American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-06-15
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Citizen.


EDITORS OF AMERICAN CITIZEN 81
Having been an occasional visitor from
one OF the Rural Districts to your peace
tui and quiet town, and having observed
some OF the aaings and conduct of your
citizens; of many cannotspeak in terms
OF too much praise, while there are Others
whose conduct cannot be too severely re-
primanded. l mean those who forsake
that place which is called " s,eeet home
and congregate in groups in Bar Rooms
and remain there until an untimely hour
of the night. Those men who fcrsake ke the
company of their bosom, friends and those
tender ones whoshould be as dear to them
as the apple of their eye. Those men
who forget home only when necessity COM
pels them to 60, either to satisfy the in
ner man" or to slumber away the few re-
naming hours of the night.
In this group may be found the man
bordering on "three score years." the
middle aged and the youth or the man in
the vigor or prime of life. And perhaps
you will also find men who once made
profession of Religion, who in former
days occupied seat at the table of their
Lord and Master in commemoration of
their Saviour's death; who have said by
their former profession that they would
be for their Lord and Master and not for
another who doubtless have heard from
the month of their former Pastor, that
the " vows of God were upon them, and
that it was better not to vow, than vow
and not pay" But the Religion of such
men is like the " seed which was sown on
stony places which sprung up, but not
having much depth ef earth soon wither-
ed away" or perhaps, may be compared
to the as Sow which was washed and re-
turned to her wallowingin the mre again. :"
IF you ask such men the reason why
they have absented them selves from the
Ordinances of Gods house, doubtless the
reply will be: 40 we had a P0litcaI
Preacher" or perhaps, some Of the FL
ders disputed our i2yaity, and therefore, it
woutd not be right for us to go to church
aud there enjoy the ordinances of Gods
house whilst there is animosity between
us and our brother" Having therefore,
absented themselves from the church they
very soon become good members in this
home forsaken group, where doubtless they
feel more pleasure than in the church
of the living God.
In this group while sitting between the
two .fuids, the burning and the drnhig,
you will hear the great topics of the day
discussed-the Rail Road, in all its prac-
teal bearings, the coal and oil spccula-
tions, general lecture on the Legislative
department of the Government, and all
other subjects from the sublime to the ri
diculous-especially on the latter, and
all interests discussed butther interest for
eternity.
An association of this kind, where its
tendency is to make men absent them
selves from their peaceful homes, when
the earth is clothed in her robe of dark
ness and prevents their exercising the pa
rental care over their tender offspring and
from the enjoyment of those true pleas
ures which alone are found in the family
circle, and also, to learn those who are
brought within its coils to partake of the
intoxicating CUPS certainly dangerous
association to be connected with, for al
though it may seem to give pleasure at
the present, and be as sweet morsel un-
der their tongue; yet, it will eventually
+" bite like a serpent and sting like an adj
der" /" and bring upon its members shame
and everlasting disgrace, therefore, Re
form ere it be too late. HOME.