The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1860-12-06
For The hteltigtneer.

For the Inteiiigeneer.
Christians Subdividsd.
Mr. Editor Did it ever occur to your mind that
there was great many kinds of Christians in this
world of ours? mean by the term Christians,
the members of the different Christian Churches.
In using the term primarily, there would be put
one class of persons designated, but in these days
of Improvement, all who belong to = church are
dcnominated Christians, and may be numcrous'y
classified In making the classification, We shall
endcaver to be guided by facts as they now exist
in almost every community. Proceeding, then,
to make our sub divisions, we shall first take up
the sclf-rigtcous Christian. He hasJoined the
Church because he thought it was respectable, ana
because thereby he might quiet his conscience TO
some extent. He knows that he has never expert
cnccd the pardoning love of God shed abroad in
his heart, but then he hopes that through IN cx-
cecding stretch of Gods mercy, the prayers Of the
Church, and his obedience thus far, to gel to Hcav-
en-. Inside of the Church, lie is all humity-eI-
tolls the grace that has enabled him to triumph
makes much show of his contributions for charity
and the support of the Gospel and feels perfectly
Satisfied with keeping up the appearance of q.
Christian Outside of the Church, he is supercil-
lious TO his fellow mcn-cheatS them if he can in
all his dealings, and says by his conduct generally,
that 81 am holicr than thou, stand thou there"
No man is more attentive to his religious duties,
none more rigid in all that pertains to the Church.
and perhaps may with propriety add, that none
are more reckless of their Christian character in
private.
Our next character r. the wicked Christian. The
terms mayappear anomalous, but rs they exist,
we may as well make up our minds to use them,
This character has joined the Church that he may
be enabled to carry on his depredations against So
ccty with lnorc certainty OF success, and is in no
wise altered from what he was before, only that he
has become q more consummate villain; and 1t nos
found out and exposed, will make On exemplary
Christian until his object is attained, when he be-
comes ten times more the child of the devil than
,e was at Srst, rs though he would make up to his
satanic majesty for lost time while belonging tothe
Church. Hoping that there are but few such, We
forbcar to comment further.
Our next subject is the complaccue Chrissao#,
He has joined the Church because he thought it
his duty-he takes good care Of the preachers and
their horscs-kccps open house generally for his
brehren-contribute freely to all the calls of
charity or duty-ncyer NEEDLES with Church mat
ters-is excessively good natured, and feels per
fcctly at peace with all the world .and the rest of
mankind" If any trouble springs up in the
Church of which he is member, he feels very
sorry, but somebody else must attend toit; he
hopes they will settle it amicably, but It's none
of his business, lie will wash his hands of it, and
supposes that he has done all that a good Chris
tian should do This brings US to the timid Chris
tian.
He has mustered sufficient courage to give his
name to the Church, but having no ideas Of what
are the duties of Christian, he neser does any
thing more for fear he will do wrong, and passes
through life, sustaining merely negative charac-
ter, both as mon and Christian doing little or
no harm to others, and but little or no good for
himself May God be merciful to the timid Chris
lian.
Then, comes the lazy Christian. 1t took great
deal of excitement to get him into the Church, and
once there, he never for moment supposes that
there is anything else to do; he never goes to
Chur0n because lie QOeS not leci very -WeiI-neFer
attends class or prayer meetings-nsver goes to
Sabbath School, and would be too lazy to breathe
could he find machine to perform that operation
for him. Whenever obliged to do something to
sustain the character he has assumed, it comes
like pulling teeth, makes wry faces and gets rid
of the job as soon as possible The greatest hard
ship he meets with in this world is in trying to,
sustain the character of Christian
But of all the Christians that we Deet with, may
the good Lord deliver from the dirty Christian.
He is nuisance to his family, nnsance to society,
q nuisance to the Church, and o nuisance gherav--
er he goes He is disgrace to himself, bur-
lesque upon mankind, and stencil in. The sight Of
Heaven May kind Heavens deliver me from con-
tact with the dirty Christian .4flor
OF all the characters that attempt to ape the
Christian, that of the stingy Christian makes out
the worst. In all Church gatherings he is fore
mostin talk, most conspicuous in Church trials.
ahead of everybody with his advice, but when.
money IS wanted, he gives his sparsesstrng an ex-
ira pull and in loud voice, blesseg God for a.
free Gospel As. old father George Houston once.
said, "God bless5our poor stingy soul.,'
But amid all the cnrieatures Of Christian chas-