The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-06-29
IMPROVEMENTS 1w'AsBEy1LLE VILLAGE,

dssSTo tho lovers OF Improvement it must be
EGrntifying to sec the Improvements now being
curred. forward in Abbeville Village Tie
first thing which strikes the mind of one who
reflects upon this subject is the contrast which
the aspect OF things presents now, compared
with 'ha. Of twenty years ago! This contrast
is not only iD things. but in men. Where are
the fnces which were familiar in the Village
twenty years ngo7 Many who used to 90 in
anu OUT before US then. are not row seen. nnd
| will be seen no more on earth! Many of those
now passing to and fro. nrc to those then Gy
ing, and still surviving strnngers-cntir.
l"s'rnngcrsl IL is so,8 nlso in ma; eriuI thjuys
| Where is MIR. Jackson's old carrinuo shup 2
| Where is the old Court House 2-the old ,Jui! ?
"her" IS the venerable pile of unconth but of
antique and then fashionable architect ure fami,
lnrly known ns Mrs Aliens Hotcl7 Where 10
the Poscy Ranee-including Mr. War,llaw's
o'd store h""sef Where. let us rot forget to
ask, Is the Old Mosely-Ramey Hotel, on the
site of'which now stands the Marshall IIu,sc7
All--"H have passed away! But. We cannot
say that they hive left no wreck behind: for
IN their stead now are to be seen buildings of
shhpes and sizes, and architecture, more in ac-
c"rdnnre with the taste and spirit of,the times
'rh'ch as tml'rorm"m and progress.
But does not all this present. matter for sal
reii"ctiona Aud the question which 20 main
r"''y rerurs is-hasthe sad reflection" been
hadf Have the people now living here, been
lrofted by-taken advantage of-the lcss,,s
which these changes, in men and thinps i eol l..
cnlaled TO teach? Is it so-can it beituc-
mat notw ithstahding the many ssfiences
which are being daily presented TO fuas, of our
n'ortnhty-of the transformers of:nll ,h;,rs
earthly, we yet reach no higher in the scale of
mora !'ty-"f bro'herIy lovc-of friendship
OF h"m""ty7 Can it ne possible that the
teachings Of Christ-the only teacher OF nurc
goodness and morality. ever upon earth. as to
envy hatred - malice - bro,hcrIv lava
kindness temperance - charity have no
more effect upon our conscicnccs now ,l,un
thenf And can this be so whilst W. hnye had
so mucl. prcaehi"g amongst us Of almost every
order no. excepting even the Roman Catholic,
anh the jew If the Lntin poet. in view Of
tile aspect of things in his days, hnd to cxclaim.
& "Oh tempora--ol Moresl' -
what would be his exclamation nowl And
yet, behold the difference between tue lirh,
which shines now, aud which shone then!
This, however. may be all right Things
may b" tending: to their Legitimate and
proper destinations Something may fnve been
discovered in the spirit of Christ's gospel which
even lie never thought Of or knew. Certain
ly, it is very remarkablessssif members of differ
ent dcn"nlina, ions-if Christians of different
persunsi"ns are to lie ultimately housed in the
same henven--are to sit down around the same
throne III the enjoyment Of the same felicity
and blessings as one pcople--as spirits akin
to each other i" unity Of purpose and desirc.-
II Is strange. we sny,-'passing strange" If
This bc so that there should he sush ontago-
nismS-such rvalri.s-such spirits of revenge
of eslrangenent-of u6Yricndlilcss of un-
charitabl"ness - among these same prople,
'her"a II is orly necessary to ask these qucs.
tions to know their aE.wers; but there ore
only II few who take the time who have moral
SENSE enough to ask them. and in The midst j6f
the business and hurry Of life, wait for the re-
ply.
One would supposc-and very naturally
without even nn argumentation-fiom read ing
the Scriptures. that, when the unrIHfistian,
the interchangeable gainsaying world,
had done wrong-inj just ice. cruel injustice, to
his motives, to- his character, b. could turn,
Christfor vinGication and confStcnancc. But is
it soi .lpes the world or the church make the
standard by which the church, practically
gives its juiyemeut3 To preach to sinners. to
repent. or hell will he their portion. and yet
to follow heir footstrps-to be Influenced by
their ways and their customs But yet. is
not this the modern prolesi mt Christian
Churchi Does the church discountenance
duelling! But yet does it not practically en-
courage hold up the ms Of the dueli-ti Docs
it ever exclude II rich man for nything be may
do or sny7 What signifie es-whnt value is
there ia n Meory2 1t is the pr actice Of men.
to which we look, for their FRUIT in whataser fs'
commendable. 1t is worse than ridiculous-it
is lower in the scale of morality than hypocrisy
10 point to a theory of men apart from ri,sir
practice. 1t is what man does--not what He
says that makes his character. This is So ALSO
of the Church. II is what the Church does.
not what it says, TINT gives character and love
to it's influence. - .~ - =
But the object of our Communication, Mr.
Editor. is. as well to point out, and commend.
the material! improvements which have been
m adesand are now being Carried forward in
our village, as to ask, and to- ask, in all candor,
whether similur advance has been madSs in
the religion. in the charity. in the moral char
acter, of our peopl'i OF this. every one will
be. as he may be, his own judge AT any rate,
the reflection which this inquiry excites may
be well carIied home to the bosom and con-
science ofSoycry man who expects to besiudged
hereafter fof. %trat he has been here. altfddgh
we have basfitMe hope that such reflection,
even il 1.-THE had. will do any good upon cur
latter day Saints. As il, is german here. how :.
ever, we throw it out, as We cast bread upon
the waters"
But to return: our, Village ipprovem en,s.
1t is. indeed. gratifying TO see them going on.
they augur well for:sEe future aud speak we'll
fo 4 ha ~ FThay aLnx fhnt l,o