A Friend of the family. (Savannah, Ga.) 1849-1???, August 09, 1849, Image 4

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SIlr! 0* •* Al6as* From Wheeler's Magazine. THE SUNDAY CHRISTIAN. . BV. T. S. AST HUB. Two things are required to make a Christian — piety and charity. The first has relation to wor ship, and in the last all social duties are involved. Os the great importance of charity in the Chris tian character, some idea may be gained by the pointed question asked by an Apostle, “ If you love not your brother whom y r ou have seen, how can you love God whom y r ou have not seen ?” There is no mistaking*the meaning of this. It says, in the plainest language, “Piety without charity is nothing.” And yet, how many thou sands” and hundreds of thousands around us ex pect to get to Heaven oy Sunday religion alone ! Through the week they reach out their hands for money on the right and on the left, so eager for its attain meat that little or no regard is paid to the interests of others; and on Sunday, with a pious face, they attend church and enter into the most holy acts'of worship, fondly imagining that they can be saved by mere acts of piety, while no regard for their fellow man is in their heart. Such a man was Brian Rowley 7 . His religion was of so pure a stamp that it would not bear the world’s rough contact, and, therefore it was never brought into the world. He left the world O # to take care of itself when the Sabbath morning broke —and when the Sabbath morning closed, he went back into the world to look after his own interests. Every Sunday he progressed a certain way towards heaven, and.then stood still for a week, in order that he might take proper care of the dollars and cents. Business men who hod transactions with Mr. Rowley generally kept their eyes open. If they didn’t do it at the first operation, they rarely omitted it afterwards —and for sufficient reason. He was sharp at making a bargain, and never felt satisfied unless he obtained some advantage. Men engaged in mercantile pursuits were looked upon, as a general thing, as ungodly in their lives, and, therefore, in a certain sense, “ out-siders.” To make good bargains out of these was only 7 to fight them with their own weapons. And he was certainly good at such work. In dealing with his “brethren” of the same faith he was rather more guarded, and affected a contempt for carnal things that he did not feel. We said that the religion of Mr. Rowley did not go bey r ond the pious duties of the Sabbath. This must be amended. His piety flowed into certain benevolent operations of the day. He contributed to the support of Indian and Foreign Missions, and was one of the managers on a Tract Board. In the affairs of the Ceylonese and South- Sea Islanders he took a warm interest, and could talk eloquently about the “ heathen.” Not far from Mr. Brian Rowley’s place of bu siness was the store of a man named Lane, whose character had been cast, originally in a different mould. He was not a church-going man, because, as he said, he didn’t want to be “ thought a hypo crite.” In this he displayed a weakness. At one time he owned a pew in the same church to which Rowley was attached, and attended church regu larly, although be did not attach himself to the church, nor receive its ordinances. His pew was near that of Mr. Rowley, and he had a good op portunity for observing the peculiar manner in which the latter performed his devotions. Un fortunately for his good opinion of the pious Sun day worshipper, they were brought into rather close contact durin” the week in matters of bu siness, when Mr. Lane had opportunities ol con trasting his piety and charity. The want of agreement in these two pre-requisites of a genu ine Christian disgusted Lane, and caused him so much annoyance on Sunday that he finally de termined to give up his pew and remain at home. A disposition to carp at professors of religion was manifested from this time. The whole were judged by Rowley 7 as a sample. One dull day, a man named Gregorys a sort of busy r -body in the neighborhood, came into the store of Mr. Lane and said to him: “What do you think of our friend Rowley? Is he a good Christian ?” “ He’s a pretty 7 fair Sunday Christian,” replied Lane. “ What is that?” asked the man. “ A hypocrite, to use plain language.” “ That’s pretty hard talk,” said Gregory. “Do you think so?” “ Yes. When you call a man a hypocrite, you make him out, in my opinion, about as bad as he can well be.” “Call him a Sunday Christian, then.” “ A Sunday Christian ?” “Yes, —that is, a man who puts his religion on every Sabbath, as he does his Sunday coat; and lays it away 7 again carefully on Monday morning, so that it will receive no injury in every-day con tact with the world.” • “ I believe with you that Rowley doesn’t bring much of his religion into bis business.” “No, nor as much common honesty as would save him from perdition.” “ He doesn’t expect