The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-07-18
Society of Friends.

Societies OF every name and order
are so numerous, all over our land,
that you can scarcely meet an indi-
vidual who does not belong to some
Yet there is great
room for another, i. e., the Society Of
Friends. The rich and intelligent,
the poor and illiterate all have need
Of true friends. Not such as the
world gives, that will seek to inture
you and then meet you with smile,
but frendship that is based on q
true and ennobling principle. Every
community ought to form one, if not
two societies, and meet every month
and report; each guilty member be
reproved and required TO make resti-
tuition for said offence. The head of
each household should keep book,
and once every week inquire of each
member of the family if any have
been 'lying or tale bearing" TO the
injury Of others. And thus early i'm
press upon every one how wrong it is
to bear tales, to repeat stories to the
damage of any one even though they
may be true. 1t is sin of no small
deglee 10 Getract from the just repu-
tation Of o neighbor or friend. This
is very fruitful subject, MIR. Editor,
and we can only touch npon u few
points, from which we view, it. 1t is.
e proper subject for the Greside for
it is there children leuln to respect
the reputation of others, or acquire
the degrading habit of tale bearing.
No better way can this habit grow
with child's growth than. on every
occasion when it returns from q visit
to neighbor or friend, for member
Of the family 10 commence asking u
thousand and one questions, of what
it saw and heard, consequently, if
they see or hear nothing worthy Of
notice, they will tell what they did
not see or hear. Never question
children unless you wish to instil in
them the low principle of tale boar
ing. Why, if you take mans prop
erty from him and leave his good
name, he can get credit upon il with
which TO accumulate more proper
ty; you destroy his reputation, how
difficult it is for him ever to, regain
it. You say, perhaps, ~ did not start
the evil story-I only repeated what
was i'll everybody's mouth" Ali
there's just where your guilt lies,a
tale bearer who seeks and takes u .
malicious pleasure in fabricaling q
scandal to destrov the reputation OF
others. Even respectable people re-
peat reports and fail 10 give their au-
thor, which soon passing from mouth
to mouth on the wings of gossip, ~
victim is made and a reputation lis
destroyed. .UHfoI tiiuateiy iaie bear-
ing is not confined to children; we
heard man say, not long since, that
he never saw, in all his life, worso
set of. people than the farmers, their
wives and daughters, for backbiting,
slandcring and trying generally to
pick, each other 20 pieces. We know
it is not confined to the farmers, their
wives and daughters, and he ought TO
have known it, for he, has tried to
farm, practice law, and frequently
stands behind the sacred desk, anus
counter, and we do hope he is not
guilty.in that he has accused, others.
lie also can tell what the wisest man,
said is more TO be desired than great
riches. We. have never lived in u
town, village or city, and, cannot say
how greatly the Society Of Friends
are needed there. Perhaps the gen
tleman, though country born and
oled, ms visited these places TO his
satisfaction and know whereof he
speaketh. Now, Mr.. Editor, if we
bad Society Of Friends formed, it
would correct this evil and prove u
blessing in elevating the society of
our country. The golden rule has
never been learned bv many, and
ii were better for some had not
learned il at all. Perhaps when
the sllverv light OF intellectual
powers shall burst forth from the
great effort that is being made by the
Teachers Institute, and shed its gen.
ial rays over our land, then we will
have society that is pure, dignitied
and elevating. Till then we may ex-
nect 10 Lnar oil liz a..:l IL - N