The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-04
A TERRIBLE INDICTMENT.
Evangelist Marley on st. Louis.


The London Christian prints the following
letter from Henry Varley, the evangelist, st.
Louis, December ID, 1884:
This great city is one OF Satsn's seats.
Con tanning nearly 100000 souls, should gay
it is one of the most goddess upon the face of
the earth. The capital Of slave State, and
not very far from the free States, you can IN
derstand what a demoralizing influence
slavery had in the past, and how its legacy of
wickedness still marks its populs tons The
ctigipal population was msinly OF French ex.
traction their influence sull holds, and Ger.
tRinly not in the direction of Righteousness
That influence has declined aud the predom.
mating force now is American. For enter
prise, public spirit and go. the city is noted
and we'll circumstAnced. l thiok no less
than fifteen or sixteen lines Of rail way come
to this CRY, aud about Il 600 men alone are
employed in the huge traffic. We had dia-
ner the other evening With Mr.. Tut, VINO
is the official head of the Wabash system of
railways. de told me that they represented
sc 600 miles of railway and capital OF 1925
0O0O00. There is great wealth IN the city,
but also terrible poverty and commercial
depression.
in the population, mainly either in
fidel or msterialistic; where any re-
ism. Next comes an immense lego
element, ignorant. immoral, and with geo.
tesque assertion Of indepence, which simple
truth declares to be idleness in most cases.
There is large Irish contingent of the ordi-
nary kind. You can understand how little
homogeneity exists, and what queer ele-
ments are found together.
Enormous quantities of whisky are DIR INK
here ard every form of gambling. licentiOus-
ness and intemperance is rife. In the city
prison, the other day, passed by twenty-one
muIderers in their cells, all of whom were
awaiting trial, whilst few months since no
less than twenty-nine were there. Human
life has little sacredness here, and crime
abounds. The daily papers literally TEEN
with the fearful details, and sensation al
headings line the columns. The principal
papers are published on Sundays. giving
twenty pages, nearly the size OF the Times,
seven columns to each page. The theaters
are open, and every Sunday sees them
crowded with those who boast of American
freedom, but who are slaves TO sin and they
know il not. In company with the prlnci-
pal Criminal Judge, went over the great
city prison, which is one of the largest IN
the States. There ! saw what | would call
THE Criminals Cabinet" consisting of
photographs Of 900 notorious murderers,
burglars, highwsymen, robbers forgers,
sneaks and nameless criminals; some dead,
others in penitentiaries, prisons and j2ils,
whilst Others are at large, to the terror OF the
community. Such are some OF the tacts
connected with this large Western center,
and they say but little for the boosted ad-
vancement of the human race.
THE public buildings indicate great spirit;
| the massive steel bridges spanning the Missis-
| sippi; the Postoffice and Custom house, built
at cost of 81 0O0, 600; the Exposition build
ing Just about completed; the Merchants
/ Exchange, the Southern Hotel, one OF the
finest in the world. hUges piles of business
houses, warerooms, shops and stores, with
NTH miles of splendid houses, very expen-
sive and elegantly furnished. Everythiny
seems to indicate unrest and such lack OF
stability is there that have been informed
| that not more than per cent. of the bust
ness men have escaped failure durisg the
past twenty years.
1.-The churches are substantial, and some
Of them very costly, but the spiritual life is
dwarfed and poor. The externalism OF
| Christianity abounds, but the condition OF
things spiritually is simply appalling. Toe
world has come into the church ID such q
] degree that conversion to God is no longer
| the real test in regard ID Membership Re-
spectsbility in the eyes of men
is the password now. The
word of God has little or no study; the
preaching is snowy and superficial, prayer
meetings are barren of fervency and COM
munion; church fairs, shows and concerts
have taken the place OF that joy in God
which was ever designated to be the at
traction in the assemblies of His saints.
| There is very little testimony against sin,
scarcely any rebuke of iniquity. The mass
| of the people are utterly Indifferent to the
claims Of God, and the Gospel of Christ is
| despised.
This is no exaggerated picture. Cold
ness meets you at every turn, and the want
| of interest amongst even protesting Chris
|. tians is oppressive beyond measure. Were
| it not for faith in God and the solemn testi-
mony that such conditions of Astounding
wickedness would precede the great and
terrible day of the Lord, who shall c9ne in
flaming FIRE with the angels OF his might,
| taking vengeance upon them that know not
! God and obey not the gospel Of our Lord
Jesus Christ. q Thess., l., 7-S),
one would indeed be discouraged.
am greatly helped by the faithfulnsss
and ferveDt prayer of Rev. Dr..
/ Brookes. He is indeed a man of God, and
his twenty eight years of service in this city
have been greatly owned Of our exalted
Lord. We continue instant in prayer, and
now, after three weeks incessant work, there
| is q little movement, mainly amongst Chris
tians. Many tell me how they have been
restored. confirmed, revived and established
| in their holy faith. Others have been brought
| to decision. but the great majority are re.
ssting the truth, hardening their hearts aud
| psulting the Spirit of Grace
eve recently had day of special waiting
upon God. This has proved great blessing,