The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-11-11
Keeping Gods House Clean.

"a Methodist church, it is said, has
sued man and recovered eight dollars
damages, because the defendant injured
the floor of the building with tobacco
spit. We are glad of il: Ifa man Is such
slave to filthy habit that he cannot
rest his jaws for even couple Of hours,
let him remain outside the house of God.
The Jews Of the Old Testament would not
worship If defiled by even 30 much as
touch of anything unclean. Here Is
something which is both fguratively and
actually uuclean. There has been i'm.
provemen in this respect, but even now,
one will find occasionally, spittoons In.
church buildings. Their presence is an
invitation to the tobacco chewer, and
they are as much ou' Of place as frying
pan or curry-comh."
The above extrac. liz clipped from tho
columns of one of the most prominent pa!
pers Of the Presby yterian Church. It tells
the story of 8 peculiar case. a man de-
filed the house of God-and bis actionabe
was compelled to pay eight dollars.
am not crank on the tobacco habit.
II certainly do not believe it III sinful to-,
use the weed"-but the more I hiye;
thought OF the above case, the more my
sympathy has gone out to the injured
of churches are being defiled in the same
way. At the close of the seryice-if the,
pews are inspected-large pools Of exIec-5
toration are found. Ladies' dresses have
been ruined by this ealiva-ths devout
have been prevented by the same thing
from kneeling during the prayers; ands
above all the 'spitter'' by his actions has
shown but little reverence for the sanctu-t
ary of God.
This is only one side of the question.
Zero an individual had to pay for his
transgression-but whole churches often
neglect their duty at this point. They
seem to think it makes no difference how
Gods sanctuary is kept. They will al
low the yard to grow up In weeds sGd
grass-or use it for COW pasture-while
from the ceiling hang cobwets In great
profuslon, the dust accumulases on the
pulpit and the seats-and the carpet has5
the appearance OF having never been
swept. If that tobacco. chewer, WHO had
to pay eight dollars for defiling Gods
people who neglect to keep Gods house
clean ought to be punished.
A few years ago, Exchanged pulpitsn
with an excellent preacher. The Sun
day occupied his pulpit was In the hot
test part Of the summer. When enter;
ed the church every window was closed,
the air was hot and offensive, the pulpit
was covered with dust and the chaniie-
liers appeared as if they had never been
FURNISHED, When I began the service
I remarked that from the appearance of
things, inferred that they believed In
keeping their pastor in hot, dusty and
tight place, especially on the Sabbath.
T am glad Improvement Is seen In this
matter in many places. Let the good
work continue. Gods Houee should be :
the most beautiful and attractive of5all
houses. If cleanliness is next to godli-
ness, surely it should be evidenced IN the
place set apart for the worship Of Jello.
yah. In writing this article these words
that read to-day in the Bible haye been
running through my mind, "Blessed be
the Lord God Of our fathers, which hsIth
put such thing as this in the kings
heart, to beautify the house Of the Lordl.i,i.
Ezra VII, q. May 1t be put In the hearts5
of all Christian people, not only to boau$H
tifg, but to keep Gods house clean 49,
ReS. j. IHos. Pate, D. d., Il: Southern, I
Christian ADVOCATE.