The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-15
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
An Epistle On GoSsiping.
To the Editor of The Republican:


clean columns of religious items and
letters, especially those written by
"Joannes" on dancing, card playing,
etc.
The subject which wish to take up
yossiping.
In good many stages of our lives
we find ourselves either indulging IN
this great evil or in the presence of
some other fellow who is spending his
time in talking about his neighbor or
possibly his relatives, as the former
leads to the latter. Now, some one
may say visiting and hearing news as
well as transmitting 1t is not so wrong
as it is made out or they possibly may
say in the way do it l can see no harm
at all, but let US see if you see it all or
not.
Down through the ages comes the
Divine inspiration, a promise as we'll as
a warning in these words Good is not
Knocked, for whatsoever man soweth
that shall he also reap"
am not going to condemn proper
visits and delivering of messages of
divine authority or personal communi
cation of necessity and benefit, but how
many visitors carry this kind of news,
so let US see the fruits of our labors in
gossiping and self justification.
Visiting is the one frivolous excuse
which many church members hide be-
hind as their reason for being absent
during the hour of worship at Gods
house. The visitor is not the only one
deprived of going to church, but the
visited has been kept away by the visi-
tor and many times disappointed in be-
ing kept away from the mark that they
had looked forward to as their goal.
Then if the visited person or persons
should become dilitory in their church
duties from this great disappointment
and finally go back to the world, who is
held responsible before God? or what
shall the visitor offer for an excuse for
this deed?
Visiting in its bounds is a real nee
essity, but be temperate in all things.
If some people were as temperate in
visiting and gossiping as they are IN
church work, and especially some of
the church members, a man would soon
think he had no neighbors. For this
one reason we should unanimously adopt
this plan: first visit the church and next
our neighbor, but first consider who is
our neighbor; second, is the one we
deem our neighbor DESTROYS of our
visitation at this time, and are we
, Gritty of visiting or should we be
Ncited?
Are our children worthy Of making
our neighbors' children their playmates
or do they use such language as child
rem should never hear. All these things
should be considered for child's in
fiuence among other children is greater
than that of an older person.
We then turn from visiting to Cos
siping-what it does and where it comes
from.
Gossiplng may start from more than
one cause.
First it may start from an idle joke.
For example, when | was small boy
and was going to school young fellow
told an idle tale on me that should have
happened in school. Some one else be-
ing present told it for the truth; the
school ma am heard it and got severe
punishment for it while l was innocent
but at the same time was defenseless.
You may take this for a foolish illus
tration, but such are the fruits of gos-
sip.
People will tell idle tales on their
neighbor or preacher or anyone else and
the accused party or parties be just as
innocent and defenseless as lamb.
Though these tales get into circulation
and cause the accused party or parties
to suffer heart aches and sometimes
bloodshed which may result in a broken
up home, a suffering widow, mother or
child. And where does it all come from?
The answer to this; in the heart Of the
individual which causes all strife, envy,
murder, war and many other grievous
things.
A king in Africa once asked one of
his advisors to show him the city that
first made war on it's nelghbor and he
would conquer it at once. His advisor
said, 81 can show you the city, king,
but you can't take it." The king said
with my powerful army can take any
city; show it to me. What city was it
and will take it. His advisor said,
AZ will show you the city, but you will
never take 1t. and the only one that
can ever conquer it is the one that owns
it. The city that first made war on its
neighbor and is still making war on his
neighbor and always will be is the heart
of the individual"
rtThis is the fruit of gossip. 1t was
II cause of the present war and was
r the cause of the Spanish and Ameri-
can war, and was the cause of the