Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-11-22
xrIklng Dsmorenc,e.,

s9aIY, many paying extra to get eloico
place, where thoy can SEQ aud hear all that
is said and done. Back seats are at a dis
count, and only used when the alternative
is to stand or take one. This condition of
preferences is reversed 10 churches. They
ill up from the rear, tho front seats and
"amen" corners being tho very last occupied
and that too only when no other seats can
DO had. In fact we geo many people, who
will 60 to the door Of church, aud, if the
rear to tho centre DO full, will turn away
rather than 60 near tho pulpit. No ono
can fail to have observed this popularity in
churches and places Of amusement, respect.
lively, aud tho quostion is, why 10 it 80?
Every one must admit that persons near the
pulpit can hear better and understand more
clearly, being able not only to hear the
words of the preacher but to oatch his ego,
his countenanoo and his gestures all
which tend to impress on tho mind what is
said. Every one must admit that his at
tention is less apt to be diverted by the
passing in of persons after tho sermon has
begun. Every one too must admit that the
teachings Of the pulpit are far more impor.
tant than the tricks Of juggler, OF the
antics OF clown, not to speak of their bear.
ing on mans eternal welfare. Ono result
of this popularity is that churches arc rarely
if ever full. Seats can always be found
vacant near tho pulpit, 30 that in going to
church no ono need turn back, however
many he may meet coming away because
the church is crowded. 10 on and march
boldly and confidently up the aisle, for you
will surely find a seat. 1t is said that when
friend Of Webster tried to dissuade him
from adopting the legal profession because
it was over crowded already, he replied
"thero was plenty Of room on the top shelf"
So, too, in churches there is always room
on the front seats. In observing this pc
culiarity of church members taking back
scat', wo have often wondered whether
they would try as hard to keep far away
FROM God in tho next world, as they do
from His mouth pioco in this world. We
90 not say VIC arc an exception to this
criticism, but we arc sorry it applies 80 gen
orally to tho human race
TIE SMALLs CAsE.-The resolution in
tho case of Smals, introduced by Congress.
man B. L. Butler on Wednesday and
adopted, is as follows:
"Whereas it appears from telcgraphic
statements in tho public newspapers that
Robert Smulls, member of this House, was
by the authorities of tho State of South
Carolina arrested on the eve of starting to
attend to his duties as member of this
liouso for an alleged offence against the
laws of the State of South Carolina. com.
mlttted about four years ngo, aud before he
was elected member of this House. and
held to answcrby giving bail TO-. his appear.
ance at the proper court, and that thcrcaf-
forwards said Snalls appeared at tho bar of
this House and took the prescribed oath and
qualified himself as q member of this
liouse and then returned to South Carolina
to answer according to the tenor of his re-
cognizancc; and whereas it further appcars
as aforesaid that said SmalIs is now held in
close arrest IN Jail under the orders of the
State Court of South Carolina, SO that no is
h.ndered aud prevented from appearing in
his seat here TO attend to his duties es a
u'cmtcr of this House. and that he IS
absont without leave of this House; There
fore,
BE II 'esol0ea, That the Comnpiitttteo on
the Ju3Gd" beco'1,sa md .tiihJy arc hereby, uu
thorlliyssd aud requested to examine into the
parliamentary prcccdents in such cases, aud
report whether there has been any Invasion
of tho rights and privileges of this House;
whether tho detention of said SmalIs is legal
and jnatiiiable; and what. if any, action
ought to be taken by the House under the
circumstances OF this casc, and report there
on forthwith; and said committee arc further
authorized to send for persons aud papers
i, N their Judgment it be necessary to full
and complete investigation of the matter
committed to them"
MASSACHUSETTS AND VIRaIN1A,--Dr.
Lorlng, OF Massachusetts, has written a
letter addressed to his constituents in
which he gives summary of what he saw
on his recent trip to Virginia. Ho states
that the Journey Of tho President to Rich
aioGd was remarkable tor the cordiaty with
which he was received by all assemblies and
individuals with whom he was brought 10
contact. The same spirit wus manifested
by tho committee of tho city of Richmond,
composed of men of different opinions. DR..
Loriog says ho should not have known that
there wero different races or different parties
or that there ever had been othor social
relations than those now existing in Virgin.
ia, from anything he saw or heard there
tic often heard tho political future of the
colored people discussed, and always with
tho full recognition of their rights. under
tho constitution pbo do.,.. -