Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-11-03
CON ,,UNlCArIoN.
OTTuMwA, Oct: 9th, 1875.

/ q Il
CON GUNlCATION.
OTTuMwA, Oct. 9Th. 1875.
EDIToEs COURIER: Saturday
evening last and on the Sabbath fol-
lowing attended tho public religious
services held in the First Methodist
Church building, and | could but be
Impressed with the deep earnestness
of the several speakers. The entire
spirit of this series of Union meetings
Is for better condition of affairs in
our midst, and l sincerely believe that
every Legitimate effort made for the
Improvement of the moral atmosphere
OF this city shonid have the sympathy
snd aid of each individual. The fact
II, that we have been so entirely inter-
ested in and boasiei so continually OF
th" wonderful business life of our
community that We have substantially
forgotten the moral aud religious
wants OF the city, and in consequence
wlckedness in nearly every form has
berome. among Us, intolerabiy bold
and insolent, With snowy anu costly
equipage, vice such as kills the body
as well as the soul, rides unblusbingly
in the clear light OF day through our
streets while virtue walks. While the
good people of Ottumwa have not
had the disposition or courage to act
upon the offensive, they at the same
time have in no proper sense acted
upon the deiensive--,hey have allow
ed Entertainments to be made upon
their moral rights and upon those of
their children. If corresponding tres.
passes had been made upon their legal
rights they would have long since
sought protection through tho law.
The truth lie, our people have been
given too exclusively to worldly in
tere-ts, they have been pulling down
and building larger, 80 that little or
no time has been left them to caro- for
those higher interests that so intimate
ly concern the individual and COM
munity. The material interests of our
city are not TO be neglected or ignored,
but it should be remembered, how
Nvcrs THAT --tat s%---~.Ssf Sft-~'
material growth of Ottumwa may
possibly become quito immaterial
when compared with tho loss of those
virtues that are every where character
istic Of men and women. "What will
it profit man if he gain tho whole
world and lose his own soul, or what
will man give in exchange for his
soul p Ottumwa has many. excellent
points and we all are interested in
her. She is fortunate in her situation
she has scenery, which for variety,
beauty and breadth are seldom equal.
cd and which are in every way worthy
of the Highest skill Of the artist. She
has an intelligent aud entcrprising
population, and many other advantages
that bcspeak for her city of no in-
considerable size in the near future
But she has conspicuous aud terrible
faults as we'll. Shall this disagreeabc
fact be confessed and met? What say
you my friend? can hardly under
stand how other than an affirmative
answer can be given to the question,
for it is not only your right, but your
unmodi.led duty to see that your home
and the community in which you live
are safe for you and TOR your children.
We do owe sacred duty to these boys
and girIs. the young OF our city, who
arc soon TO take onr places. Do you,
parents, never fear for the welfare of
Your children when you consider the
great number of gilded retreats we
have all around US in which vice, ia its
most tempting forms, turks and with
a IN x-sn
There is need that sufficient moral
courage be given as that we may dare
| speak in no uncertain voice against
any and all evils that threaten the life
of the individual or that of the com
muni,y We are not men if we dare
do less. But how shall these evils be
corrected? l answer, mainly through
the homes in our city--there is an un-
seen and yet well nigh Irresistible
power in the teachings and influences
OF a good home. lts mission is to al
tract and draw to itself and thus max e
secure. This truth is felt or recogniz
ed by all classes. There is to be. seen
to day in our city this same attractive
word, home, given as q name to one OF
the ca oons upon our streets, and in a
business point OF view, l confess its
selection denotes financial judgment.
| Ii the world ia to be saved it must
primarily be saved through its homes.
Rev. DR.. Williamson, of New York,
said to his people on last Sabbath:
"There can be no goddess churches
grouping godly homes. Family re-
ligion il tho condition of spiritual
church. The heart, tho home, the
church society is tho order in which
revivals of religion rise and spread.
II is not easy to live q godly life at
home. Husbands and wives. and
brothers and sisters, are good judges
of each Others sincerity. Pions pre-
tension cannot here escape detection.
The idea of home Ia God idea. Home
Is benediction OF the gospel rather
than an institution of tho law. Now
there are far reaching purposes in all
the plans Of God. lilo hath ordained
for every home its priesthood. Father
and mother are Gods ministers to the
family firesidc. They need not lose a
soul from the precious group intrusted
to them"
lam sure ii must be truo, If we woult!
rid ourselves Of the evils surrounding
us We must fortify our children and
make them strong to resist tempta.
tions by and through the saving influ.
ences of our homes.
| Tho life and wcll-being of the child
is everything to the father and mother
| for its phys wants we are con.
stantly anxious and watchful. How
this fact is illustrated and brought
homo TO US by the fearful and intense
searching for the lost Charlie Ross by
his loving parents, and yet in neal
neighborhood to us are children NOR,
absolutely lost than littlo Charlie
should nothing be done, and no word
spoken, and no reward offered that tht
, lost may be returned to hearts that ar,
> painfully anxious to receive AMI L
arms that are eager to protect and kecl
safe