Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-05-13
WHAT OF THE NIGHT!
Mr. Talmadge,s Sermon.

From the New York Standard, May 81
The fourth OF, the series of sermons on
Curses of Great Cities was preached
by the Rev. Mr.. Talmadge, at the Taber-
nacle, last night, from Isaiah xxi, IL:
Watchmap, what Of the night2" In
olden times it was necessary to have
cities thoroughly guarded. They were
not lighted, but even now | know not
what would become of our cities if there
were no public authorities on the alert
1t is to me very suggestive and solemn
thing to see man watching at night
Some of you have stood on picket alone
with your beating hearts and the throb-
bing stars. The ancient cities divided
their time into four watches. / shall
speak to you tonight about the third
watch, or between twelve and three
o'clock.
! am never tired of watching the city
during the first watch. Then the work
ers of all kinds are going from wotk-
streets are thronged with crowds coming
out Of the centers of bargain making.
Idlers, get out of the way of the work
ersl They have earned their money,
now let them go home and enjoyit it.
An hour or two later all the places OF
amusement, good and bad, are open.
The concert saloons, drawing rooms,
bathrooms, theaters, attract the crowds
of pleasure seekers. Mirth, beauty,
fashion, make up the great aggregate OF
metropolitan splendor. The City Hall
clock strikes twelve. The third watch
of the night has begun. Every noise is
apparent, from the hiccup of the drunk
ard, to the shrek of the train four or five
miles away.
Respectable people are still abroad;
the City Missionary, the minister, the
physician. Nearly all the lights are put
out, except the light of the watch.
THE CITY SLEEPS.
Brawny arms are getting rest, hot brains
are getting cool, Let the city sleep.
Gods slumberless eye watches it, let it
sleep. Let one wave of slumber roll
over the great town submerging pain and
weariness.
But there are thousands of people who
want sleep. Look through that broken
pane. What do you see2 Tragedy more
dreadful than even Ristori or Edwin
Booth ever delineated You say they
are the vicious poor SO much the more
to be pitied. The Christian poor have
God to take care of them. Through the
trials of their life they see heaven to
come. But the vicious poor are in hell
here and in hell forever.
Go up that dark alley; push open that
door; it isn't locked. Go in; strike a
match; look about you. Look out what
you say-your life isn't worth much in
this place. Here is child. Its face
was made to laugh. Look at the face of
this young woman. What a CHASTITY
stare-eyes looking up from the depths
of hell There is no hope in that face,
and t.lere never will be again. .
A terrible thing is the third watch in
the night The burglars sharpen their
tools. The incendiary applies his torch.
The assassin sends his dagger to the
heart of his victim. All the villains,
with nothing to do through the day. 60
out in the night with eye keen, brain
alert, foot fleet to pursue or escape.
Many of these wretches were born where
the only toy was burglars lantern.
SO long as there are such children left
to the education of chance there will be
pickpockets. In the third watch of the
night the gambling saloons are all open.
Stir up the fire, bring out the drink, put
up the stakes. People are trying to
make gambling popular 1t isn't long
ago that
ONE MEMBER OF CONGRESS
gambled with another for $l25,000.
The finest places in the city are gam
bling saloons. Frescoes and carvings
and rich upholstery and flowers entice
to these establishments. This sin is
cursing the earth. There is no splendor
that can hide sin. Young man, look
outl the tempter will meet youl They
are polite and well-dressed. They will
show you the lions and the elephants,
and, after a young man has seen the
lions and the elephants" l wouldn't
give the snap of my finger for him. 1t
may be only cribbage or euchre, but look
out!
In the third watch of the night the
drinking saloons do their best business.
OF that the cities might be reused till
these denominations might be crushed.
If any of you are addicted to any OF
these sins, you will only find victory in
Christ. Lay bare the wounds of your
soul to God tonight. 1t is good time
to begin at this very hour. Angels are
so near that we can almost feel their
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