The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-01-09
By Rev. R. II. Whitaker.

thing; for the same reason tina, tho
fellow killed . buzzard. he said il was
big game If II did feast on carrion.
another reason. his wife told him. why
Women-church membcrs-pIay cards.
is 10 show their utter contempt for the
rules OF the churches which We're made
by the men. ana - take revenge on
81 Paul for telling them to hold Their
while meeting was going o..
Around a card table especially If d
punch bowl = handy, they can beat
the C~oTiHthiau women ecpiu q noise
the best t"o IN three. He says his
wife toad him. that il would make u
monkey die laughing to witness Il
game OF G~reen-hOrnS (WOmen, ne eX-
plained VINO, until they pulled into So
ciety by happening 10 be the wives Of
men who a made a little money. OF
been elected to Ottice) had never heard
Of progressive euchre. whist on evan
SeVeu-up. and didn't know the differ
cncc et#c"u a SUNDAY schOol card
ana the king Or queen OF hearts. Nne,
they We're at home. III the country
they We're attentive to household du-
ties and especially devoted TO their
children, ana they acted wisely and
Well, and shuddered at the idea of
bringing a reprOach upon the church.
In the old time relation they See&md
and acted naturaI; but, as card play
ers they arc dismal failures, except in
50 far IS being able To congratulate
themselves upon the ace that they
are III society.
Seriously speaking, / don't know
What the children are to become. No
bible, no prayers no religious instruc-
ton at home. Father ~engrossed in
business-mOtner ~engrOssed in card
playing, how are the sons and the
daughters TO be made what God would
have them be-and what they must be
OF be eternalIy ruined?
There is not a doubt in my mind but
that the children VIII BE- educated and
become good citizens. and take inter-
est enough in religion to build church,
Is, and attend them, too; and be very
Jealous in church work; but the ten
dcncy of the times leads me to fear
that, in the not very far future. men
and women viii no be able to give
reasons for what theV believe, say and
do, in the matter Of religion. The
world has seen the times When refor-
nations had to bring the sO-called
Christian people back to Il JuStifying
faith. There must be q reformation.
If Wha [ have written appears to
be the crOakings of a pessimist let Mira
cast his mind around and take in the
situation. The family altar has been
broken down. the Bible is laid away
in many. | might say most of homes,
the children have no taste for religious
reading but are stuffed to the fill with
fiction and romance. much of which is
i~mpregnated with the most insidious
kind Of skepticism that is most surely
leading to infdeIity; the fathers are
striving 10 get rich. the mothers are
playing cards, the daughters are dane
the bOyS are going wild. because
they have no home D~aSturage in which
to Craze; while in the commercial and
political fields the golden rule has been
cot a-+ 49, H1S@J,+ g. -I~l, =, 1900
l do wish the mothers had not gone
gambling. If they had stood firm
the children might have been saved.
But alas, alas.
They tell me that the little boys on
the streets can beat sailors curSing,
and so proficient have they become
you can't tell when they are at it.
They ave signs which are understood
by them; and so while they may be
curSing you to our face you don't
it. They use those ''cuss' signs
in the school room, in the church. and
in the Sunday school as we'll as on the
streets; and all the little boys UNDER
stand them.
That's what 1 have heard as coming
from one Of the little ''cuSsers." who
seemed to be proud of his attainments.
He said he was trying to stop cussing.
but he'd been at it 50 long he didn't
know whether he could stoD or not.
He's nine years Old.
Old Cato is to blame for this long
ak on matters and things pertaining
to life and Goodness; so. if the reader
1on't like what [ have written | hope
he viii set to work to ascertain
whether he is one of the wise men who
by avoiding the faults of fools,
or one of the fools who will not try to
the good examples of the wise.
reader would do we'll TO settle
question at the very earliest date
ccSSibIe.
!: + # + x x X
Speaking Of the habit of swearing I
must admit that it is not, by any
more Of it thar l do now. since l be-
anne a minister of the Gospel. Now !
then | meet 4 fellow who neither
searS God nor regards man. but serve
he devil boldly and faithfully, who
gives me q specimen of his cursing at
-ainments. And l also hear of the
,ursing of others: some of them mem
Of the church. and Sunday school
-eachers. \ gentleman told me he
1uit going to Sunday school because
lis teacher. after teaching the Bible
lass one Sunday. called him "A ID
on the streets. IN Monday.
Yes" said the gentleman, hes n
iCh Oil ~ III
Bible, and all that: but somehow or
I don't enjoy his Bible talks IN
Sunday when | know. as apt as not,
curse me on Monday"
| didn't blame the gentleman for
lropping out of Il Bible class taught
Dy II who has no more reverence for
iOd than to use his holy name in ours
ng a fellow man.
No, swearing is by no means Il new
hing, but is. II always was. a very
lilly, useless, and wicked habit. which
acquired is hard to break.
| heard DR.. Hudson tell a story hat
will illustrate the matter. A man
orofessed religion at a protracted
meeting il Sampson county: a man
Who had all his life been addicted to
wearing. The Doctor said that he
eemed to be very happy, shaking
lands with all ne met. At length he
.arle to the preacher, and clasping
Tim in his arms he said: Brother
hudson, I'll be ID if [ Amt happy"
Doubtless he was unconscious Of
vhat he said. he had been so accus-
omed to the use Of profanity that it
49, - -