Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-04-29
DECLINE OF REVERENCE.
Painful Indications Of fiippanoy a %
e.xrsI IItuua.

Painful Indications Of riippapoy rs TO
Sacred Things.
II sometimes seems almost thing OF
the past. Reverence for parents, for
teachers and persons in exalted positions
used 10 DO observed with the strictest
care, but ut the present day nothing
ev1nces the Lax rule which obtaina IN
many families Of good standing rs the
utter lack Of reepect or difference paid
by the young TO those who are older ana
wiser than themselves. Deplorable rs
we hold II to bo that the old time code
Of manners and decorum is 20 rapidly
passing away, there IL yet a far more Inn
portant consideration connected with
the general lack OF reverence prevailing
with reference to sacred matters.
We read tho other day. ut u very
easy 20 lower our standard Of reverence
for anything. We have only TO speak OF
u habitually In light way. There is
nothing like It to take the life out Of the
most precious text Of Scripture. We
may repent OF such sin with bitter weep
ing, but those words can never DO TO rs
again what thoy were before. We may
have cut down n bridge we shall some
day vainly long TO cross We must
confess TO having listened with astonish-
mont 10 what were considered clever
conundrums asked by protesting Chris
tians, and made by twisting and turning
somc Bible verse in the most ludicrous
manner, aud 20 making It serve to an
swcr the laughable question.
Years and years ago, In the thoughtlcss
years Of childhood, q companion much
older than ourscf repeated u portion Of
the Lords Prayer. making the sweet,
simple sentence 10 rhyme with silly. ir-
reyerent line. aud long after maturity
had been reached the foolish rhyme
would force itself into tho mind when
striving with all reverence TO repeat tho
pun and hallowcd prayer. And just 10
there comes TO he verso after verse which
has been trnycstled and made tho sub
feet Of n riddle, until "a tho eyes fall upon
II In tho sacred volume. or rs the min.
lister reads u from the sacred desk. invol.
unfairly into the mind darts tho queer,
grotesquc use which has been made OF
tho verse. Shame that II ever should DO
NO. And great pity II Is that any ono
protesting love for tho word OF God
should DO willing to repeat even u very
so-called "outoT connndrum, made by
misapplying text Of Scripture capable
Of serving double meaning.
We believe that the Tcstamcnts Of tho
Bible arc tho invaluable legacles by the
study Of which the life can be ennoblcd,
and through acceptance Of their teach
ings tho soul can be saved. They come
to us from God tho Father and his son.
Jesus Christ. What would be thought
OF man or woman who would DO will
ing to take the sayings or precepls Of a
good parent and make fun. not exactly
of them. but out Of thcmi What right
minded person would regard other than
with contempt such really contemplate
lack Of reverence and respect. such lack
Of dclicacy. Of iilial feeling and rcgaril
The trouble Il that 1.-THE standard Of rev.
orcnce." US before quoted. has been low.
cred by allowing these things to be
spoken Of repeatedly, II not habitually.
In light way.
A believer In tho precious truths Of
the Bible should remember two things
In this connection: First, a loose. llyht
apnlica,ion OF scrip,ural ycr.. /. gen.
orally the work OF some one who Ia no
lover OF The preccp,a themselves or Of
him who gave them; and ngain. there
come, a time when no other promises
than those Of the Bible can sustain tho
falnting. diving heart. no other words
comfort and support tho shirt when IN.
dark valley Of Tho shadow Of death is