Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1880-03-20
OF MODERN SOCIETY,
Lecture of Hon. George w. Bak err
at the Methodist Church Last
Night.

Night.
The irstof a series of lectures to be givel
in aid of the Methodist Improvement SO
ciety, was delivered at the M. E. churcl
last night by Hon. George W. Baker. Hi
theme was "The dangers Of modern so
ciety." He spoke to a good house, ant
the lecture was well received and univer
sally commended.
Mr.. ]. N. Rousey also read q well-con
sidered essay ON the subject Of the mighty
dollar, its uses and abuses. He was fol
lowed by Counselor Alexander Wilson in q
humorous sketch, which was received with
mirth by tae audience. Miss Jennie weth
cred and Mics Mamie Power rendered some
excellent instrumental music. Altogether
the evening passed pleasantly and profit
ably. Following is the full text of Mr.. Ba.
ker's lecture:
LADIES N GENTLEMEN. The subject
to which | invite your attention this even
ing, is one which cannot fail to engage the
attention of every reflective mind, and its
Importance demands something more than
idle and careless reflection. 1t requires
an active and vigorous resistance upon
the part of every person who feels an in
terest in the welfare and advancement OF
mankind. | refer to "The Dangers of
Modern Society,""
In addressing myself to this subject l
am not u%nmindful of the fate usually
meted out to the advocates of reforma-
tory measures, and l approach my sub
ject with much difiidence, well knowing
that my remarks may not be accorded
that sympathy of sentiment with my
hearers that is calculated to soften the
asperitles Of the public lecturer. But,
acting upon the principle of the old adage,
that a desperate case requires a desper-
ate remedy" / shall venture to express
my views upon this most important SUBJ
ject. regardless Of the shafts OF adverse
criticism.
The student of natural science in seek
ing to unravel the mysteries OF creation,
and, if possible, fathom the design Of the
great Architect Of the Universe in fash
ioning man after his OWL image, is at once
impressed with the conviction that the
object to be attained was to place hui
manity above and beyond the plane of
every other living creature, and that he
endowed him with those qualities OF adj
vancement and progression, which are
calculated to render man capable Of Sc
curing the highest order Of enjoyment on
earth, and a BETTING subject for a higher
estate in that life beyond the grave.
1t is, | repeat, self-evident that such
must have been the original design Of our
creation. Unless we are willing to deny
the evidence of our senses, and adopt a
recent and somewhat popular heresy that
humanity, like all other animal creation,
is an aimless, objectless mass, appearing
for a time upon this stage OF action, and
then passing into that gulf OF oblivion
into whose depths a ray OF sunshine shall
never enter.
But in this narrow, unnatural, and l
may add, unenlightened view, | desire to
express my most unqualified dissent, but
would prefer to seek refuge from such
an unmerited fate in the great book Of
nature, which alone is sufficient to stamp
such a delusion as unwarranted and abb
surd. Accepting, then, the more philo-
sophie and reasonable hypothesis, that
man was designed for a higher and nobler
motive than a mere scene-shifter IN the
drama Of life, it comes logically within
the range OF my subject to discuss his
mission on earth, and point out those
vices and imperfections which enslave
the individual and obstruct his onward
march of progression toward that destiny
which was designed by the great author
of our being.
Al I .,,ll hare ramarE that frat ,,pop
the list of human vices at the present day,
and the one which stands pre-eminent as
the arch enemy of mankind, is the mex
orable rule of society and fashion.
And this is simply because we are want
ing in moral principle and in backbone,
sufficient to withstand her DEGREES, but
yield our own convictions OF right IN order
that we may revel in the smiles of the
sy~cophants OF society.
Do you ask why it is that men are now
engaged in disputing the Immortality of
the soul and the existence OF al overrul-
ing Providence? My answer is that soci-
ETY. now demands a more liberal creed
than that which requires any concessions
from her v~otaries as the price OF eternal
salvation. Hence. it will be observed
that the Deist OF to-day psomnlgates the
doctrine of total humiliation to we'll
hacked assemblies, while the Christian
ministry are begging for an audience at
the threshold OF an empty and deserted
chapel. Surely it cannot be commended
that the doctrine of absolute destruction
ia better calculated to excite our admira-
ton than that which brings conviction OF
a continued existence in a higher and
progressive sphere, ~unincumbered by the
clouds and shadows of adversely; for II
such were the case, 1t would be a sad
commentary upon the intelligence OF our
race, But / venture the assertion that,
in the breast of mankind, no stronger
wish prevails than that which leads them
to hope for a future state. But the trou-
bile is. il is a little out Of the fashion to
attend divine service, or minister to our
spiritual welfare, and society has decreed
that it is harder for a poor man to go to
heaven than for q camel to go through the
eye of a needle.
II is true that this decree reverses the
doctrine OF inspiration, and does violence
to our moral sense OF justice anu right.
But we lack the moral courage to defy
this u~surpation upon our freedom OF
thought and action, and therefore avail
ourselves of these dogmas that level All
distinctions between man and the brute
creation. Ii this were the only danger
which threatened mankind from the So
called regulations of society, we might
consider it simply a matter between the
individual and his conscience, u II he
Is willing to run the gauntlet of futurity
he has an n~ndonbted right to assume the
risk. But in the ordinary affairs OF iife'
in this land of emancipation and freedom
the people are subjected to the most per-
melons system OF social tyranny ever IN
fiicted upon our race:
There was a time in the history OF our
Republic when men were measured py
their moral worth aud intellectual power,
and when stability of purpose and hdei-