preach the whole truth, and attack men’s vices, when such a course may rob them of their bread?” If the elder could see the present manner of raising means, he would realize that his fears were too true for the spirituality of the church. In one place where I labored, after the usual grab-bag, fish-pond, postoffice, and ring-cake, manner of raising means failed, they introduced a new invention to raise means. They called it the sleeping beauty. A corner being curtained off, the most beautiful young lady was robed for the night, and put to bed, the gentlemen having the privilege of taking a view for twenty-five cents apiece. The world would revolt at such a practice, if it were not sanctioned by the church. And this they call innocent amusement. A few years ago, while speaking on the second message in the village of Matherston, Eld. M. arose and said that I misrepresented the professors, and that they were not guilty of such things. I then referred him to one held that winter in his house, where the most of these games were played. He said, to justify himself before the people, that they did not have the grab-bag, but they had a fish-pond, and a right glorious good time fishing too. This appeared to be his highest view of glory, to fish with a pin hook for worthless objects. Christ said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21: 15. “I will make you fishers of men.”