to be saved by keeping the moral law.” “ There’ll be a poor chance for him, in my opinion, if he’s judged finally by that code.” “ You don’t seem to have a very high opinion of our friend Rowley?” “ I own that. I used to go to church—but his pious face was ever before me, and his psalm singing ever in my ears. Was it possible to look at him and not think of his grasping, selfish, over reaching conduct in all his business transactions through the week? No, it was not possible for me. And so, in disgust, I gave up my r pew, and haven’t been to church since.” The next man whom Gregory 7 met he made the repository of what Lane had said about Row ley. This person happened to be a member ol the church, and felt scandalized by the remarks, after a little reflection he concluded to inform Mr. Rowley 7 of the free manner in which Mr. Lane had spoken of him. “Called me a hypocrite!” exclaimed the in dignant Mr. Rowley, as soon as he was advised of the free manner in which Mr. Lane had talked about him. “Sol understand. Gregory was my inform ant.” Mr. Gregory was called upon, and confirmed the statement. Rowley was highly indignant, and while the heat of his anger was upon him, called at the store of Mr. Lane, in company with two members of his church, who were not at all familiar with his business character, and, there fore, held him in pretty high estimation as a man of piety and sincerity. The moment Mr. Lane saw these three men enter his place of business, he had a suspicion of their errand. “ Can I have some private conversation with y r ou?” asked Mr. Rowley, his countenance as solemn as the grave. “Certainly,” replied Mr. Lane, not the least discomposed. “ Walk back into my counting room. We will be entirely alone there. Do you wish your friends present?” “ Edo,” was gravely 7 replied ; “ I brought them for that purpose.” “Walk, back gentlemen,” said Lane, as he turned to lead the way. The four men retired to the little office of the merchant in the back part of the store. After they were seated, Lane said : “ Well, Mr. Rowley 7 , lam ready 7 to hear what you have to say.” Mr. Rowley cleared his throat two or three times, and then said, in a voice that indicated a good deal of inward disturbance: “I understand that you have been making rather free use of my name of late.” “ Indeed !in what way. 9” Lane was perfectly self-possessed. “ I am told that you went so far as to call me a hypocrite.” The voice of Rowley trembled. “ I said you were a Sunday Christian,” replied Lane. “What do you mean by that?” was peremp torily demanded. 44 A man whose religion is a Sunday affair al together. One who expects to get to heaven by pious observances and church goings on the Sab bath, without being over particular as to the mo rality of his conduct through the week.” “Morality! do you pretend to say that I am an immoral man?” said Rowley, with much heat. “ Don’t get into a passion !” returned Lane, coolly. “ That will not help us at all in this grave matter.” Rowley quivered in every nerve; but the pres ence of his two brethren admonished him that a Christian temper was very necessary to be main tained on the occasion. “Do you charge me with want of morality?” he said, with less visible excitement. “ I do, —that is, according to my code of mo rality.” “ Uoon what do you base your code?” asked one of the witnesses of this rather strange inter view. “On the Bible,” replied Lane. “Indeed! 4 ’ was answered, with some surprise; on what part of it ?” 44 On every part. But more particularly that passage in the New Testament where the whole of the law and the prophets is condensed in a single passage, enjoining love to the neighbor as well as God.” Rowley and his friends looked surprised at this remark. “ Explain yourself,” said the former with a knit brow. “ That is easily done. The precept here given and it comes from the highest authority, expressly declares, as I understand it, religion to consist in acting justly toward all men, as well as in pious acts towards God. If a man love not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen ?” “Does our brother Rowley deny that?” asked the men present. 44 If a man’s life is any index to his faith, I would say that he does,” coolly replied Mr. Lane. A deep crimson overspread the face of Mr. Rowley. I didn’t expect insult when I came here,” said he in a trembling voice. 