The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-05-21
SIanderlng and Backbiting.


Oh, how unlike the spirit Of Christ is
the spirit Of the backbiter and SLAM
derer! How unlike the followers Of the
meek and lowly Jesus is the person
who, in the absence of another, en-
ploys worldly member THE
tongue-in slandering, insinuating and
reproaching some neighbor to the graft
fication Of self-esteem or retaliation
and revenge. What pest to society,"
what curse to a neighborhood is he
or she who, instead of doing TO others
as they would wish to be done by,
sneak, listen and strain to catch OF
every sole word, or what they may
term an improper action, to stigmatize
and blast the reputation Of some one
who don't belong to their society, OF
whom they wish to degrade below
themselves. How much better it would
be for such people and tho world i
they would but look into their own
hearts before they gave vent to their
passions that set the fires Of hell to
blazing, producing q smoke that viii
only be blown into their own eyes.
II the most trivial report, unfayor'
able to persons reputation, be raised,
it is to the slanderer and backbiter q
feast Of fat things. They seize upon II
as q hungry eagle upon his prey, bear.
ing Il about, and, like o whirlwind, II
draws into its vortex variety OF Inn
probable circumstances, which increase
It's force. One person relates 1t to
another, with little addition, the sec
ond to the third with something more,
and thus the devil is exalted and the
innocent degraded.
A certain writer on slander says:
Hell can not boast 80 foul fiend, mol
man deplore so foul q foe. 1t is the
poisonous arrow whose wound Is in.
durable; it is the heartsearching dag.
ger of the dark assassin; 1t is the NOR
tai sting Of the deadly adder. Murder
is its employment, innocence its prey
and ruin its spoil" SANDER Is dan
gerous poison, for who is secure, whose
reputation is secure, when such foes
lurk about in darkness seeking whom
they may devourp A persons reputa-
ton Is as dear TO him as his hearts
blood; for ga good name" says Solo
mon, sis rather TO be chosen than great
riches" and says that illustrious Shake
speare:
''NTho steals my purse steals trash; it's somo'
Twas mine, It's his, and has been slave TO
| thousands.
But he that iiches from me my good namo
Robs me Of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed"
Yes, however wealthy person may
be, II his reputation Is traduced he
may be said to be poor indeed" for
wealth without a favorable reputation
is but an empty sound. 1t is much the
best II people can not in conscience
speak well Of their neighbors to say
nothing about them. II they can MOI
find any good to communicate in theil
daily visits, concerning their fellow-be.
ings, whether high or low, rich or poor,
professor or non-professor Of religion
let that charity that ''covers multi
tude OF sins" be thrown over their sup
posed failings; and II any have just
occasion TO speak or think evil Of then
fellow-creatures, let them go and set
them face to face, and thereby settle al
difficulties, for where there Is no "tale
bearer the strife ceases"
Then, o slanderer, whoever thou art
remember that thou art accountable fol
thy words, and that God twill by M
means clear the guilty; but will bring
every work into judgment with ever.
secret thing, whether it be good O
whether 1t be evil. Words Of Faith