Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-07
TH& Y0RKVfhhE EMQUfRER.

spread out on tables before the tombs. After some
time they take all back to their houses and eat 1t
themselves. or sell it. or return it othe shop-keep
er from whom they hired it. They think the spir-
its come and feed on the spiritual essence Of the
food, and leave that which can be seen and felt -
But there is good deal Of risk In all this because
some other hungry and destitute spirits, who lett
no children behind them when they died, or whose
children neglect or are too poor to provide for their
wants, NAV come and drive away the true parents
and get all these good things. But these poor peo-
pie do not think of that. The whole, thing is
very stupid performance; but everybody does it
rich and poor, high and low, learned and ignorant,
all must pursue this wicked practice, or subject
themselves to the name of ungrateful children,
But this is not the worst of it. They think the
spirits have power to injure or do them good
Hence, when they yearly visit the graves, they say
great deal in praise of the dead and pray to them
for protection and aid; in other words they wor-
ship them. This is very. wicked they ought to
worship God alone Their respect tor the memory
of the departed would be beautiful if they did not
make Gods of them. Their new year is very close
at hand, and everybody is busy, getting ready to
worship the idols in the temples and the spirits at
T6ey think every house or family has God who
speciafv watches over the affairs of the inmates
Seven days before the close of the year. this god as
cends to heaven to render report of all the con-
duct of the family during the year about to close
Hence, the family employ various means to brlbe
him to render good report, Among others, they
buy him paper horse, and paper carnage, or
house all furnished with paper furniture and pa
per bags of paper money, place paper image OF
the god inside, and then set fro to tho whole, In
the smoke of which they think he ascends to hea-
ven. He always returns on new years day to re-
commence his duties. They all did this, with
great pomp and parade of lighted candles, feasts,
&c., the night before last.
Then they talk very queerly They say east,
south, west, north instead of north, east, south,
west. They say, eastnorth and, west-south---llIn-
stead of northeast and southwest. They say, Will
kins John, and Brown Mr.. instead of John Will
kins and Mr.. Brown. When they meet they do
own Their mourning dress is white instead OF
black. They clean their shoes with whiting, in
stead of blacking. Their books begin at the back
side and end at the 'front.' the title the margin,
the paging near the bottom, and the foot notes at
the top And many other things they do just the
opposite way from u.s. They are smart, intelli-
gent people, wise in much of this world wisdom
but Oh, how ignorant of that wisdom which ma
keith wise unto salvation My dear young friends,
pray that God would take pity on them, and send
His Holy Spirit to teach them the way to heaven
and eternal bessedness. They know not the Sa-
viour even by name. Do you know Him in some
thing more than name? That is, do you know
Him as your own Saviour, and do you love Him
and serve Him too? If so, then happy are you;
and though never have seen you here [ shall
hope to meet you in that bright world above where
we shall see the blessed Jesus, and love and praise
Him forever May God bless you all, is my prayer
for Christs sake. j. A. DANFoRTH.'