44 Nor have I offered any,” replied Mr. Lane. “You have thought proper to ask me a number of very pointed questions, and I have mereh r answered them according to my views of truth.” “ You make a very sweeping declaration,” said one of the friends of Rowley. “ Suppose you give some proof of your assertions?” “ That I can readily do if it is desired.” “ I desire it, then,” said Rowley. u Do you remember the five bales of cotton you sold to Peterson ?” inquired Mr. Lane. Rowley replied that he did, but evinced some uneasiness of manner at the question. “They were damaged,” said Lane. “ I sold them as I bought them,” returned Rowley. “ Did you buy them as damaged?” “No, I bought the cotton as a good article.” “ And sold it as good ?” Mr. Rowley seemed a little confused. “ I sold the cotton at twelve cents a pound,” was the reply. “ Nothing was said about the quality.” “ Twelve cents*is the price of a prime article. If you had been asked by Peterson it the cotton were in good condition, would you have answered affirmatively?” “Do you think I would tell a lie?” asked Mi. Rowley, indignantly. “ Our acts are the most perfect expressions ot our intentions,” replied Mr. Lane. “ iou were deceived in your purchase ol the cotton. Ihe article proved so near valueless as not to be really worth three cents a pound. You discovered this as I have the best reasons for knowing, almost as soon as it came into your possession. And yet you offered it to Peterson, who not suspecting for a moment that any thing was wrong, bought it at the regular market rate as good. You saved yourself; but Peterson, though not a professor of religion, was too honest to put his bad bargain off opon another. Now, it that act, on } r our part, was loving your neighbor as yourselt, 1 must own to a verv perverted understanding ot the sacred precept. I, though no church member, would have put my head into the fire rather than do such an act.” Mr. Rowley, much confused by so direct a charge, attempted to explain the matter away, alledging that he did not think that the article was so badly damaged—that he sold as he bought —that it wasn’t right that he should bear all the loss —with much more to ihe same purpose; to all of which Lane opposed but little. He had presented tfie case already strong enough for all to see how far it comported with Christian mo rality. But he had more to say: “ Beyond this, which I bring forward as a spe cimen of the character of your dealings with your fellow men, I could adduce almost innu merable examples of your indirect and covert modes of obtaining the advantage in ordinary transactions. You may not be aware of the fact, Mr. Rowley, but your reputation among business men is that of a dealer so close to your own side of the bargain, as to trench upon the rights of others. You invariably keep the half cent in giving change, while you have been repeatedly known to refuse a ten cent piece and two cents for eleven pence, in fact, you ate known as a man who invariably seeks to get the better of every transaction. If this is Christian charity —if this is a just regard for the rights of your neighbors—if this is in agreement with the spirit of the Bible, then I have been laboring under a mental delusion. Man of the world as Ia heathen as you have seemed to regard me—lam proud to say that I govern my actions from a higher principle. You now understand, gentle men,” addressing the fiiends of Rowley, “ why I have called this man a Sunday Christian. It is plain that he expects to get to Heaven by a simple Sunday service of his Maker, while all the week he pursues gain so eagerly as to thrust other peo ple aside, and even make his way, so to speak, over their prostrate bodies.—l have no more to sav.” Rowley was so much confounded by this unex pected charge, that he was silent. His own con science wrote an affirmation of the truth in his own countenance. The men who had come with him arose, and, bowing with far more respect than when they entered, withdrew, and Rowley went with them. There was a change in the pious merchant after this. He conducted his business with less ap parent eagerness to get the best of every bargain than had been his custom in former times, but whether influenced by more genuine Christian principles, or by an awakened love of reputation, it is not for us to say. It is not by a man’s religious profession that the world judges of his character, but by the quality of his transactions, in business intercourse with his fellow men. If he be truly religious, it will be seen here in the justice and judgment of all his business transactions. If a man be not faithful to his brother, he cannot be faithful to Heaven. The down-Easters bavins: their market for lob sters spoiled by the cholera, are packing them in ice and shipping them to Barbadoes, where they have quick sales and good prices. More than 17,000,000 passengers passed over the Railroads in Massachusetts during the past three years. Only 56 persons were killed, and 65 were injured. Ragged churches, as well as ragged schools, are opening in some English and Scotch cities. The vagrant juvenile population are cleansed and fed, and then taught the elements of education, and religious and moral duties. DEATH OF MRS. MADISON. Mrs. D.P. Madison, widowof James Madison, fourth president of the United States, died at her residence in Washington city, on Thursday even ing last, at half-past ten o’clock. The precise age of Mrs. Madison we are not able to state, in a brief obituary notice now before us, she is said to have been born about the year 1770. Our im pression had been that she was in her eighty-sec ond year. The date of her birth above given would show her to have been not yet eighty.