The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-12
Our Relation to Each Other.

out W LuOh OthOts
Dear Ncigh6or:
My last communication on Christian
Journalism, together with q line of
thought presented in sermon last
Sabbath, have suggested for present
consideration, Our relation to each
othcr. This is of course q comprehen-
sive subject, and can only be touched
upon in a short newspaper article.
Our relation to each other is lesson
the world is taking its time to learn.
The indifference, or the want of con-
Germ for others, is q spirit deplorably
vast in force and circulation among
men, even under the boasted light "of
these the closing years of the nine
teenth century"
The same spirit which developed in
Cain the act of murder is still rife
among us. Am my brothers keep
er?" Back of this interrogative an
swer, rested the great difficulty, and
therefore had recently found shape in
the murder of Abel.
This brief historical account con-
cerning Cain and Abel, shows even at
this early stage of human history, the
possibilities of human nature, either
for good or evil.
1t is the second account we have,
bringing out the hidden forces, and
contrasted possibilities of human life.
1t shows what a man can be practi-
cally, when he lives life cf obedience
to God and truth, and from the same
picture, we also see, into what ex-
tremes of disobedience a man may
drift, and into what depths of sin and
crime he may fall, when he cultivates
wrong sentiments, and wilfully ig-
nores God and law.
Gains life prior to the commission of
murder, had it's tendency in that di-
rcction, and when he had educated
himself for that class of work, it took
but little effort to commit the deed, as
soon as the occasion offered.
Men educate or qualify themselves
for the performance of certain lines of
action, aud it only takes the occasion,
which springs into play the passions
thus cultivated to consummate the
deed.
A man may have hatred and murder
in his heart, and yet never commit the
actual deed, although in sentiment,
and cultivation, and in the develop
ments of the faculties Of his nature, he
is thoroughly equipped and prepared
for that class of crime. He has quail
fled himself for it by harboring hate,
and by habitually fostering such
thoughts and sentiments, as make this
spirit, the prominent feeling and feat
ure of his life. What ever men do
most they do best.
There are men in this country to-
day, who have thought wrong, and de-
sired wrong, until they have almost
disqualified themselves for any thing
else.
All this antagonizes human and di-
vine relation. 1t paralyzes all social
sympathy. 1t destroys the possibili-
ties of mans life for good. Senti-
ment and action always stand as near
ly related as the laws of society will
allow.
Principles fostered, make character
sure. Cain expressed it all when he
said, Gam I my brothers keeper"
We want no better proof of this
than the crime he had so recently COM
mitted.
A want of individual concern for
others grows out of selfishness, hate,
and total ignorance of our relation to
God, and our race, it matters not in
whom developed, or by whom COM
mitted. 1t is this spirit which lies at
the back of all the crime Of our ma
ton from the highest to the lowest
grades of society.
All this idea of "civH aOar," (what q
misnomer y claimed as product of
patriotism, only springs from the sad
fact, that wrong ideas, false opinions,
and brutal hatred, get the ascendency,
and thereby demonstrate the possibili-
ty of human natures wrong tendency.
History shows beyond doubt, that the
whole cultivation, development, and
final result of such education is to
ruin.
1t disorganizes society, and glooms
as well as retards the higher and better
growth Of humanity.
w. SMITH MARTIN.