The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-04-14
The Freie Presse on Rev. YOung's Sermon.

We are not in the habit of con corning our
selves about what happens in the churches.
We accord to every human being the right to
work out his own salvation in his own fashion,
and are wiling to allow him the greatest pos
sible scope in regard to ways and means.
These should moi 60, or reach, however, be-
yond the walls Of his own domicil, or beyond
the walls of his own church, for then they will
come in conflict with the ways of others, and
forget TO do unto others as they wish to be
done by.
Religious aSsoCi? tons and their priests and
ministers will neve~ be troubled, they will be
honored and reSuected as long as they keep
within the bounds prescribed by our social
conditions and the rights and liberties of the
individual; as long as they honor the rights of
Others and do not mix themselves with matters
not their own. or which, at least, they should
look upon from a purely civil standpoint.
Unfortunately. however, church associations
and their ministers are the very ones who are
working to again introduce religious intoer-
anCe into our moral state and condition. To
this end they step into publicity, mix them
selves in public affairs and try to force their
narrow minded views upon the whole of Soci-
ETY., and whenever they do SO they must ex-
pect opposition from society.
To-day's Express gives to its readers the
sermon OF the Rev. Mr.. Young. which was de-
livered by him last Sunday
OF the fitness or unhncSs of publishing
| these productions we have nothing to say,
| certain it is, that they create contention and
| hatred in society and for this reason should be
left where and to whomsoever likes them.
But while this Sermon lays before us we
can treat 1t as public property, and as such
| express our opinion on the same.
II is in tht. p1tur.. ,f th,. thinu IN II min
listers or prcaChe (though there are honor
able exceptionS) look upon worldly matters
from very contracted point of view. Not
| the present state of civilization, the present
condition of society, the high state Of culture
| that mankind has gained in war Of thousands
| OF years duration with darkness and ignOr-
ance. constitute the field from which they
draw their wisdom and teachings, but an old,
yet 10y far not the oldest book of history the
| Bible, The Old estament," Of which in
reality alone can make claim to venerable old
age, and which gives us, in addition to the
history of the lsraehtes al so the moral laws
of Zoroaster, Buddha and Con(ucius, is his
foundation.
| This book was written in time when erud-
| tlon. science and literature were in their
cradle, and when mankind looked upon things
round about him is childish simplicity. 1t
shows OF little sound common sense to accept
such work as compendium or manual for
the present age, and yet it is done in all
| Christian and Mosaic congregations.
Rev. Young has sought out the old Babylon
| and draws parallel between it and San An
tonic, and comes to the conclusion that the
want Of morals here is Just as great as in the
| Babylon Of old, but he continues, sit will not
escape punishment any more than Lots wife
| a. wi
will be as little mercy for the sinner as Scipio
had mercy on Carhage.' However, Rev. MIR.
| Young would do we'll if he would keep his
knowledge Of ancient history to himself since
| II seems defective: 1t was not in the power OF
Scipio to spare Carthage, he had his positive
commands and woe to the Roman general
who dlsregarded them. 1t was not Scipio who
insisted upon the destruction Of Carthage, but
Cato who concluded many of his speeches
with ergo C0g'tO Carlhaginem eSSe delan-
dem," not like Rev. Young puts it, Gar
thase delenda est, and at least it Is known
that after the destruction of Carthage, Scipio,
like the daughters of Israeby the waters OF
Babylon, sat on its ruins and wept.
Rev. Mr. Young is dissatisfied with our city
| administration, because they do not uphold
and carry out the Sunday, quor and gambling
laws. In regard to liquor and gambling we
agree with the reverend gentleman We do
know dealers IN this city who allow to bows of
twelve or fifteen years the same PRIVILEGES and
freedom that belongs only to adults. Such
violations should be punished within the full
extent of the law, for it is an offense against
the common moral law, which is acknowl-
edged even by the savage or barbarian.
| Gambling and other social evils are different
thing. An experience of thousands OF years
have taught US thus; they cannot be suppressed
by force; that in localities where they are not
tolerated they are carried on so much more ex-
tenslvely in secret and grow worse. Laws
can not help IN such cases. Education is
about the only means which car Stem at least
to some extent against H. The best laws
against social evils are rigid superintendent
and inspection.
Regarding the Sunday law we are Of opin.
ion that it is a common evil and in contraven-
ton against human rights as guarante ed us in
the constitution of the United States, conse-
quently unconstitutional and should not be
noticed
What is no sin during the six days of the
week can certainly not be any sin on Sunday,
and If Mr.. ionng calls Sunday the I,oYd's day
he does so with no more authority ,han when
we call 1t day OF recreation and rest, and we
shall take occasion at some future time to
prove this fully. Every law that offends
against sound common sense or violates the
radical and habitual rights of people. are null
and VOID "ab nItIo." In republic like ours
we pass them with silent contempt, while in
monarchical governments they have given
| cause to revolutions