Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1865-01-05
From the Charle3ton Courier
Rational Sins.
PROFANITY AND BLAsPRyMY.

Proceeding With our review of /" National Sins, for
which Of the Southern States were for years imp-
Gated ard participants under the Union, and passing
on from the original AID primal sin Of omis on of any
recognition OF God-a violation positive and negative
of the first and second clauses OF the Decalogue-we
ac0me to tie third commandment
That this and is grievousy frequently, generally
and agrantig violated, fact unorl unately obvi
ousy patent for doubt argument Of all sins of men
anywhere, one has more perplexed obEervers than
swearing ard Instance has been frequently used
to prove something like the doctrine Of innate and in
hereat Gepravity. For sis of lust
some preex,s least The drunkard and the gu ton
sin excessive and pureOt OF what and should
be leginmaely used in moderation-the covetous mau
sins in OF affection end DEVOTION not to the
nature of the object which may De iegitimAely recog
nzed under the law of God. Tue sweartr, however
has been often said, sirs gr,uousy, AMI in bis sin
graufs natural or Inherent taste or appetite PES
propensity unless We admit en- innate prOpeusi-
ty for sin as SIN.
The rudest peasant serf rarely ventures to usa r
reverently lightly the of the magistrate or
prince nearest to bm or over him, even III his
tired haunts OF conversation.
The war, Say, bas produced increase of swear
ing and OF other 1t may be so, but we doubt it
We believe reveals and unm 4eks Character and
habis frequently than 1t Changes thsm-and when
it works changes the change suouId be by reform. The
war brought and collected together the swearing
and profanity aud celOusnesa and drunkenness WhIc
before were scattered over AID through the c0uary
-
If which lndui5Iug Led be ast med.
Men, who in all other rtspec gc!t men in their
social intercourse 10 consulting ard respecting TIE feel
lngs and wishes of Others, deem it right or not any
wrong others to anywhere except in the known
Drest nca OF clergy nlan. A WOmans presence has
been check even On hardened and pacticed swearers
but now any one WHO has Travelled Obsor we'd much
since the viii testify that oaths were frequently in
duged before and good women who GO about to
do good 10 and Tor the sJders AID ihelr chdien and
families.
We may not expect any very great results for re-
newed respect for womauaood and for cergymen ftom
any who cannot or do not admit the coarong author
ity of the Word Of G0d-but would gladly hail and
approve even the partial reform which would suppress
or prevent the aud proane of any
sons before n hearing OF women OF clergymen, and
as in mxs1 company adays 1t Is not easy to tell
when there is clergyman the swearer should
be to iee and sound bis hearers Well before launch
leg an oath.
Many men, not clergyman, 8ra shocked by an O ath
and would gladly rebuke it, but often deferred -
lear OF giving CHence
II was once considered proper ani necessary 10 ask
permission before lighting q segar pipe in mixeu
company, puOc :esOct, conveyance, but now
smoking has ntrudeG into all places, aai resorts and
assembEges, except, we believe, the Church. and the
court room and tobacco cheVlEg only second to
smoking in ofensvenes to some tastes and feelings, is
even common il CHURCHES and court rooms. Cau we
not hooe that readers who cannot altogether f)regO
sveariog will tar recognize Others to ask whether
an oath is desirable agreeable fJr the hearers before
utteripg one or mOreI
The cons deration of this question and the obliga-
tons it recognizes offences against Others might
lead to the higher question in which all ains are truly
entered and against do being n fact the
ouy sns including all SINS, however, tor convenience
| we rank them in other classes
In addition to tie profanity and basphemy OF swear
ing in private and public and common coaversation w
must plead guilty, we tear, for our countryE,ea ane
States to tho charge Of rrsevance and trifngkrivoi