The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-02-09

lions, but really TO gossip, to malign the
unfortunate, TO SANDER those infnite,y
superior and. better than themselves. Not
to inveigh without reason and proof
will show the actual working or this sys-
TEN as excuplifed by one of these socie-
ties in tl.is city. a city so rich in exam
plies to which I have often referred, and
TO Which I-shall often refer again-a city
enjoying all the advantages Of the best
school and college in the country, filed
} with churches ; containing at least three
licensed preachers to each church :
abounding in these Observation-Disclosures
and boasting Of being the centre Of mod
. ern civilization and vet city so sunk in
heathenish wiekedness that a good dea-
con told ne he'belieyed if it was not for
! the preserving power and purifying in
fuence which comes from the country, it
would absolutely sink. This of itself is
enough to condemn these Institutions and
refutc the arguments on the other side
This society spend an afternoon and even
ing every fortnight in their commodious
and elegantly furnished society room
Here they partake Of q supper, paid for
by their fathers and husbands, OF more
value than all products Of their labor
This labor consists in making few gar
= ments for the orphans at the Asylum or
the children attending 5. O. Sunday
School, or for the heather, when prehaps
some haif-naEed haathen is shivering
! without the door, and some pampered
; well-clad heathen is sewing within. This
j.. reminds me that these gatherings are dis
; continued in the warm weather. There
IS no need Of charity then; besides, how
, could these good sisters, clothed in silks,
, with broad skirts, sew in summer! They
r would have to use the fan with one hand
: and keep the smelling bottle in the other.
. To make these garments is no doubt a
! worthy and charitable deed if they actual
: iy accomplished anything; but instead OF
: sewing, the members gather in knots, ex-
; cept few new members not vet fully
filed with this Christian spirit, and spend
their time in discussing the affairs Of the
day, in concocting some new SANDER
, Let us note their remarks. The subject
} must be interesting for they are all atten-
: ton. Ali they are talking about Mrs.
n. | intended to repeat their remarks.
but they are unfit to be mentioned in
this refined audience. [ will not shock
your sensibilities by telling the horrible
things they say, By giving the shocking
names they apply to her Let it suffice
= to say, they slander, revile, abuse, and
/ accuse without mercy, reason or limits
Can it be possible, that they are members
Of Christian congregation that they
have met from charitable motives, when
they show no charity, not even decency !?
Young gentlemen call in to spend the
evening with them Such self-denying
labor of love ought to be cheered and re-
warded by the brethren. See how pleas
ed those young ladies seem with the So
ciety Of that gentleman. They say his
company gives them the utmost delight
Presently he leaves them, when with an
expression of contempt and disgust they
raise their hands and exclaim, chow glad
he is gone, such bore" Here we have
taken a peep behind the scene. We see
how much reason we have to boast over
these institutions. We see the candor
integrity, and charity Of the benevolent
societies That modern Christianity so
much commended so strongly advocated
by the opposite side, is far from desery-
ing commendation, is shown by the fact,
that recently member of a rich church
that stands on the green, was fond in a
starving condition, entirely neglected by
those benevolent brethren and sisters
While this sewing society was RECALLING
: themselves on the choicest viauds Of the
; city, while their pastor was rolling in fat,
with salary Of $500 per year, this poor
: woman, their sister, his charge, was ac-
I tually perishing for want of the crumbs
which dropped at their feast, or of what
could be purchased by the sums he spends
in the streets or saloons for peanuts and
J oysters. Members of other churches
1ere are destitute and suffering, and no
aid is extended to them By those who
profess to be their brethren and sisters.
, [ myself have seen one relieved by a
, stranger, for which he was laughed at BY
t the young ladies of this city. speak
: what I do know, and testify what |
; have seen You receive not my testimo.
ny.
Let us examine the institutions of
: learning, the stronghold of the opposite
party These are increased in numbers,
, admit it. That alone is no proof of an
advance in character 1t is clear to be
seen that they have declined in morality
Formerly the catechism was text book
in all the schools. The Bible too, and the
command Of Solomon was needed The
} rod was frequently used. Due subordi-
nation was maintained Now all is chang.