The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-03-06
OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise, Pre-.
pared by Mark.
NO. IN.

the unhallowed habit of taking Jeho-
vah's name in vain. The subject of to-
days Sunday column will be the sin of
profanity.
And, first, what is profanity?
1t is irreverence of sacred things, par
tlcularly tho use of language which i'm
plies irreveronce toward God; the taking
OF Gods name in vain. Itmeans to trea
Jehovah:s name with contempt. Pro-
family in man is vulgar and odious.
Profanity in woman is shocking and de-
teStable.
The protano person breaks tho third
commandant. God spako these words
and said: Thou shalt not take tho
name of the Lord thy God in vain; for
the Lord will not hold him guiltless that
taketh His name in vain."-Exodus,
20:7.
The profane man places himself under
the penalty of the sin, which the pc til
ton in our Lords prayer condemns: Our
Father which art in Heaven, halloWed
by Thy Name" How daring in puny
man to trif1e with the name of God-a
Name which angels utter with adoring
awe. How sacred should earth
hold this Name. But, alas, how
prevalent is profanity. The good man
can find no place of retreat where his
ears are not shocked by the sound of
profane and vulgar oaths. When We
travel we are compelled to listen to pro-
fanity-in the cars, in tho stage coach,
in the saloon of the steamer, in the
hotel, at the public meal, on the street,
in the social circle, on the rostrum. in
the marts Of trado-every where that
Name, so pure and holy, is unhallowed
and blasphemcd.
Consider, too, the shocking frequency
and stupid Indifference with which the
name of God is often repeated in prayer.
How daringly and how generally is it
protaned in common C, nversatlOn; so
generally, that no sex, age, or quality
Is exempt from this impious custom.
Some people urge thoughtlessness as an
excuse for tho frequent and daring pro-
fanation of the name of Jehovah. But
thoughtlessness Is no excuse. God will
not hold any man guiltless that taketh
His name i'll vain.
1t is sad and wicked PROCLAMATION of
the name of Jehovah to employ that
Name to round and point vulgar jestor
impure narrative.
Men are to be pitied who are so base
and so stupid as to connect the name OF
Jehovah with vulgar stories and obscene
converse ton. The holy Name is often
appropriated for effect in the drama. 1t
is used to emphasize mans word and
give it force and confidence. But who
believes man who has to resort TO pro-
family to make his word go? Every pure
minded honest man and woman dis
counts the word of the man who couples
his declaration with profane oath. /
regret 10 have it to say that America is
fast acquiring an ignominious reputa.
ton for profanity. Americans have
outstripped the Orientals in this destest-
able sin.
1t Is stated by writer that after DIR.
Scudder's return from India as mis-
sionary, he was travelling on a steam
boat with his little son, and as usual
some poor, silly, sinful fool, in the
shape of man, was interspersing his
conversation with oaths and unhallowed
repetitions OF Gods name.
Approaching him the missionary
said; my dear sir. this son of mine was
born and brought up in heather coun-
try and in land of idolatry, but in all
his life he never heard man blaspheme
his Creators name until now The
man apologized and blushed with shame
and moved away.
Profanity is an essentially vulgar sin,
a characteristic habit of the criminal.
the libertine, the sot, the outcast "A
gentleman" says that model of cour.
teSy SO often quoted in circles whore
etiquette is the law of life-Lord Cnes.
terield -"Devcr swears." An e,l.in-nt
divine, Dr. Board man. of Pniladei phia,
says; Profanity is silly, id,ota sin.
The drunken man swears, ana me
drunken he is the more profuse are his
oaths, at least SO long as he is able to
articulate at all. One of the most pain
full things in connection with our
asylums for idiots and imbecile children
is tho easy capability with which they
swear. Tho lower the mental grade the
easier it IS to take the name of Jehovah,
our God, in vain. How incisive the genius
stroke of Shakespeare, when no repre-
sents Caliban-the savage, deformed.
half-witted slave OF Prospero saying:
You taught me language and my profit ont
ls know how to curse: The red plague rid you
For learning me your language"
How particular some mon are about
guarding their own paltry names.
though their equal or superior should
continually, in his narratives and iosts
and lies. call into use tho honor of a
buried father and tho purity of a row.
cred mother. and "employ them as the
expletives or emphatic portions of
speech-the tacks to bestud ard emboss
his frivolous, foolish, vulgar talk"
Such resentment wou d be right. But
what must be said OF men who usa Tod g
namo tbus-who blacken and stain and
desecrate the Name that Is above eyery
name-the Holy of Holes? Will tho
profane man, who reads this, answer?
Listen to George Herbert as he sings
warning to tho cheap swearer:
Take not His namc who made thy mouth. In
vain.
II gets thee nothing and hath no excuse
Lust and wine plead a pleasure; avarice gain.
But the cheap swesrer,