Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-10-18
d TempOra, d NIOrcS

| TempOra, D NIOrcsl
Rev Dr.. Lsyburn preached Sunday mort ~
OF the Associate Reformed Church. Baltimore,
on "The Tendencies of the Times His text
was from Matthew Xiii, 2SI: IAN enemy has
done this." Af.er an eloquent Introduction
DR.. Ley burn s,id THE careful observer can
not fail 10 noti,s that great ard widely roach
ing changes have taken paoa 10 this country,
both in public and private nffsirs The sim
pllcty and purity of tho earlier days have
given way, aud are succeeded by an epoch Of
extravaganza, protension, rivalry for display,
! Rra9plug after riches, and mach nations and
| scramblipgs for plac, and favor. Crime %
| longer confines itself to the more degraded
GLASSES, but often climbs into the ranks ofrespeot-
| abiliiy-sometimss even invading what should
bs the sacred circle ofthc protesting Christians.
Abundant material is at hand" he said, "fo
show the tenderces of the times in political sf.
| fairs and comm ,rcial dealings; but be would
con6ne himself to the interior view of our af
| fairs, looking moro particularly at the Church,
the Sabbath, ard family. Tho evidence is
| that there is detection from the former bat
| ter days. and, though is may not have as yet
| assumed gigantic proportions, there can be no
doubt that the tide is making Roadway, and
| that unless speedily res Sled, terrible results
must ensue. Enough already presents itself to
any intelligent AMI reaeotiug mini c,mpsrirg
tho present with the past and beholdug the CON
trast. to render appropriate tho language Of the
text: An emmy has done this Dr.. Lsyburn
said that an eteny es far as possible keeps bi,
object out of sight, for to disclose his pur,
pose would be to defeat bis desigu.
Even when the olOven foot does appear
it is 80 covered with pretexis and apologies as
to rob it Of its offensive and perous chalaoer.
An enemy, to accomplish his mission. will do
bis work gradually. Though sometime ly
reVolution..it is accomplished, yot the suro way
is step BY step, little by little, aud in due season
their Influences will make themselves felt 10
serious and widespread mischief Among The
| tendencies of the times is noted.
Church. CartaioIy, our Blessed Saviour der
signed that there should ho clear line Of DE-
marcation between the Church and tho world.
He intended tia! His people should be a
peculiar people" the light Of the world and
the sst of lhs earth. "Ba 20 not Of the world
even ss l am not OF the world" were tho words
of tho Saviour. St. Paul, therefore, exhorls
tho people 'B, not conformsd to this world,
but be 80 transformed BY til, renewing of your
mind." set your affections on things above"
The Apostle James also says: "kn0W ye not
that the friendship OF the world is eumity With
Coop While John says: Love not the
gorld, Dor the things that are 10 tho world"
This is the condition especially accepted 10 the
churches Of our land Protesting Christians
have been looked TO for an example Of Chris,
iian life and they have been Judged for beicg
Inconsistent and failhess to the profession. Is
it not frequently the ciss that a very minute
scrutiny Is ul sis-y &c detect to which sid, OF
the line the protesting Christian belong; and
q the oasO tho ent!r1 congregation remained
during the communion. might not tho worldly
spectator be surprise to sees s)me OF these aa
participants 10 that solemn ordianoe, 50 little
have the latter been careful to put of the gar
meuts of the wording and put on lh,se Of
Righteousness.
A great relaxation has taken p'a;s as to the
obligation and restriction required Of profess
iog Christiau. limo has been, and that not
very long ego, whom NJ one, expecting 10 be re-
garded as consistent church member, would
on any account be seen at theatre CT horsa
race 1t WAS understood tha! whore thefe was
true piety. with its spiritual tastes, there would
bo neither desire cor relish for suoh thiuga
But now things are different. Une may bs
day night 10 the dress circle of tho theatre,
where thero are ex posurcs of personal attitudes,
perhaps nueudoes aud double euteudres, which
would not be tolerated in the private dwelling,
and where the moral OF the play is immoral,
and tho prevailing type Of the pelfJrners is to
| match; or the ccmmunic,nt may be sean at tho
| Lords table on Sunday and during the week
| following may occupy conspicuous plao, ct
the raco course, whittier are coogregated largo
plumbers Of the sporting fraternity. aud where
the spirit of these character; ia SO diused that
even ladies are seen betting, and possibly, alas
some who are numbered among those whom
Christ calls The light of the world" or the
church member may be at the Lords table Gu
Sunday and before the week is ever she may be
found whirIiug amid tho maze5 Of the rouod
dance, her gentleman partner occupying 10 wards
her an attitude and taking liberties which un.
der any other circumstaces would be regarded
az justification for his being turued out OF the
door, With perhaps on impetus to accelerate
his descent to the street.
Foreigners have been welcomed TO our geneT-
ous soil and our free institutions. They have
bro prospered, I even beyond their dreams and suro
Ily this should satisfy them. But not So. They
m1ifst traasform cur Institutions to their ideas
and tastes, and foremost in their objects OF as.
s,nlt comes our hallowed Sabbath. They would
give us Continental European ounusy, WIN
ITS beer. gardena, Tivoli and dance houses. in
the place Of our quiet restful and elevsting day.
The Sabbath has to meet other perils besldes
this foreign one. Amidst us come those who
have what they term liberal idess. Our fore
fathers belong gsd to less enlightened times; They
were narrow, bigoted and Puritsnical. Ussges.
they say, change with the times, and must be
modif cd TO auit varying circumstances. Thus
between the two, We are in danger of losing ouI
American Sabbath Of bygone days. In ths
!, West the work of destruction has bssn partially
accomplished. Not only beer. gardens and Tiv
oils are in full blast in the leading Western
cities on Sabbath, but theatres open their door
on Sunday night. This also applies to the sum
: mer resorts that are springing into existence
Sabbath is being left behind. Even anon
church members the characteristic of bygon
times is being relaxed. As yet they have no
nada anu attack on tha eanctity Of the Sabbath