The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-03-02

TIE MosT ALARMING SIN.-If We, G
called to point out the most alarming sins Of
to-day--those which arc most deceitful in their
Influence, and most soul destroying 10 their
ultimate effects-I would not mention drunk
cnness with all its fearful havoc, nor gamb-
ling with its crazed victims, nor harlotry with
its hellish orgies; but the love of money on
the part Of men, and the love Of display on
the part of women. While open vice sends
its thousands, these fashionable and favored
indulscnces send their ten thousands to perdi-
ton. They scar the conscience, incrust the
soul with an impenetrabe shell of wordli-
ness, dcbauch the affections from every high
and heavenly object, and make men and wo-
men the worshpper of self. While doing
all this the poor victim is allowed by public
opinion to think himself or herself Christian;
while the drunkard the gambler or the pros
flute is not deceived by such thought for a
moment
DR.. Helmbold thinks the Little Church
Round the Corner should be made the grand
est in the city, and offers to give $4,000 to-
ward this purpose. This is generous in DR.
IIclmbold but if the Little Church should
be taken down and a grand cdfce erected in
its place, would it still be the Little Church
Round the Corner? Would it still retain
the distinction it has now acquired of being
grand in its recognition of mans common
spiritual destiny, notwithstanding that, ii the
estimation Of those who view things ouly ac-
cording to outward appearance. it is nothing
but little church? We dare say that, how
ever much it might be enlarged, it would still
retain this distinction so long as the Christian
DR.. Houghton remains its rector and as the
enlargement of the edifce would admit more
persons to enjoy the benefits of his mistra-
tions, We think the project ought to be en-
couraged and carried out.-.N'ew York Sun
THE True LIFE The mere lease of years
is net life. TO eat and drink and sleep to
pace round the mill of habit, and turn the
wheel Of wealth, to make reason our book
keeper, and turn it into an implement of
trade-this is not life. Ia all this but poor
awakened, and the sanctities still siunber
which make it most worth living. Knowl-
edge, TRUTH love, beauty, faith, alone can give
vitality to the mechanism of existence, the
laugh Of mirth which vibrates through the
heart, the tears that freshen the dry waste
within, the music that brings childhood back.
the prayer that calls the future, the doubt
which makes us mediate, the death chat star
ties US with misery, the hardships that force US
to struggles, the anxiety that ends in trust,
are the true nourishment Of rational beings.
TEMPTED BY DEGREES. ohm Newton
says: Satan seldom comes to Christian
with great temptation, or with temptation
to commit great sin. You bring green
log and a candle together, and they are very
safe neishbors but bring few shavings and
set chem aight and then bring few small
stickssand let them take fire, and the log be
in the midst offhem, and you will soon get
rid of your log. Aud so it is with little sins.
You will be startled with the idea of com
uniting a great sin, and SO the devil brings
you little temptation, and leaves you to in
dulge yourself. "There is no great harm III
this;" "no great peril in that;" and SO by
these little chips we are first easily lighted up,
an at last the green log is burned. Watch
and pray that ye enter not into temptation.
There nosc-the largest nose this
world did ever see: there was a face that car
ried it aloft, triumphantly. There was fist
that smote that nose, and caused it sore to
bleed I; there was a man that bore that fist,
and gloried in the decd There was catch
poll seized that man, catch poll lank and
wien; there was judge that sentenced him
aud sent him off to prison. There was nose
all bruised and black and seemed with many
scars; there was rueful looking face behind
the prison bars