The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-08-08

TO get good" Now, how is it! The heavy
loaded wagons, borne heavily on by ex,
hausted mules or horses, having--m sempe,
the chicken coop jutting ont like prom.
onfory from the rear, come mp tn tent after
tent' and with cracking Of whips, the noisy
tramp of horses, tho creakinp of wheels
The bawling of servants, and unloading OF
boxes, barrels, bedding, &c, one is reminded
OF brigade encampmcnt where it is " out
OF order" to be quiet and orderly. And
instead of minds being solemnized by asso.
citation OF religious ideas, they become oc.
casionally tempted to speculate upon what
additional packing and preparation would
be necessary, as if the tent holder intended
to move to Alachua County" o, to Texas.
The whole morning or afternoon, a. The
c.,se may be, is taken up in fixing the tent.
The immediate neighborhood, and certainly
many ut the stand, (if religious exercises
should DC commenced,) are disturbed BY
the hustle and noise of these tent-holders
getting .fred. Hammcring, mailing, knock
ing, emitting, fastening the doors, bed plat.
torms' and roping horses, all combine to
DRIVE away devotion and proper regard for
the sacredness of stlic place. When their
tables are spread-look, what a feast lLfor
ahead of what the family usually enioys at
nome. You are reminded of a hotel. In
stead of household devoted to the service
OF God, where simplicity nnd good order
should prevail-A here ostentation, pride of
i'vlng-sinftil diligence in feasting-plu,.
tony and gay frivoIit should not be ,honght
oi-one Is reminded of gala day at pub.
lie house, or some free and easy picnic oc-
caslon. Surely this is n perversion Of n re
Ilgious Institution. is there not n sliobt
feeling of rivalry-a little spirit of emula.
ZION among the tent-hoders, in striving to
nave The finest eating, the best dinners, &c ?
Is there not something Of an effort, appa.
rent, to win word of comn,endation from
outsiders, for your table preparations !
What an ambition !-and what n place IN
show it! Is 1t not quite certain that the
promotion of good has far less to do with
such displays of provisions than the pride
OF life, and the vanity of the human heart
brethren of the Church, did you ever re-
hect upon the pernicious tendencies ot
these things? Have you not brought, This
means of grace into disrcputc Are you
sure that by your fat things. you have not
entirely driven away from these meetings
the spirit of goodly religion and hopeful
revivals? Think on It,! Look at the bus.
tic, the noise, and confusion about the rear
OF your tents on Saturday afternoon
What preparation for the Sabbath? How
much like Fourth of July celebration ?
How many chicken heads AMI feet, et ala,
cover the ground : Not being in the posi-
tion, or in the habit Of lecturing on religious
duty, desire TO say in earncstness and . in
sorro-," and with all due Difference, that the
kitchen yards Of our village hotels, during
court week, present scenes Of no greater
confusion than do some of your kitchen
grounds on Saturday evening. How many
OF the rcmi'y sray away rom tne s,ilr. a, I'm
order to, provide good things for the Sab.
bath! Wonld'it not have been fur better
for your servants TO have remained at home.
and spent the day, at least, in harmless rest
than to keep them cooking and stewing all
day, over hot fret. Do you not make
your servants and portions of your family
violate every Sabbath spent at Salem !
What account will you render for dcpriy-
ing these undeEyou, of religious privileges I
What sincerity can be attached to your ef-
forts to save the souls of strangers, when
you drive your own household into the
downward road! Your care and anxiety
for your table OIL the Sabbath, swallow up
all your religious interest. When LOCKER
On, sees member of tho Church, busting
about her tent, toiling to make great pre-
parations-worrying her life out about the
little petty things not worth thought
Volunteered about much serring," neglecting
the exercises at the stand, with no voice of
praise in her tent, raised to hush the piddy
laugh and buzz of the inronsideratc crowd,
and compares her with her neighbor, who is
quiet, composed, taking things easily, who
has not come up as TO camp feast, but pro.
vides cheerfuily for guests about the same
she would Pive them at home-no bustle-
no noise-with rs l;ttle cooking on the
ground as possible-always at the stand,
and that, too, in time tor the first hymn
greeting you-with a welcome when you en-
ter, and wheByou leave, entreating you with
kindness, to return--her tent little gate
way TO Paradise-ever resounding with the
songs of Zion or notes Of prayer. How
can he fOrbsar TO say " Martha, Martha
thou art careful and troubled about many
things. But one thing Is needful; and
Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken away from her." The
feasting, the hustle, the desire for show, the
constant effort 10 make M impression on
the Sabbath, certainly lead to forgetful-
ness of the sacredness Of the day and place
working worldly -mindedness, and allow
ing cares bf life" to choke the seeds of
divine TRUTH scattered by the sower at the
of n.