Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-11-21
81 write Unto You, Eoang Men.

A few SUNDAYS ago we listened TO an excellent
discourse to young men, in one offhe churches il
! this city, The lamentable absence Of that class
OF persons from all religious services on the Sab.
bath, has been subject to which we have given
some attention for years past, and We had the sn-
rIosty-if it deserves no better naine--to look a.
bout, and see how large an audience the preacher
had of those to whom the discourse was address
ed. The number was exceedingly small, though
probably as large as will average in the other
churches And as we sat there, rejecting upon
the dangers which threaten our country from this
rapidly increasing neglect and abuse of the Sab
bath, we thought some day we wohld preach one
of our sermons upon the same subisct, believing
that after all we have the ear of more of that
class, perhaps, than all the ministers in the city
put together.
And now young men-vou who never darken
the doors of a church on Sunday, who swagger
through the streets with cigar in your mouth.
who swear a little, perhaps good deal, who
drink some rum, and pride yourself on being zone
of the b'hoys,'' will you indulge us with word
in your ear2 In a period of yeas which will
seem incredibly short, when yGa t:riye at your
majority, your class will compose very power
full, and it may be, a controlling influence IN the
management ofpubIic affairs. Did you ever think
of that 2-and if you did, did you realize respon-
sibility in the matter2 Judging from the pres
ent appearance of our churches, when the pres
ent generation Of men has passed away, the pews
will be left pretty much to the female portion OF
the race, if, indeed, they do not imbibe the inf
del spirit OF the age, and leave them to become
houses of merchandise, if not dens of thieves.
The infdelity so rife here, is not the infdelity
of the intellect, which is becoming too popular a
mong scholars of certain school but it is not less
dangerous. They who neglect the Sabbath and
its institutions here ARE not those who have thought
much. Theirs is the infdelty Of indifference
and the want of hought-the infidelity that keeps
away from all chance of correction, which is not,
and caunot be reached, either by the argument or
the warning of the pulpit and its victims will
live their allotted time then drop into dark, hope
less graves and be forgotten, while their spiritual
eyes will open upon world of which they have
never thought, and the joys of which they are all
untitled 10 share
But there is a cause for alarm lying outside of
consequences 10 individuals. In nations where
infidelity whether it be of the intellect or pas
sions, has gained the ascendency and the Sabbath
and the institutions of religion have fallen into me-
glect, national ruin has followed. Our nstitu.
lions are based upon the principles Of Christianity,
and when they have no place in the hearts of the
people, the glorious superstructure will crumble
10 dust.
1t therefore becomes matter of vital impor-
tance. in national as well as personal point OF
view, that all, the old and the young alike, stand
by the institutions of Christianity, attend on It's
ministrations, contribute 10 its support and open
their minds to the reception of lis truths. We
beg of young men who ever think of anything, to
think of this. and put themselves in way Of at
tanning character which shall give to those who
are passing away, an assurance that when the
burdens and responsibilities of sustaining our in
situtions shall fall upon their shoulders they shall
be bravely and worlhily borne.-.Fashau 1efe7
graph. ea.a -,t d.