— The maiden name of this venerated lady was Paine. She was born in Virginia, but her parents who were members of the Society ol .Friends, re moved while she was yet young to Philadelphia. Be fore-she had attained the age of twenty she married agenileman bv the name of Todd, who died within three years alter, leaving her the mother of an only son. We have heard that Mr. Madison formed the acquaintance of the young Mrs. Todd, while he was a boarder at the house ol her mother. He married her in 1794, lie being at the time a member of Congress. During the presidency of her husband Mrs. Madison presided as the female head of the family, and sustained that position in the Executive residence with grace and dignity. Her flight from the white house on the occasion es the calamitous attack upon Washington by the British, is an incident in her life which has been very olten described and pos sesses a degree of national interest. Mrs. Madison lias passed the thirty-three years of her life, succeeding the expiration of her husband’s term of office, as a resident alternately pf Washington, Philadelphia and Virginia. Hav ing no children by her last husband, Mrs. Madi son has of late years had residing with her as a comoanipn and member of her household, a niece, Miss Paine, a young lady much admired in Wasli ington society. Mrs. Madison’s bouse at Wash ington has long been a centre of attraction for personages moving in circles ol refinement and distinction in life. At new year’s, on the great national anniversa ry, anti upon all similar occasions, it has been as much one of the usages of the capital to call upon Mrs. Madison, as at the White House or any other high official dignitary. There was visible in her form and bearing, even so late as the beginning of the present year, very little of the infirmity of age. Her form was erect, her voice was full and firm, her eye clear, and her manner as free, easy and cordial, as it might have been when doing the honors'of the White House. Mrs. Madison’s son, Mr. Todd, is still living, and resides we believe in Virginia. She always manifested for him an extraordinary fondness. N. Y. Eve Post . KOBERT N7 ADAMST~” CABINET-MAKER AND UNDERTAKER, No. 93 Broughton St., Savannah, Ga., IS prepared to execute all orders in his line at the lowest prices, with dispatch. Orders from the country promptly attended to. Ready-made cofhns always on hand, and made to order at short notice. june 28 3mo Summer Retreat on the Salts. AT MONTGOMERY, TWELVE MILES FROM SAVANNAH. ABONAUD respectfully informs his friends • and the public generally, that from the 21st irist., he will be prepared to accommodate guests, to whom he promises good attendance on accommodating terms, having good and intelligent servants. Persons may be accommodated for board per week, month or day, at the following rates, viz: Board and Lodging, per week,- $5 00 Do. do. per day 1 50 Horses well fed and attended to for 50 cents per day. N. B. During the season there is an abundance of Fruit on the place; and the table will also be provided with all kind:) of fish that the river will afford. apr 26* Wauled. BY A YOUNG MAN, as Clerk or Book keeper, good references can be given to any person needing Ins services. Apply at this office. may 31 liaiup Oil. ~ JUST Received per ship Hartford, a lot of su perior Sperm Oil, which is warranted pure. For sab very cheap at store, 111 Bay street. apl 12 GEO. H. BROCK^ BOOK AND JOB PRINTING^ Os all kinds, executed at ihi* OCice, with neatness and despatch. HAVING lately put our Office in complete order and made large additions to it, we have now the most ex tensive Job Printing Office in the City and are prepared to execute all kinds of PLAIN AND FANCY PRINTING, with neatness and despatch, and on the most accomodating terms. Office 102 Bryan-street, entrance on Bay Lane. Savannah, March 22d, 1849. EDWARD J.‘ PURSE. A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY, A WEEKLY SOUTHERN NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY, BY EDWARD J. PURSE. TERMS:—T WO DOLLARS A YEA K. 1 hree Copies for one year, or one copy three years, $5 00 Seven Copies, - _ _ _ . 10 0) Twelve Copies, - 15 00 *** Advertisements to a limited extent, will be inserted at the rate of 50 cents for a square of nine lines or less, fc r the first insertion, and 30 cents for each subsequent insertion* Business cards inserted for a year at Five Dollars. tdF” A liberal discount will be made to Post Masters wb° will do us the favor to act as Agents. Postmasters are authorized to remit money to Publishers and all money mailed in presence of the Postmaster, & IK * duly forwarded by him, is at our risk. All communications to be addressed (post-paid) to E. J. PURSE, Savannah, • I Mm