Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-06-17

introduced it into Java and the East Indies.
The extent of the consumption now can
scarcely be realized. The United States alone
annually consume it at the cost, at it's land
ing, of from $15,OO0,000 to SIG, 100000. +
a| HYPOCRISY IN RELIGION.
There has recently been lamenting among
the clergy over the degeneracy of the laity
and the lack of spiritual vitality in the church
es. FIFTY years ago." said venerable cler-
gyman, the other day in meeting of minis
ters, "6fty years ago, to be member Of an
orthodox church was certificate of good
character, and a poor man who was in good
standing in his church could get credit wher.
ever he was known. But how is it now?
Who will now trust any one simply because
he is church member? And what has
brought about this change ?" These ques-
tions were answered with smile and shaking
Of heads by the brethren. But they are wor.
thy Of another answer, even though the faces
that smile and the heads that shake are those
of melancholy clergymen mourning over the
desolations in Zion. ~. s.s.g r ,...,a
The reason that membership OF the church
City years ago stood as certificate of charac-
ter, was because then the churches made char.
acter test of membership. In those days, If
church member lied, defrauded his neigh
Dor, didn't pay his tradesman's bills, or in any
way failed in his outward and ordinary NOR
al obligations, he was called to account and
disciplined, and if he continued to offend he
was expelled from the church. But now in
these our days, a layman, or even a clergy
man, may refuse to pay bis debts or neglect
his moral obligations in any way that does
not create public scandal, without endan-
gering bis standing in the church, and, there
fore, certificate Of church membership is no
longer certificate of character. .,...
In many cases the chief struggle of con-
gregation now is to pay the running expenses
of the church, keep up appearances, and make
respectable show to the world. For these
purposes rich laymen are needed; and rich
laymen must not be questioned too closely as
to the manner in which they get the money
paid to the church, or have their liberty
chilled by annoying inquiries about their
morals or their lives. The rich being thus al
lowed to do as they please, the poor must not
be too strictly dealt with, as it would not do
to discipline poor layman for what a rich
one is permitted to practice with impunity.-
Of course, there are rich laymen as well as
poor ones, whose lives would bear scrutiny,
and they are the pillars Of the church in the
modern system but, according to the testino-
ny Of the clergy themselves, the churches are
now encumbered to such an extent with men,
bers whom their neighbors will not trust, as to
render church membership no longer Of avail
as certificate of character.
The creed of church is apt to take prece-
dence of the conduct of its members, SO that
it becomes school of doctrines instead of one
of morals The question no longer is the
quality Of mans life, but his opinion of
certain dogmas. When this stage of devel-
opment is o ice reached, denomination is al
most sure to become latitudinarian in life and
morals, no matter how strict it may be in rit-
uals and doctrine. 1t was the recurrence Of
the decadepce in spiritual and moral life in
the church which called out Erasmus and Sir
Thomas More and others. The perpetual ten
dency of human nature is to seek its own ease
and buy itself off from the performance Of
disagreeable duties It is hard to keep the
commandments and live righteous lives, but
it is easy to pay tithes of mint, anise and cum
min. 1t is easy to subscribe to creeds and
contend for doctrines, and stand by the church;
and in such cases to stand by the church usu.
ally means to give literally to the church of
the spoil which the church permits its mem.
bers to wreat from the world by any means
that will not expose them or her to fragrant
scandal. .s ttfi
The principles of Righteousness must pre-.
vail in all matters of conduct. It il not what
man processes, but what he does, that deter.
mines his doom. Dishonest, unrighteous work
has always brought disaster. Inasmuch as
this righteousness will, in the long run, expose
all lies and shams in spite of the world, the
flesh and the devil, the church which becomes
Indifferent to the conduct of its members, and
wipks at and shares in the spoils Of moral der.
ELECTION, and runs to seed in the theological
dogmas, is sure to reach stage of denorali.
cation so obvious that its certificate Of MEM
bership becomes badge of reproach.
Some of our professors teach what they call
applied science; that is, they teach their pu.
pills to apply science to practical business so
as to secure the best possible results. The
churches, in like manner, should make 9 spe-
cialty Of applied religion. That is to say,
they should teach their members to apply re-
Iigion to the practical affairs of every day
life.-Neu York Sun.
QUEEN OF ALL.-Honor the dear old