Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-08-11
FoR THE NEWS.
What of the Signs Of the Times

Are they not portentous? ? Are the
not overcast with clouds of infidelit
that will become darker and darker
until they break upon us with all thei
| destructive powers, and sweep from
our land, all those laws and inst.tu
tions that are calculated to make us
wise aud happy people? Yet this
an age of improvement, in 1t wonder
ful things are being developed; TIN
mind of man is ever reaching forward
and grasping at things hitherto un
known and unheard Of; great myste
ries in the sciences and arts, are will
each period of time being unravelleC
and brought into practical use, for th'
| benefit and happiness OF the human
race, but whilst this is the fact, let u:
pause and see if there is not danger
ahead. Whilst the lightenings o
heaven are caught up and bottled as il
were, that we might use its magic
| power as medium of cOmmunica.
! ton DER the length and breadth of Oul
| broad land, and across the broad and
| briny waters and whilst the shrill
whistle is heard of that mysterious
power, that moves, laundering along
| over our highway ponderous trains,
and DER the rivers and mighty ocean
palaIiaI floating palaces, freighted with
human beings, and with the commerce
of nations all, all for the benefit and
happiness of man, and all calculated
to honor and glorify the great author
of all creation. But alas we are again
brought to the thought in all this,
there is danger ahead danger, that in
the great desire of men TO excel, to
seek fame, to accumulate wealth,
that they look not for help to him who
alone is able to insure success; danger,
that in this fast age, when time is con-
sidered money, that in the many
schemes set afoot by men of wealth
and ambition, they lay aside the res
traint that religion would impose on
them, and build up for themselves a
higher law, than given on Sinia. A
law which would trample under foot
and condemn, as old fogyism when in
contact or adverse to. their desire, those
commandments written on tablets of
stone by the great law giver himself,
looking for the appreciation, or at least
for the tacit concert of the christian
community, and when these christian
men stand by and with folded arms
and silent lips, overlook the breaches
and encTOachments upon this, the
great palladium of our safety as indi-
viduals and as a nation, then is the
greal end gained, conscience is scared,
license is given to do that which the
laws of God and man condemn.
What more GOd-dishonOring, more
calculated to break down the restraint
that these laws should hold over our
people, more calculated to give license
to sabbath breaking in all of its phases,
than that scene which so lately was
witnessed on that long line of Rail
Road i'm our western country. A scene
which | have no doubt was looked up
on with astOnishment and awe by an
gels above. | alIude to the Ohio and
Mississippi Rail Road, where on Sun
dav the 23rd of July, that line of $40
miles was by the aid of 25O0 workman
changed to a narrow guage road, and
as the papers inform us, all accom-
plished by II o'clock A. NJ.
$500 souls, each man accountable for
his own guilt, but, oh! ye President
and Directors of this road, what a fear
full responsibility rests upon you. You
who are by your example, your infiu-
ence. your power, your money are the
means of these $500 men Tisking the
loss of their souls for your present ag-
grandiZement.
Will the Road prosper? God may
for wise purposes allow it to do so, but,
| for one would fear to ride upon a
road that is so God-dishOnoring.
Bristol, July 29,4 I'll. IL,