A Good Stand by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 4, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 46.

A Good Stand.

By Editor

WE have had occasion several times to make severe strictures on the California Christian Advocate, and we are therefore the more pleased to note the good stand it has taken concerning the frivolous sociables which are disgracing the church. In its last issue it says:—

“WE have noticed a painful tendency to make long programmes for church sociables, which sometimes utterly prevent any sociability, and often include performances of very doubtful propriety for anybody, much more for Christians. We have unalterably resolved not to publish, recommend, nor praise any such performance. We consider voting gifts to the prettiest young lady and the handsomest gentleman as frivolous and ungenteel, and all lotteries as immoral, and mere silliness as demoralizing, and in the name of Christ, we protest against them. We have long contemplated making such a statement as this.

“No modest or cultured lady could find herself the victim of a foolish contest, and be auctioned off as the prettiest woman in the crowd, without a sense of the deepest humiliation and disgust, and no gentleman can wish to be a party to a pitiful device of the kind. We shall not advertise such things. If this resolution brings on the Advocate adverse criticism, well! We cannot be a party to frivolity and immorality to please anybody.”