The Somerset reporter., 1885-04-29
WEDNESDAY, APR. go. 1888
Fast Day Services.
SERMON BY REV. A. J. RACkLfFF


Fast day was observed la this village by
Union services In Island Avenue Church
with very Interesting and able sermon by
the pastor, Rev. Mr.. Racklifie. The busi-
pess places were generally closed during
the hour OF service and the attendance was
very good although not 20 large as u
highly spoken of. The following brief
abstract, OF course, gives au inadequate
idea OF It's real merit snd force;
The sermon was based on the text, Titus
2:l4. The word OF God has some message
for every age. 1t admits Of fresh appiica.
ton to the new, and ever changing phases
of life which are constantly manifesting
themselves in communities, states, and na-
tons. That which God has given to guide
the individual in his search for truth and
for the highest type OF life, speaks with
equal authority when brought to bear upon
that larger life, Of which our own indivd-
ual opinions and characters form y part.
The text speaks Of "a peculiar or special
people," The term Is one of honor and not
of reproach. 1t d'signates people who
are the opponents OF brothery kindness OF
charity, OF justice, Of mercy and Of purity.
A people who present. to the world Its
brightest and best examples You will no.
tice that they became such, l. By pro-
cess of redemption from the power that
enslaves. We are slaves to Whatever )rin-
ciple OF evil dominates on life. As applied
to national life the evil is practically
summed up In the one principle of unre-
stricted suffrage. But how shall suffrage
be restricted Not by property qualidca-
ton. Not by educational qualification.
But by a limitation based on moral chsrac-
ter. Let every man convicted Of crime be
DISTINGUISHED for q term of years corre-
spending to the Nervousness of his offense.
This would make citizenship worth some
thing. 1t would offer premium to homes
ty rather than to dishonesty. 1t would
crown the brow OF purify instead Of twin
ing laurels about the brow OF society's out
casts. 1t would give US Statesmen instead
Of demagogues.
But In order that we may fulfill our mis-
sion as q special or peculiar people We
must be fitted for 1t. II. BY a process Of
publication from influences that corrupt.
Instead Of calling attention to the many
corruptiDg Influences which manifest them
selves IS such, we will conflne our thought
to two sources Of evil from which most
people seem to apprehend no danger. The
not refer to that which Is openly and def
antly vile, so much as to the trashy story
paper, the dime novel and publications Of
that sort. They poison the mind and faint
the life. They d. bililate the mental pow
ers and have some such effect upon the
mind as the disease known as "rickets' has
upon the body. It Is not right TO poison
tue mind, to deprave the tastes, to lower
and debsse young peoples ideals Of life by
such literature.
The second evil has to do with our
amusements. And no question demands
more candid treatment. A wholesale de-
nunciatiOn Of all amusements is as foolish
as it would be useless. We need relaxe-
ton. Perhaps no people, more so than we
Americans. But there Is q tendency to 60
to extremes In everything. We need to re-
member that the legitimate use Of amuse-
ment Is for recreation and when 1t becomes
dissipation 1t is wrong. The objection
lies not against the kind SO much as against
the amount and the place where we seek II.
The popular amusaments OF to-day are
open to censure not so much from what
they are In themselves as from the fact
that they are not wisely regulated. And
for this reason they have become source
of evils that are appalling. What 10 need
ed is not problbi' Ion, but regulation. And
SO long ~ this wise regulation IL refused,
as 1t practically 10 to-day, respectable PEG.
pie should abandon these places absolutely.
We must be free from influences that cor
rupt We shall then fulfill our mission as
q peculiar people and hold up q model gov
eminent, and . model social and national
life for the worlds imitation.