Genealogies by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 20, 1872

Genealogies.

By Jos. Clarke

THERE is a prevalent mania for hunting out the history and genealogy of families; and much time and expense are expended upon enterprises of this kind.

If this occupation were prompted by real love for our ancestors, such efforts might be approved of; but the motive is generally to foster a sort of family pride, and to minister to vanity.

If the record of the sins of our ancestors were all exposed to our view, the sight would cause us to sicken at the idea of giving to their memories too great praise.

As an amusement, this business of investigating old records, and counting the dead and living limbs upon the family tree, may be as innocent as any; but the real condition of things forbids those who have an understanding of the times to meddle much with these things.

You receive letters from relatives, as to this or that branch of the family, and your attention is diverted from useful employments, to find records, to write out facts, historic and traditional; and your time, strength, and mental ability, are heavily taxed—for what?

To what does it amount, if your ancestor was a native of Scotland, or France, of England, or Ireland, of Russia, or Norway, if you are only one of the family of Christ, a co-heir with Christ, of that heavenly inheritance?

It is right, to a certain extent, to record the noble deeds of our progenitors. It is right to feel that good men went before us in the battle of life, and laid the superstructure of our prosperity; that in war and statesmanship there were Alfreds and Washingtons; in morals there were Luthers and Wesleys; but let us use moderation in these matters, and reserve our love and zeal for the work of bringing back our world, as far as possible, to its Creator, whom nearly all have forgotten in their pursuit of trifles.

JOS. CLARKE.