The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-04-21

honesty by hypocriticnl religion and we
nave to pay the heavy debts" 1t makes dis
migrating prejudices throughout the COM
munity and l say that 1t Is the duty OF
gospel Is preached In every pulpit that will
make men love The truth, and make them
h~onest-honest toward the State, honest to-
ward corporations, honest toward all classes
for honesty In transactions on the part OF n
great commercial nation like our own Is John
Baptist to the Gospel. I think That the our
~tcrieitcr and the thief may be converted but
l do not believe that q man in whose blood
runs secret dishonesty and hypocrisy can be
converted without these things coming 10 the
surface and being rcpented OF by him. Re.
lision Is not morality but there Is no relig-
lon without morality. Dirt Is not wheat; but
and there must be morality In public senti.
mont; and l do not know where We shall get
1t unless II comes out of our churches; and
this church, that never has been second III
any good word or work, ought not to be sec
Ond in c&erting q purgauve aud healing In.
fucnce OH the community In this matter OF
honesty.
Then, next, I think We are bound. as a
church, to zee to 1t that nc part of the great
work OF carrying out charities for the poor
and needy In our cities Is neglected Ivy us. l
have reason to think that you have been very
generous, and very const.nt In your generos-
Ky; but l call your attention TO one thing
which you are IN danger Of making mistakes
about. I believe In organic charities. In De.
licve In organizing n great many charities, as
being the easiest and surest way Of helping
thosc that are In need but, after all, the best
part OF charity is not what you give with the
hand but what you give with tue heart and
| think that every Christian household
should have u certain number OF families or
people over whom they. In charity, should
constitute themselves, as 1t were, relieving
bishops. 1t is what you and they need. You
ought TO go among those who are poor and
needy NJ be In personal sympathy with
them. Do not, therefore. send our ten
carry your ten. Do not send your money {:
carry our money. Look after the needy
yourself. DO not send them to the Society for
Employing the Poor. See personally that
they receive the attention and the employ
mcnt which they need. Do 1t for YOU "
sake and for their sake.
This has beenn a orthodox church. And 1t
has been Congregational church.. There has
not been an hour nor o moment when l was
Pope In this church. There has not been an
hour nor Il N In which this church has
not determined It's own affairs. My intiu-
ence, through love, has been great with you
and when you have thought l WIS wrong
you have not lIesitated to override me; and |
have felt very proud OF that-for l have not
undertaken to bring up q lot OF puppets {: l
have undertaken to bring up men that should
think and act for themselves. 1t has been
my pride and my glory TO know that this was
q church the individual members, OF which
Ind been instructed to be independent men
in Christ Jesus, | hope that spirit will 20 on.
anu that you will not allow our liberties to
slip from you, nor suffer any man to get con-
troll Of yon. / hopo you will continue TO be n
Congregational church, not In an cccleslastl-
cal sense, nor in n party sense, but In the
sense Of being n church full Of living men,
! the whole OF them vital In all matters 81
right and duty. | hope this church VIII
consider its past history, and look well to lis
future. l cannot now tell what 1t vii! be
twenty years hence but in heaven ! shnll
know; and If, stumbling by the side OF him
who has redeemed me; II. Joining again my
mother, and my father, and my children, and
the dear brethren that have gone out from
among US. I behold the glory of Christs ex,
ample reflected In this church ; If I sec II
manifest sacrificing and suffering love fol
the unworthy and the unrcclnimed; II / see
IL exhibiting Christ's life over again, AND
pouring out It's blood. rs 1t were. for those
who are in need, living not for itself but fol
the world, 1t will give one new strain OF Joy
to the songs that l shall sing. II one new
wing-brat to my ecStacy.
May God take care of you, fill you full OF
the dying love Of Jesus Christ, and make you
piteous, Sympathizing, tender hearted. ant
unwcaricd In your activity. especially fol
those who cannot pay you back agnin, thai
you may have full remuneration when yor
shall stand In Zion. before God, and in thu
glory OF tho outbursting vision. and shall
hear Christ saying to you, and to every one OF
YOU, ENTER welcome"