The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-05-29
II WRITE UNTO YOU, YOUNG MEN,"

~ lew sundays ago, we listened to an
excellent discourse to young men, in one
Of the churches in this city. The lamonta
bic absence of that class of persons from
all religious services on the Sabbath, has
been subject to which we have given
some attention for years past, and we had
the curiosity-if it deserves no better name
to see how large an audience the preacher
had of those to whom the discourse was
addressed. The number was exceedingly
small, though probably as large as will
average in tho other churches. And rs we
sat there, ref1ecting upon the dangers which
threaten our country from this rapidly in
creasing neglect and abuse of tile Sabbath,
we thought some days we would preach
one OF our sermons upon tho samo subject,
believing that after all we have tho ear of
more of that class, perhaps, than all the
ministers in the city put together.
And now, young men-you who never
darllcn the doors Of church on Sunday,
who swagger through tho streets with a
cigar in your mouth, who swear a little.
perhaps good deal, who drink some rum,
and pride yourself on being "one Of the
bhoys," will you indulge us with word
in your ear? In a period Of years which
will seem incredibly short, when you arrive
at your majority, your class will compose
very powerful, and it may be, controll-
ing INFLUENCE i'll the management of public
affairs. Did you ever think of that .-and
ifyou did, did YOU realize responsibility in the
matter? Judging from the present appear.
ance Of our churches, when the present
generation of men has passed away, the
pcws will be left pretty much to the female
portion of our race, if, indeed, they do not
imbibc the infdcl spirit of the age, and
leave them to become houses of merchan.
die, if not dens Of thieves.
The infideli!y so rife here, is not the in-
fidelity Of the intellect, which is becoming
too popular among scholars Of certain
school, but is not less dangerous. They
who neglect the Sabbath and its institutions
here, are not those who have thought
much. Theirs is the infdelity of indiffer-
ence and the want of tl,ought-the inf
deity That keeps away from all chance of
correction, which is not, and cannot be
reached, either by the argument or the
warning Of the pulpit; and its victims will
live their allotted time, then drop in dark,
hopeless graves and be forgotten, while
their spiritual eyes will open in world of
which they have never thought, and the
joys Of which they are all untitled to
share.
But there is cause Of alarm lying out
side of consequences to individuals. In
nations where infidelity, whether it be Of
the intellect or passions, has gained the
ascendanoy, and the Holy Sabbath and the
institutions of religion have fallen into neg
ect, national; uin has followed. Our insti-
tutions are based upon the principles of
Christianity. and when they have no place
in the hearts Of tile people, the glorious
supcrstructure will crumbIe TO dust.
1t therefore becomes matter of vital
importance, in national as well as per-
sonal point Of view, that all, the old and
the young alike. stand by the institutions
Of Christianity, attend on its ministrations,
contribute to its support, and open their
minds to the reception of its truths. We
beg Of young men, who ever think Of any
thing, to think Of this, and put themselves
in a way of attaining character which
shall give TO those who are passing away,
an assurance that when the burdens and
responsibilities of sustaining our institutions
shall fall upon their shoulders. they shall
be bravely and worthily borne.-Nashua
Gazette.