The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-04-20

morals and religion, as it is equally injuri-
Gus to both, and discountenance it.
What is scandal ? To satisfy ourselves
on this point, we need only consider its con-
stitucnt parts, and they are all uncomely,
viz: acquaintance with the affairs of our
neighbors, Contrary to the injunction to
mind our own busincss); apleasure in hear
ing their sins, shortcomings and foibles
commented on and discussed rash judg-
mcnts passed upon imperfect knowledge of
facts; and last, though far from least, the
satisfaction of having discovered that 9th
ers are, if not worse, Mt least as bad as our
selves. IF such be the nature Of the vice,
what must the motives be which prompt TO
its indul lgcncc2 What but ''cnvy, hatred,
and malice, and uncharitablcncSs" Or, il
it go not to this extent, it must be ascribetl
to the coolest Indifference for the feelings of
others, or the gross self>hncss of cleaning
amusement from the contemplation of the
sutlcrngs or the degradation Of our fellow
men.
Other vices stand alone in their dcfnrm-
ity, and their unhappy victims are shut
out, as it were, from their fellows by ban
-lepcrs without the camp; but the scan
dal.monger is permitted TO pass among the
best and purcs:, and to drop poison and
death unrcbuked, when aud where he will
alas too often 4 not unwelcome guest
Scandal is a respectable sin; in fact, ii
often puts on the garb Of the grave moral
censor, not unfrequcntly Of the gricved and
wounded friend-under cover, not openly,
but urging on the work of ruin with con
cealcd dagger. Legitimate scandal is al
ways filled with regret; and the piquant
dish, for which one or dozen regulations
have been ruthlcssly slain, is served up with
a salad Of sighs and sanctimonious reluc-
tance, that would fain hide the secret tri-
umph that turks beneath. Your true Cos
sip is never mistaken; should any lucliless
wight have the temerity TO hint such a
thing, the best authority is always at hand
to put him down. No lawyers brief is
more carefully prepared tLan the Gossip's
material for case. There is this difference,
however: your gossip never appears for the
in hand it is the dark, not the bright side
of the shield it falls to its lot to behold
AS the bee is said to possess the power of
extracting honey from poisonous flowers, so
the slandcrer may be said to have the fac
u!ty Of extracting poison from the fiirest,
sweetest blossoms.
Society smarts under this evil rs under a
scorpion lash; the Church, and every hon
est, good man need to mourn over it in
dust and ashes. Of what state of morals
is the prevalence of such vice indicative
Of apurity of garments and washing of
hands, an inward ravcning and cruelty !;
a Righteousness Of having name to live
while it is dead Of hypocrisy that for a
pretence puts on long face. The soul of
genuine godliness, as found in the truth, is
love--tender, forgiving, all-embracing love.
How opposed, in essepce, to the spirit of
censorious, backbiting, slanderous scandal !
How can the heart, that has dared to call
Jesus LORD, entertain for moment the
spirit, or encourage in others the practice of
this shameless, degraded and degrading sina
Alas! even in the christians heart the SER
pent whispers still-''the ghost Of evil will
not down..
Yet for this, as all else of sin, there is an
antidotc. 'fis love-love divine. Let ev-
cry lover of his species, and every lover OF
God seek it-scek to have it in the heart,
warm from the fountain-seek, all, strive to
pour it into that Of thy neighbor, and in
this atmosphere Of heaven thou wilt learn
that charity Which ''hopeth all things, en-.
dareth all things" and be assimilated to
Him who forgiveth iniqqitys transgression
and, sin, is long suffering and of tender
mercy. 7: 81. -; =,
Scandal is the breath, the pestilential
breath, Of the. bottomleess pit, and as it is
breathed upon the fairest fertile fields rem
ders them sterile and barren of all good:szs
There is no character who deserves so much
to BE- shut out from all decent, ,fefned, And
christian CHRIST society, WHethsr appearing ip the
garb Of the highest profession made on