The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-09-27
PICKETS LETTER.
New YoRk. September IS. 1852.

ago, when Moody and Sankey held
forth at Gilmore's Garden, New
York. He has improved wonder
fully since then. The tabernacle in
which he breaches is the largest
church in Brooklyn and lays way
over Beecher's in point of beauty
and architectural design. The con-
gregation is cosmopolitan, every
body comingto New York takes him
in, as one of the curiosities. The
whole congregation rises and sings.
There is no choir. An immense or
gan peals forth its thunder and a
cornetist leads while the thousands
Of tongues sing, Hold the Fort for
| am coming" The effect was grand.
/ only wished my old friends in
Somerset county could have been
there with me. The sermon was so
good that | think everybody should
read what he had to say on Various
caldrons of sin" So l will give you
synopsis.
Elisha had gone down TO lecture
TO the students in the theological
seminary at Gilgal," " said Dr. Tai
mage. "He found the students very
hungry, as students are apt to be.
He knew verv well it is useless to
attempt to precah, to lecture, to
argue with hungry men. They were
all hungry. What came first? The
sermon or the loaves of bread ? The
loaves of bread. Among the good,
healthful herbs placed in the pot
there happened to be some coloquin-
tida, a bitter, poisonous, deathiul
herb. One of the hungry students
begins to eat. He happens 20 get
hold OF some of the c0loqulntlda.
He knew it by the taste. He cried
out "Poisonl poisQnm So, in our
day, there are great caldrons of sin
and death. The coloquintida OF
mighty temptation is pressed into
it. Some dip it out taste and reject
it. and live. Others dip it out, taste
it. keep on, and die Blessed be
God that the gospel of Jesus Christ
is the antidote. While we sympa-
thize with the sinner We must de-
nounce the sin. Sin is a jagged
thing that needs to be roughly han
died. You have no right to garland
it with fine phrase or lustrous rhet-
oric. You can't catch the devil with
silken lasso. Every Christian re-
former must sometimes come IN
rough collision with transgresslon.
A whaling vessel ] saw after a long
cruise had patched sails, sphced rig
ging. bespattered deck, showing 1t
had had rough weather and hard
work. And philanthropists coming
back testify that they have not found
it like Yachting over summer seas,
but it has been wrestling with a
cyclone; it has been happening
great Behemoths.
What are the caldrons Of SIN
from which the iniqui;ies of lust are
dipped out?
Unhappy and undisciplined
MONIES are caldrons of great iniquity.
Your mothers smile, your fathers
frown are a part of your indestruct-
ible nature. The mother OF Mission
ary Swartz threw light on the brows
of dusky savages TO whom he preach
ed for thirty years after she was
dead. The mother of Lord Byron,
through her baleful disposition, fol-
lowed him TO the ends of the earth
and spread gloom into Childe Har-
old and Don Juar. While some
times there are sons who turn out
very badly from good homes, it Is 4
great exception.
Another caldrOn of iniquity is an
indolent life. Indolent people dress
better than some who are industri-
Gus, have access to all places of
amusement, plenty of money. They
hang Ground the Pierrpont House,
the Fifth Avenue, the Windsor. the
Brunswick, the Sturtevant, and the
Gilsey House. Some of them hang
around the CITY Halls of our great
cities, toothpick in their mouth,
waiting for some crumb to fall from
the ofiiceholder's table. Some Of
them hang around the City Hall
when the city van comes up bring
ing the criminals from the station
houses. They stand there and en-
iov the disgrace and suiierings Of
these poor creatures. | would as
soon think of standing at the gate OF
Greenwood to enjoy a funeral rs TO
stand at the City Hall when the citv
van comes up and look at the men
and women who are moral corpses.
But these men have nothing 10 do.
where do they get their money?
There are four WAYS of getting mon
ey, only four-by inheritance, by
earning it, by begging it, by stealing
it-and there are a vast multitude
among Us VINO get their living uot
by inheritance, nor by earning 1t.
nor by begging it. Now, these mea
are constant temptation Why
should | toll and wear myself out in
the bank, IN the office. or the store,
or the shop, or the factory? These
men have nothing TO dc. and they
get along a great deal better. The
number OF men in our cities who are
trying to get their living by their
wits and by sleight Of hand IS all the
time increasing.
The dramshop is a great caldron
of iniquity. Every drinking saloon
2dove or below ground is fountain
of iniquity. IL may have license
and 20 along quite respectfully for Il
while, but after q while the cove r
will fall off and The color Of the IN
iquity be displayed. You put a grog
shop ia the finest block of houses in
New York or Brooklyn. aud the
property goes down five. ten. twenty.
forty, fifty per cent. Men eagaged
ia the ruinOus traffic went 10 Glad
stone aud said that their business
ought to haVe more consideration.
from the fact that il paid such -
large revenue TO the English Gov
ernment. Mr Gladstone said
'GentlemeR, don't worry yourself
about the revenue. Give me thirty
millions OF sober people and We viii
have revenue enough and surplus.
Ne might III this country, this traf-
&c abolished, nave less revenue. but
we would have more happv homes.