The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-22
PROFANITY IS UNMANLY.
It is Silly, Useless and Degrading.
A Sermon by Rev. r. T. Vann in Scot
land Neck Baptist Church, Sun
day, January "a, 1894.

"IHOu shalt not take the name Of the
Lord My God in rain; for the Lord rill
not hold him guiltless that taketh has
name in rain."-Ex 2O.7.
When one reads the first and second
commandments he may doubt wheth-
er, for the American people, they are
not out of date. But when he strikes
this third prohibition he knows he has
touched modern life in every grade.
For, be it said to our shame, no class or
rank in society is free from the ungod-
ly and unmanly habit of profanity.
Much of what passes for by-words, idle,
perhaps, but harmless, is breach of
the third commandment dad blame"
| is only "God blame" modified. dad
burn" takes the place of "God burn"
while 'Zounds," an abbreviation Of
His wounds" is an impious and bias
phemous reference to our Saviour's
bloody death The irreverent use OF
scriptural texts to point pun or en-
bellish a story violates the spirit of this
commandment and the glib and ready
quotation of profane speech is simply
bald profanity. 1t is swearing by
proxy. 1t is gratuitous end orsement
of the swearer 1t reveals the true
spirit of the person quoting it and
shows that shame Or fear, but not
any reverence for the sacred name of
God, prevents him from swearing on
his own account These are the facts
unimpeachable. Let us hope that the
many protesting Christians who in
dulge in this vicious habit do so be-
cause their attention has never been
called to its exceeding wickedness
In this third Commandment God
expresses grave concern for the sanct-
ity of his name Is this concern un-
reasonable? Do not men feel a sim
liar care about their names? Handle
the average mans name carelessly,
and you need not be surprised at
bullet or blow. Names represent
character many, therefore, are the de-
scriptive terms under which Gods
great name is set forth in Scripture.
It is called great name" an "excel-
lent name," a "glorious name,"
''holy name," an 'everlasting name"
'sfearful NAME" "terrible name"
And in the form of prayer left us by
Jesus the first of all, ''Hallowed be thy
name" In treating the text tonight,
it Is simply proposed to lay down and
briefly enforce some propositions
which, it is believed, will command
the assent of all fair-minded men, even
of swearers themselves.
l. Profane swearing is a silly habit
1t requires no unusual skill to swear
1t exhibits no unusual intelligence.
The simpleton can equal the sage in
this low business. Anybody can swear,
as forcibiy as you. Moreover, the COM
mon oath means nothing What do
these curse words mean to the man
who uses them? Anything at all?
Positively nothing. This, indeed, is
the swearer's ccmmonest plea: He
"means nothing by it," But what
means nothing is nonsense. Isn't it?
Silly? Oh so silly If you could see,
good friend, how pitfully stupid your
swearing makes you appear, you would
give over the habit from very shame.
2. Profanity is q useless habit. 1t
adds no beauty, no elegance to your
conversation, and no force save among
the vulgar 1t does not make you or
ANYBODY else any wiser, any happier or
any better. It gives no higher cred
ibility to your word even in the
minds OF the most profane. 1t really
lowers most peoples respect for your
veracity.
can cen when sober truth prevails
throughout,
They swear it till affirmance breeds
doubt"
If you can not trust your own word
without an oath, do not be surprised II
others decline to trust it with an oath.
In what respect does swearing help
vou9 Does il Oren the door of society !