Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-05-23

Il
Mr.. Beecher preached Sunday. His
text had to do with the need for higher
impulses to right living IN the case Of
protesting Christians. These extracts
are taken from the sermon:
The kingdom Of God consists Of that
group Of men, In all nations and ages,
that are renouncing their animal Inn
pulses IN favor Of q life generally flowing
from reason and the higher moral and
spiritual sensibilities. They have got
up above the equatorial line; they are
living IN q land without q winter. and
with an ever present summer Of the
soul. /"
1.-THE true idea Of religion Is not so
much TO tuck up our condnct so that it
will never drag on the ground: not so
much 70 take care of the Bible, of
church meetings, of associations in such
q way as that men shall say, What re-
ligious folks they are + to get reputa-
ton for piety-it is to be and not to
SEEM"
"It Is very easy for man to act relig-
iously when he knows everybody Is
watching him and praising him. Men
are almost universally vain and win do
great deal for the sake Of praise. The
Americans are the proudest and the
vainest people that live upon the face Of
the earth. The temptation 70 gain
praise for doing things that are right Is
very strong element in our national
character. In our religion there ia not
q little OF the element Of vanity. A
thousand little, micelike vanities Green
in and out Of our religious influences. .
Nothing can be- more dealin0 to
Christianity than the spirit which exists
too often In churches-fheir combative-
ness, their enviousness and their ieal-
ousies; their strifes as to who shall be
first. who shall be most respectable.
who shall be most prosperous. All
those things are not of Him who oalleth
you; they are Of the devil. But churches
that are full Of sweetness, full Of activ-
ity, and that seek each others honor.
rather than their own-whose atmos-
phere is warm and nourishing-the
churches which cherish the graces of
the Spirit, so that If man comes in
from the outward world he will say.
This is, indeed, q different life from
what have ever seen anywhere, that Is
q moral influence beyond preaching. be-
yond all organization; and whenever we
can begin to touch church with church
from village to village, and from town
TO town, and to circle the nation with
associations of men and women that are
manifestly seeking to produce holiness
In their souls, yet with all cheerfuIness
and sweetness and beauty, the glory Of
the Lord win not long linger and the
n4illennial day viii have already lit mp
the eastern horizon with its beams.
DR. TALMAoR ON CLUBS.
DR.. Talmage's text was Luke. vi, A
For every tree is known by its own
fruit"
"What Is the influence Of club houses
In America ?" he asked, after few In
tI0ductory remarks. In answering the
I'D tion he admitted that men were
botrd to have clubs. Clubs were differ
ent2aas different as night was from day.
There was the genteel or aristocratic
club, with. it's perfect hxings and ar
rangem nts Of all kinds its dining
rooms, is parlors, its library and its
costly picture gallery. 1t was the per-
lection Of comfort and convenience
complete enchantment There was the
other and more Vulgar club--its at
mosphere foul with beer and tobacco
and whisky, and fouler still with the
language Of profanity. Whatever was
TO be said in favor of the one kind Of
club, the other could only be spoken of
as an abomination. The preacher said
that he could not raise bis voice against
clubs without qualification, as he had
been q member of more than one club
himself. He had belonged to baseball
club. theological club and literary
club, and be had experienced good from
them all.
There were certain tests by which the
value Of club life could be tried. The
first test was: What was the influence Of
the club on q mans homer There were
men who put the club FIRST, the home
second. In some cases, home lost all
its attractions. The husband and father
seldom there: and when there he con-
Hived to make things as unpleasant 90
possible, and found fault with every
thing. Genial as an angel at the club,
he was ugly Is sin at home. "Oh, it is
too true, DR.. Talmage exclaimed at the
sop Of his voice-.'it is too true that
hundreds, even thousands, Of Brooklyn
homes are being dubbed to death I"
loud laughterl.
The second test suggested was, What
was the effect Of the club on mans
business9 The club unhappily often
led 10 ruin. Fortune was beaten TO
pieces By the base ball. It was trampled
under horses hoofs. Il was drowned
Ia oceans Of wine or Monongahela. The
third test suggested was, What was the
effect @ the club on mans morals
- - n
finuedf Was there the same high re-
gard for personal character the same
high regard for wife and children ?
some men would not drink at home;
they would not swear at home But
the children knew that their fafherdrank
and swore al the same: and the son
would follow the example, and because
ol weaker constitution and inferior
liquor would overtake lie father and
they would 60 down 70 he'll together.
ssBy these tests. said DR.. Talmage,