Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-02-27
REMOVING THE DEBRIS CON
TINUED.
BY Geo. t. Jones, Weston, w. Va.


The church among all civilized
people is the acknowledged leader
of society. Then how important
that that great dissemination oflight
should occupy position beyond
the bounds of just criticism, for if
the moral light itself be darkness,
how great is that darkness. The
church, of all other organizations,
should maintain the reverence and
respect of a community, but when
ever the pulpit falls behind, the
church at once loses its influence
upon the people. Sectarianism when
fostered, becomes a gnawing cancer
at the very vitals of the church.
The sensational revivals of these de-
generate days are becoming another
stumbling-stone. A religion Of fits
and-starts seems to have supplanted
the staid christianity of a quarter
century ago. Almost every commu-
nifty has its annual revivals and its
annual professors. The effect of
this condition of things is to drive
men into skepticism and in fact
makes them worse than before. Why
is it that our ministers do not take
steps to correct this evil? In many
sections this method has been in
dulged so long that the people are
almost ready to say that there is no
reality in the profession of any. Our
race, naturally emotional does not
need excitement or sensational in
struction, but solid, practical
christianity, a morality which goes
away down into the soul and revo-
lntionizes the whole man and makes
him a more exalted order of being.
The religious instructions given are
frequently too commonplace and
near the level of common thought.
The idea that the ignorant need an
ignorant instructor, never found
place, except for short while, in
the mind of any man but the igno-
ramus, who sought the unmerited IT,
tie of instructor. This theory is
contrary to Bible teaching and the
dictates of common-sense. Then let
us raise our united voices in one
loud and long appeal for better
educated ministry. Those who love
to criticise the pedagogue, say, that
sas the teacher is, so is the school,. F"
This saying is quite opposite here,
and may be applied with equal OPP
position and force to the church and
clergy. But shall not charge the
sum total of degeneracy to the cler-
gy, for the home training has much
to do with the part that each gen.
eratiou plays in the drama of the
worlds history. One Of the great
est promoters of evil among us is
bad English. Destroy or pervert
peoples language and you destroy
its @sthetical tendencies of mind.
Destroy language and you destroy
the sentiment OF ideality. In fact,
you inaugurate an evil condition
which permeates the whole being or
race and renders it a companion for
barbarians. On the other hand a
refined and intelligent language re-
fines ,cultivates and modifies its pos
SCISSOR. Teach the rising generation
the use of refined English and you
have gained one very important step.
| sometimes wonder whether we re-
allze all the evil that flows from the
use of an uncultured language. OH
fathers and mothers OF my race, do
you see to it that your children learn
the use of a refined language? Do
You use profanity in the presence Of
your little ones? If you do, let me
lmplore you to cease at once. Do
you make use of a coarse, uncultur-
ed language? beseech you to stop
at once. That little mind impressed
with the image of all it comes in
contact with; that little germ, SO
tender is cognizant of the softest