The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-03-20
PURE RELIGION AND PURE POL
ITICS.

DEAR AUNT JENEIE:-I wrote you a
letter just before Christmas, l think.
but seeing that Careless Tom thinks l
have been silent a long time I will try
20 write again.
A gentleman some time ago rtques
ted me to write for Our Social Ohas,
taking for my theme "Pure Religion
and Pure Politics." I told him il l
should the Chat columns would not
hold my letter. But for his especial
pleasure 1 will say that want of pure
religion has brought this country to it's
prese Mt deplorable condition. John
Ingalls, has been severely criticised for
saying 1.-The decelogue has no place in
politics. I think the man spoke the
truth, and, instead of the decalogue,
the maxim "AIl is fair in love and
war;" applies also to politics. At least
that is the maxim most generally fol-
lowed at the present time. Witness
the intimidation, ballot. box stealing
and wholesale murder over the last
election.
Pure religion is to love G3d supreme
ly, a8d our neighbors as ourselves.
And if all persons lived up to this,
there would be no crime, and no need
Of prisons and punish ments. But the
love of money, which is 1.-THE root OF
all evil" seems to have taken posseL-
sion of a great many people, and so
pure religion and godliness must get
out Of the way.
It il certainly curious how varied are
the beliefs Of people concerning reli
gion. Some persons think a thing is
sinful while others think there is moth.
ing evil in it. I have noticed the same
in the Chat corner, pertaining to dane
ing games, etc.
One Of the Ohatterers goes go far as
to say that she thinks no lady or gen
man plays cards, and persuades moth.
ers to prohibit their children from
games. Why, if the dear little ones
must be deferred from playing, this
will be a cherries world. And if they
are to be permitted to play they must
play games. And if they have no real
games to play they make pretend "
This cannot be aay better, for in their
pretensions they sometimes go to
church, sing, pray, Pr each and bap5z
in the name of the Holy Ghost. Ali
this is a mockery of religion, and sure
~ must be wrong. Besides they will
learn to pretend soon enough any
way.
have never been blessed with chill
dren Of my own, but have always had
them with me, having been a school
teacher for the greater portion Of my
life. And I have always allo we'd the
children to play any game not sinful,
vulgar, vicious, CT rude; and have
played with them, for a game is a game,
from peep eye" to foot ball and lawn
tennis.
But when I say games, I do not mean
gambling, which is certainly sinful,
but I lean games for amuse ment only.
Men may gamble on anything they
choose. I have kno Wn them to gam
bic on eating and drinking. Icannot
see how games for amusement lead
them togambling. However, lam not
upholding dancing and card playing; |
am not a participant in either, and
although a thing may not in itself be
sinful, yet if anyone regards it as such
ito him it is a sim" But l know that
a great many ladies and gentlemen of
the first class engage il both Of these
entertainments.
l saw a question sometime ago in the
Farmer something like this: "Do
crime and misery increase as trusts
multiply 2" This question may be an
swered by another. Are trusts bene
f3iai or oppressive to mankindG L
they benefs ali the people they do not
cause crime, but il they oppress the
masses they certainly do, for it is ali
es tabiished and historical fact that Is |
oppression increases, both he who laws
the burden and he who bears it retro
grade ia morals. Hence, David prayed:
Give me neither poverty nor riches.
= x x lest I be full and deny Thee, X X Z
or lest | be poor and steal, and take |
the name Of my G1d in vain"
Having told you that I have been an |
instr uctress for SO many years, you !
must know that I have taught hun
dreds Of students between the ages of ]
six and twenty one. These could ask
Questions about anything and every
thing, from what makes a baby CRY 90