Church Fairs and Giving
By Editor
THERE is so much that is right and commendable in the spirit and purpose of those who seek to secure money for the Lord's work through fairs and sales, that it is, for many, extremely difficult to see why the church fair should be unqualifiedly condemned. A long-time and appreciative reader in Missouri asks: "Why is it any more wrong for women to contribute of their baking, etc., to be sold for the church, than for a bakery or restaurant to give money to the church of which its proprietors are members?" The Lord's work ought to be supported by free-will giving, and by nothing else. Nothing but such giving is recognized or enjoined in the Scriptures. When people buy the cakes and pies that good women have baked for a church sale, these purchasers are not giving outright to the Lord, as they ought to do if they would help at all. They are getting a large return for their money. Thus the spirit of giving is stifled or corrupted by every church sale. The motive of the women who bake and work hard is good; but their method is harmful. The case of the bakery is entirely different. People are not asked to purchase its wares in order to help the Lord's work. They buy at the bakery in order to meet their own needs; the idea of giving is not confused with the transaction. If the proprietors of the bakery then wish to give to the church a portion or all of their profits, their action is an outright gift. Giving is giving; and buying is buying; and the two things can not mix. When the public is asked to buy in order to help that which ought to be supported only by gifts, the public is being robbed of its giving privileges.—Sunday School Times.