Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-11-30
&eadiaa fnr the Sabhath.
sega.1- CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

.nr-srs.r, CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
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THE HOLY KISS. =
In four of his epistles, the Apostle Paul
exhorts those addressed to salute one another
with. holy kiss. The exhortation will be
found in Romans, xvi: 16ii ii1st Corinthians,
xvi 10; End Corinthians, xiii :: 12;i and sin
1st Thessalonians, v:26. In all of these
passages, the identically same words are used.
In the 1st epistle Of. Peter,v IA, we have this
exhortation "Greet ye one another with a
kiss Of charity" The words used by Peter
are the same as those used by Paul, the con.
struction being little different. Manifestly,
what Paul means by "a holy kiss" Peter
denotes by "a kiss of charity"
In order that we may comprehend the i'm
port of this Apostolic injunction, we must
first understand something of the manners
and customs of civilized nations at the time
Paul and Peter wrote their epistles. At a
very early period in the history Of the world,
men devised some ceremonies Of saldtibg each
other when they met and of taking leaveaof
each other when they parted. Among the
earliest, if not the mostsearly, mode of saluta.
ton practieed among civilized nations, was
embracing and kissing, Thus we find that
when Esau and jacob met on the return of
the latter from his sojourn 10 Padan-arsm,
Esau ran unto Jacob, embraced him, fell
upon his neck and kissed him, Gen. xxxiii :, 4.
TIE word used by Paul and Peter which, in
the English. translation of the Scriptures is
rendered Salute" more properly means "en~
brace" Evidently, the mode Of salutation
common in the days Of theipatrarch, Jacob,
was retained and practiced at the time Of the
Apostles Paul and Peter. Traces ofthis an
cient mode of salutation are also retained by
every civilized nation on earth to-day. H.
1t is proper to remark that the language Of
the Scripture is restricted. The CHURCHES at
Rome, Corinth, Thessalonica and the strang-
ers scattered throughout; Pontias, Galatia,
.Cappadocia, Asia and Bethany, are not en-
joined to salute every one they meet with a
holy kiss, On the contrary, they are to ga
'lute in this way only, ,s'one another II this
lies the force Of the Apostles injunction. No
doubt there were in use, at that time, certain
ceremonies which were performed by stran-
gers, or by persons only slightly acquainted,
when they casually met When strangers Of
the present day meet, they are accustomed to
use some ceremony, as q nod Of tbe, head or
by addressing to each other, some such ex.
preston as "good morning" "good afternoon"
or "good night These ceremonies are cour-
teous in their nature, and simply indicate a
recognition Of the fact that human beings
have come in peaceable contact. We do.not
shake hands with every person we meet. This
ceremony is gone through only when friends
or relations meet In the same way, Paul, apd
Peter exhort the Christians to embrace esch
other with holy kiss. ..'.'
The kiss, of old Vas a mode of salutation,
and was common only when friends or rela-
tives met. As mode of salutation it indi.
Gates the same thing that shaking hands does
among civilized people of the present day.
Formerly, to kiss indicated that those who
had once been enemies, were now friends.
This was the case with Jacob and Esau, in
the passage already referred to. Esau had,
years before, purposed in his heart to kill ia
cob, because Jacob had cheated him out Of
his birthright and blessing. In answer to the
prayer of Jacob, God softened the heart of
Esau and gave him spirit of fraternal af-
fection. Esau manifested that he had for
given Jacob by embracing him, and falling
upon his neck and kissing him. So soon as
Esau kissed Jacob, the latter knew that his
brothers resentment was, buried. He felt
that he was no longer foe, but friend.
Among US, it is customary for those who have
been enemies, on becoming reconciled, to
shake hands. This ceremony indicates to all
who may witness it, that the past is forgotten
and buried, and in: future the individuals will
be friends. On the score, Of propriety, the
Apostles would not have called a kiss Of salu-
tation holy but there is no improperly in
calling that holy which is a symbol of recon
ciliation between those who were formerly en-
emies. Christians, in the days of Paul and
Peter, were prone to misundsrstand each other.
Dissensions we're common, at that time, among
the followers of Jesus. The church at Rome
disputed about meats and days. These dis
putes we're often carried to so great an extent
as to result in personal enmities. To be ex.
horted to salute one another With holy kiss,
is the same as to be exhorted to cease indul-
ging in bitter envying and strife and live'in
peace So, no doubt, those to whom the
words we're originally addressed, understood
them. s.'. go. ..'.
For another reason, the Apostles Paul and
Peter exhorted Christians of their day, to ga
lutte one another with q holy kiss. In the
early churches, the men occupied one part; of
the house and the women the other In other
words, the male and female worshippers did
not sit together in the public assemblies. On
assembling at the house, or place of public
worship, those protesting faith in Jesus Christ
kissed each other. This kiss was symbol of
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