The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-09-14

gave them no compunction whatever. Time
was, and not long since, when they wert
most punctiious about sending their chill
dren TO Sunday-school. The widest vino
/ and the foulest weather would not pass
with them as an excuse for allowing the
boys and girls to stay at home. There was
no such stTictncss these last yenrs. but
weeks. of Sabbaths went bv and failed to
record single present mark for amy OF the
ch,ldren on the rolls of tho Sunday.schoo.
Therefore, sentiment gone. nssociat,on
ana memory having looscned their grasp
Their religious lie having become a tEinr
or the past, and their conscieuces having
grown sluggish. they had no more use ror
INC old BOOK. IL was too bulky to move:
they would keep the family record, hu. tho
sacred pages and covers which had given
It its Enclosure and setting, they would
throw away.
Were there ever saddcr story? It.
makes one weep to think of it. And yet it
IN tne story OF a thousand homes in tbs
community. OF hundred thousand homes
IN tins city. 1t is what some OF you are
coming to. dear friends unless Won take
warning. Let this Bible !ivc YOU such a
warning tonight. May it ever he warn.
INC to every family OF this church
As often as the eyes Of those worshiping
hcrc snail rest upon II. NAV j, speak 10
them ITS solemn message with voice that
cannot be drowned lee not the ire burn
low on Nomr hcartiiStomc. but k"cp up the
SipN. see InOt NOn' nome
touch with the church Suffer not ronr
lam!!y altar TO become Il ruin. Have a
family Bible aud use it, Take care that
miidew spots, like those which find here
nat are always signs Of disusc, arc not al
lowed to mar it. Read the Old Book to
Without it your home lie will grow hol-
low and unhoy, your children will deter
Iornte, Your own soul shrjvcl up and die.
Thus this Bible shall stand as memo
ria' TO typicaliy dctcriorated New Yorl;
nome. and az warning TO the families
that nave not likewise de;erioratcd hit
shall IL not also I've at the same time n
memorial to something higher and moro
nSmring-to the glorious character and
ministry oi the word OF God as an abiding
ana ever expanding power among mon?
Here is fountain that was long sealed.
hut 1t has begun tn flow. and its streams
shal, water not one home hut thousand
This hook so seldom used before shall he
9IpenGGd .I With every recurring sciyicc within
TINS house OF prayer, to bc read. cXpourd~
cd and applied to the multiplying hum
drcds that shall worship here This Eihlc
was dis0wned dcsccratCd, east ont a. rih.
blSh into the street ony ia be- recovered.
honorcd. set in Il hiyl place elevated To :,
pubic throne from whic6 it. viii issue u
verdict o' condemnation up"u th;s home
ami every hUmC N his city tia, has
turned G0d from ~ door. hut will peal;
comfort. hone ANA strength tr those with
m which In" word ~ God dwrIi> and eNcr-
.lsrS lis heavenly domminn NhI,c this
book shall MtiU it. admnntou. then. lct
1t also speak iNrth it's wore ot encourage.
mcnt and ;,imuh tCiimv ail who hall
hcncciorth beGnld it that tlc word o. God
livcth and Ghidcih forever: that ,:rwcycr
muc'. men may a;tacl; il and seek to de-
htroy 1t, II shall comc ont ci every ia::,c
thousand fold stronger than before. aud
light circle tha, extends far beyond it's
former peTlmetcr OF influence