Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-26
(Original.1
ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY.

ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY.
1t is fact we'll known to every reader of
both sacred and profane history, that many
of the human family are idolaters-that is,
they worship idols. This wicked and foolish
custom is not of recent origin. 1t has been
in existence for thousands of years. The first
mention that is made of idolatry, is in Gen.
81: "a. When Jacob left his father-in.law,
Laban, Rachel took with her the images of
her father; but from Josh. 24:2, we learn
that Terah "served other gods" From this
we may infer that at the time of the calling
of Abraham, the human family had very
generally become idolatrous. 1t is not, that
we remember, said that before the flood the
inhabitants of the earth had become idola-
trous. The prevailing sin of the antedeluvi-
ans seems to have been a kind of monstrosity.
They were intemperate and adulterous. 1t is
highly probable that they were also idolatrous.
The flood occurred in the year 1857, from
the creation the calling of Abraham took
place in the year 2os3 from the creation.
Between these two notable events, there
elapsed period of 426 years. The flood, in
some respects, placed the world in the same
condition that it was at the beginning. All
the human race, except Noah and his fam-
ly were utterly destroyed. Noah was not an
idolater. We may safely say that the prac-
tice of worshiping images as it now exists,
must have originated some time between the
food and The calling of Abraham. Noah's
sons may have seen the practice, and it may
be that by them in some way or other, their
posterity we're made acquainted with the
habit.
tits, however, matter of but little impor-
tance whether we can discover the precise
date of the first idol or not no one will, for
moment, doubt that there is in the world such
thing as idol worship. How did this idol
worship ever get into the world? 1t is clear
ly opposed to all the notions of God, which
we learn from the Bible, creation or provi-
deuce There is nothing in the Bible that is
favorable to the introduction of idols as OBJ
iects Of religious worship, either wholly or in
conjunction with the true God. The same is
true with respect to both creation and provi-
dence.
Some ancient philosophers accounted for
the existence of idolatry in this way. They
taught that man was made mute and dumb
creature, very little, if any, better than a
toad. By some means or other, man advan-
ced bis physical abilities and mental powers,
and after long series of years, arrived at
that stage of improvement and civilization,
that he was an idolater. According to this
theory, idol-worship is an evidence Of advance
ment and not of degeneracy. This theory is
unfortunate, in that it contradicts both the
Bible account of creation and the universal
observation of mankind. The Bible states
positively that man was created perfect, and
the testimony of mankind universally is, that
idolatry, instead of being an evidence of ad-
vancement, is positive evidence Of the very
opposite. The origin of idol-worship seems
to be some how thus. By the sin of Adam,
all friendly relations between God and the
human family was broken of: Man became
ignorant as we'll as SINFUL All the attributes
of his mind became distorted and ruined. He
become ignorant of the true character of the
living God, and he had no desire to retain
knowledge of him in his mind At first idols
were worshipped in conjunction with God; but
in short time the idol became, in the mind
of the worshiper, the principal divinity, and
ultimately the true God was lost sight OF.
The first objects of worship were, probably,
the sun, moon and stars. Soon animals were
dei6ed, and in short time images of these
we're made and stored away in the dwellings
and became the household gods of the human
family. AS the degeneracy increased, the
number of idols were increased in number
and in worthlessness. Some nations became
so degraded as to worship every thing. Cats,
dogs, insects, fish, and even vile passions were
dei6ed. Images of them were carved in wood
and gold. Splendid temples were built for
them. Again, we find individuals who have
sunk so low that all this pomp and display
has ceased to exist, and they are but little
above the brute
RB The church is constantly losing those
who have become distinguished by their in
Auence and piety. Locally and at large,
there is constant mourning for some one who
has been called away. But the work goes
on. 1t depends not on men but on God, who
snnnlies new instruments as old ones are re-