The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-25

notice would mention that which DR.. Will
son delivered some time ago in the Presbyte
rian church, on the relations OF Master and
Servant-EInployer and Employee. There
was more practical good In that sermon than
there woud be in an indefinite number O
learned theological discussions In which the
people are not Interested. and which they dc
not understand, and In many Instances, dc
not care 10 understand. That sermon gave VI
that touched the people atalmosL every point
in our daily life.
A GOOD MANS MISTAKE.
Citing another instance of local mention ny
the pulpit would refer to the banquet which
some Of our citizens gave TO the Burgess
Corps last February. BY the unexpected de-
lay OF the passenger train, they did not arrive
until after NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. hence
the supper was given after midnight-on Sun
day morning-between the hours OF twelve
and two o'clock.
The Rev. F. Y. Pressly in his righteous In
dignation gave energetic denunclatlon of the
same In the newspapers, without In any way
regarding the palliaLlng or unfortunate cir
cumstance which placed his fellow citizens In
an awkward and perplexing dilemma. In
stead OF sy ympathlZing with brethren who re-
gretted the Iateness OF the hour at which the
banquet was held, he took occasion to drive
the steel deep into their s0uls and To give the
participants most severe public nrralgu'
ment.
Not one word of sympathy or extenualion
was entertained or uttered because Of the fact
that the supper was unintentionally belated,
but they were censured as If they had from
thought and with the deliberate Intention OF
disregardlng divine injunction.
For his spotless Christian character; for his
sincerity OF purpose; for bis distinguished
ability; for his eminent piety; for his great
literary attachments, and for personal friend.
ship to him, yield nothing In admiration 10
anybody; but his action In this instance was
indiscreet. It destroyed that selfaccusation
which existed in every heart. II awakened
In those who were arraigned, arguments OF
self-defense-a feeling Of Justification-a seek
mg for eXcuse-aud In the hearts OF some,
there may have been more or less of feeling
Of Indignation and resentment at what they
ness, and what they believed to be the grev.
GUS wrong that he had perpetrated against
them.
This incident is mentioned with no view OF
defense for the lateness OF the supper. No
defense is needed, and no defense Is desired.
1t was just one Of those occurrences
for which we were not responsible.
But the circumstance Is mentioned To
make clear our point that the exercise oi
proper discretion and the application Of COM
mon. practical rules, are rs necessary for sue
cess in the winning OF souls, and In the build.
Ing OF churches, as In other pursuits OF life.
In this instance, the preacher melted or
moved no heart, and by his severe net he
drew no sin-laden soul TO his confidence, and
whatever effect 1t had on those who were cen-
sured was that OF alienation.
PROFANITY IN THE PULPIT AND ELSEWHERE.
One of the prevailing sins OF the day is pro-
family, or an irreverent use of the name OF
the Almighty. All the way from the pulpit,
down to the highways and alleys. this Holy
Name Is dragged into the slime ana mre, and
Is alike lightly taken on the Ups OF the
preacher, the church member, and NOSE with.
out the pale OF the church.
AS understand 1t. all His creatures are for,
bidden to take His Name on their lips, except
In reverential awe. DO we not often hear
that Name hundred times In single ser
mon OF thirty-five minutes, and when SO often
heard, Is IL not as 1lppanily used az IL the
preacher were talking of Tom Jones or Ben
TIllman?
The church members in some instances
following the example OF the preachers,
often take the same upon their lips, but they
generally, In an apologetic way, pronounce II
Gawd. The reprobate on the highways, stil
uses the Name in much the old way, with
this difference, that he does so on provoca.
tion, or on the loss OF temper, but the preach
er fires this Name at his congregation seem.
ingly Without provocation or necessity. The
good church members have In some instances
approached so near. and have become so ia:
miliar with the Almighty, that they too feel
that they can take His Name on their lips at
pleasure-if they only pronounce II Gawd.
II some Of our preachers would question
their conduct little. and set us better ex
ample in not familiarizing ourselves with that
Name, we might hear less profanity, and Ger
tainly less irreverent use OF the Name before
which every knee should bow
ATTACKS ON BIBLE TRANSLATIoNS MAKE IN
FIDELS.
Many preachers make q great mistake ir
spending valuable time, criticlsing the trans
latiOn of the Bible,
1t Is not uncommon to hear the translation
criticised by men TO whom we accord no grea
degree OF education.
II has not been so long ago that ministe
OF the gospel was reported to have asked al
eminent divine If he did not fear the evil In
fiuence Of Bob 1ngersoll on our religion
attacks on the translation Of the Bible by ig
norant and unlearned preachers was doing
| much more to make infldels than all the elo
quepcs that Bob Ingersoll could command
THE TORRENTS.
We hear too much of the torments of tn,
| lost.
Ours is a God of love, and ours is q religion
| OF love and devotion. II Ii q religion OF prln
ciple. based upon an Intelligent conviction o
| right and wrong, and we should be taught Il
do the right because 1t Is right, and becaus
| we love the right, and not because we lea
punishment That is The way religion, mo
rality, truth and good fellowship are taught I.
~
and not The chief instrument In setting bo.
or u girl on the right road in life. He who de
| pcnds upon the terrors Of the law TO scar
| his bearers and To keep his congregation II
line will have mem bership which In soin'
Instances will have only the merest veneerinl
OF The true religion.
That kind of preaching which would induc
us to strive for salvation as a teacher Wou Il
inspire boy with ambition TO seek the priZ
In school, falls far short of a proper concep
Lion OF the true religion, which we shoul,
| love because IL Is good and beautiful in itsell
and not because OF the gllttering prize whlct
| IL held before our eyes us an inducement u
embrace the forms, 1t may be, without pos
Sessing the principles, Of the true religion.
MINISTERIAL ERROR.
| Sometimes error Is made by the effort TO al
btrarily rule the conduct of church members
notably on dancing. A learned divine IN
Southern city some time ago when spoken Il
on The subject said that he never pronounced
directly against dancing, but that II his mem
bers danced he was sorry, and accepted tl
| fact as an evidence of the lack OF spirituality
and that for their lack of spirituality he iei
more or less responsible, and then directed
his efforts TO remedying the evil by seeking 4
revive the religious sense Of his people. Ill
regarded dancing rs the symptom ol tie ulS
ease and not the root of 1t.
| Sometimes preachers OF less ability ant
less spirituality than the one OF whom
have Just spoken, Disregard the proprietie
aud decencies and, from the pulpit OF I'M
sanctuary itself, proceed to denounce tnos'
who dance In vulgar and coarse terms. Any
one can tell which is the better or more Truly
christian course 10 pursue.
| VAIN REPErIrIoNs.
TOO many preachers, in order to fill out u
an hours length sermon wnich Shoulu Dt
delivered In thirty minutes weary their near
ers by useless repetitiOns. and superaDun
dance of meaningless words, which are empty