A Dangerous Pedler by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · May 9, 1912

A Dangerous Pedler

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

THE country is filled with pedlers carrying various wares, advocating many schemes, and disposing of numerous concoctions and healing tonics. Some of these things are valuable, while others are a positive detriment to the purchaser.

There is another class of peddling, however, of which I wish more particularly to speak. It is engaged in by more people, and attended with greater evils, than that of any other business. It is carried forward by all classes of persons, some of whom profess religion and belong to the church. The business to which I refer is that of peddling gossip. Scandal-mongers, backbiters, and tattlers are everywhere. They hear a rumor, more or less unfavorable concerning some one, and they must run and tell it. They drop these morsels of scandal around without going to the individual to find out if it is true. They have heard it; that's enough. Whether true or not doesn't matter; it is something to tell. They will go quicker and run farther to tell some scandal than something good. They prefer to destroy reputation rather than build it up. They peddle a little

here and a little there.

Others take up the reproach, add a little perhaps, drop words and insinuations, and destroy without a qualm the reputation of some one, perchance at the same time professing to be his friend. Usually after repeating the scandal they add, "Now don't say anything about it, I would not tell anybody except you." Considerable of this evil work is done by professed Christians who claim to follow the Lord, and to be seeking a home where nothing unclean or wicked will ever come.

A large amount of business can be done in this line of peddling without capital. No refinement of character, social polish, modesty of speech, education, nor mental power is necessary to constitute one a successful busybody and a recognized neighborhood gossip. The only thing that will in any way hinder a person's being a decided success in this kind of peddling is pure and undefiled religion. This is an effectual barrier.

Paul mentions those in his day who "learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." 1 Tim. 5:13. Not having any business of their own to occupy their attention, they were able to devote most of their time to attending to other people's business, tattling from door to door, making merchandise of other people's reputation. In this way family and neighborhood feuds have been started, reputations blasted, and homes wrecked. Church difficulties have been gendered, alienations and coldness brought in and souls have been driven to perdition as a result. In some instances the church of the Most High God, which should stand as the very example of peace, has been transformed into what has oftentimes resembled the synagogue of Satan.

I know of no more unchristian or ungodly business than this. There is no language too severe with which to condemn it. It originated with the son of perdition and belongs to his kingdom. Those who engage in this work will not long retain the confidence of any one. It would seem that they could have little respect for themselves.

Gossip peddlers are a serious menace to any community. They are more dangerous than a plague. No contagious disease is to be feared and dreaded so much. When they enter the door, a shadow dark and threatening has entered. Beware! You can scarcely speak with safety. With a smile they creep into the home, clothed in the garb of a friend, perchance that of a Christian, and begin the work of backbiting and dissecting some neighbor, friend, or brother. They have heard something and have come in to tell you. But, be on your guard. The burglar comes for your purse; that's trash: the gossip comes to destroy reputation and honor. You can be sure of one thing: that a person who will sit in your home and backbite and tattle concerning somebody else, will sit in somebody's else home and backbite and tattle concerning you.

But one asks, What am I to do when these scandal pedlers come and insist on gossiping and backbiting about other people, and spreading rumors. A writer in a religious journal offers the following:—

"Taking up a reproach against a neighbor is a dangerous business. Persons have been killed recently by handling old shells that had been dropped twenty-five years ago, during the war. If you should happen to plow up one, you would better bury it again. If people bring to you reproaches against their neighbor, carry them no farther. If they lay them down at your door, leave them there till they die. Positively refuse to have anything to do with them. You take them up at your peril. They are an unclean thing, which we are not permitted to touch. Scandal-mongers should find no market for their wares at the house of a Christian. They may offer to give them to you, but you should spurn all such offers as you would an offer to give you the smallpox or the yellow fever."

Takoma Park, D. C.