Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-01-21
sThe sigma of the Times"

The second of the course of lectures at the
First Baptist church was delivered last even
ing by Rev. Il. w. Brakeman of Auburn.
The subject of the lecture was "The Signs Of
of the Times" and the lecturer said tlat he
should dwell upon the dark aspects oftle sub
ject.
Our countrymcn, he remarked, are fully
bent upon prasing themselves and ever, thing
American; but while they are thus boasting
! of their country and its wonders, they fail 10
observe some Of the ominous signs If the
times. 1t is to be remarked that the past
century has been most wonderful in its histo
ry. Progress has been marvellous in all the
arts and appliances of life, as in all those
things especially pertaining to the moral and
philanthropic relations ofsociety. The steam
boat. telegraph, locomotive. cylinder steam
printing press and al. implements pertaining
to agricultural matters have been invented or
vastly improved. But the question Of self
government is to be determined on this CONT
nent and the one important thing that con-
Germs us is-what is the character of the peo-
Pile as bearing on the question Of self-gov-
ernmcnt. and what influences do we zee at
work indicating danger to our instutiors?
The first evil sign in our present day is the
lack of moral honesty in our own people.
1t shows itself in sham work: How rsre is
it to find a real, thorough piece of ork.
Our workmcn deal in shoddy and outside
adornmcnt, while true strength and honest
work is lost sight of. Flimsy houses, frail
steamers huge mills that are traps to decay
people to DEATH are built by unfaithful work
men and there is but little honesty in it all.
This lack of integrity is seen again in the ex
tcnsivc adulteration of food, drugs, coffee
tioncry, nearly every article in use in the
family-all are constantly adulteratcd to the
great injury of health and to the short, ming
of life. We see this lack Of integrity also
in the business habits Of the present age.
How dishonest are the tricks of trade So
callcd-lutting false marks upon goods
the failures in business, the defilca,ions.
1t is a sad thing that many good men are
led awav into these evil deeds and so relig-
ion suffers. How common is the crime of
smuggling, cheatinga corporation. defrauding
the government. and not considered wrong.
We need foncst mcn--those who will adhere
to their principles under all circumstances.
Another evil sign of the times is the uni
versal worship Of the material. Men look for
wealth. Money. money, is the grand object
of pursuit. Wealth is an apology for all e' il
habits. and men who ought to- be banisht d
from decent society are tolerated because thu y
have money. Virtue honor. reputation. la
curse to the community is the rivalry in So
cial society, which springs from the worship
of money. We must have a style Of living
that makes slaves of us all. Our wives and
daughters are occupied with dress and show.
and have very little time for acquiring knovl-
edge Frugality is an unknown virtue. he
whole tendency of this worship of money is
to lead men to use wrong means to secure it.
There is something better than money; the
pleasures and blessings of the family, int. RI
ty. the old-time virtues of the fathcrs-tl csc
and other things are better than wealth, and
it is a sad thing when all these higher and no.
bier things are sacrificed TO the insane pur.
suit or grovelling worship of material good.
Another evil sign is the aversion to manual
labor. Work il the foundation of society:
but manual labor is not honorcd, and wealthy
parents bring up their children to shun it
The way to ennohle labor il to honor it. We
are ashamed Of work. and God will curse US
unless we honor it. Men and women--honest
and true-arc the hone of this country. Moral
integrity is the only foundation of permanent
self government. and the fathers and m, theirs
must train the children to be honest. frugal.
true ready for all useful work and thus raise
MP generation in whose hands the in
sttutons that have come down to us shall be
safe. and by whom they shall be tran, mitted
to the generations to come.
This was one of the most practical and in
structive lectures ever given in the city A
good audience was present, but general de-
sire was expressed that all our people should
have an opportunity to hear this eloquent and
able lecture. Mr.. Brakeman has not only the
thanks of the lecture committee, but of our
citizens generally. May he come again.
Important Hearing before Kennebec Dele
gation-Superior Court.
Friday afternoon the kennebcc Delegation gave an