The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-02-20


Gos3ppng.
Rev. J. G. Hidcn, D. d., OF Rich
mond, Va, preached q very practical
sermon not long ago, in which he
| dwclt with great force upon the danger
Of gossip that tends to impair public
conlidcnbc.
The text was the first worse of the
| l27th Psalm: " Except the Lord buill
the house: they labor, in vain that
bhild it; except the Lord keep tho
city, the watchman walteth but in
vain"
In discussing the last clause Of his
text, DR.. IIidon said that tho word
keep" meant to guard. "In this
connection" said the preacher. ~
have few words to say which may
impress some people as being too secu-
lar; but my theory Of n preachers duty
is that he ought to help his people at
every point at which he can do thom
good do not recognize the hard
and-!ast line which is drawn between
the secular ;ud the sacred. If man
If engaged i an indefensible business
six days in tlo week, he cannot keep
Sunday holy If 500 my people con-
Quoting Their business in q way that
must end in disaster, feel it my duty
to speak out, and in no uncertain
sound.
lone OF our evening papers had an
editorial In yesterdays issue, calling
attention to a matter which is of real
Importance to all our people just now.
We arc living in hard times. The ex-
ports in finance tell us and tho recent
bond sale justIies the view, that those
hard times arise not from lack of
money, but from lack of confidence.
Without confidence credit Is impOssi-
hlo, and without credit business dis
solves.
Now, If you go about town with
your head hanging down like bull
rush, predicting financial disasters,
saying that this and that and the other
firm are shaky and must soon go by the
board, then you are helping your
neighbors to fail, and you may well
look out that this does not cut short
your own rations. Paul says profound
ly, Mono OF us liveth to himself, and
no man dieth to HIMSELF Your busi-
ness depends largely upon tho business
prosperity OF your ncighbors. Your
living is made here in ISichmand, and
largely out OF Richmond people. Their
success means your success. Their
failure means short ratiOns for you.
"Some people run of to New York
and pay for some article as much as
the same or perhaps q better article
will cost here at homo. Is this wise
My rule is never to go or send out of
Hichmond for anything [ can get on
reasonable terms in Richmond. It is
plain, common sense, that as my living
IS to como out Of Richmond people
then Richmond people must live, and
II the money which thoy pay out is all
spent somewhere else how can they
thrive? Well, but the Lord is to keep
the city Yes, but it was o wise man
who said, Trust God and keep your
powder dry 1t Is not faith, but pre-
sumption in you, If you say you trust
God, and then fail to do your part.
The Devil tried to tempt Christ into
this kind OF sin, when he told jesus to
leap down from the pinnacle OF the
temple, because he could trust God to
protect him. The Master refused, and
said it would be tempting the Lord
God 1t Is foolish and wicked presump-
tion for you to embark your own and
your friends money in business
which you do not know how to con-
duct. The whole land is full of bank
rupts who have failed because they
/ have. gone beyond their means. The
political economy that was ever put
into English is, PAY rs you go; and
If Jou can't pay don't 60"