St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-25
CAUSES OF CRIMES.
The Passion for Wealth, Speculation
Glitter and Show.
How IL Brings Disgrace and Ruin to
Many Homes.
General saltwater Sews--The Tobog.
gan Slide.

Yesterday morning i'm the First VI. f.
church, the pastor. Rev. DR.. e. III. ). Dunn,
delivered a special sermon to large con-
gregatiOn. The subject was Crimes and
Morals; or. The Causes OF Crimes: l Tim.
V. "a: 'SOme mems sins are open before
hand going before 10 judgment; and some
men they follow after" He began: The
daily press is filed with disclosures of crime
and fraud. coming from respected people
OF all grades and professions. Very often
do we have to read that the wrOng-dOers
were members of the Christian church. and
often holding high Office ii it. We shut our
eyes and ask if the end will ever come to
such revelations. We have hardly been
aroused from the shock of one dreadful rev
elatiOn before we are startled by a dsclOS-
uTe still more terrible. No one can Won
der, therefore, that men pause long before
they receive church membership as a rea-
son for confidence. Everywhere the ques-
ton IS. in whom can we place faith? The
air Is full of diStTust; nor would we
add 10 il, for we believe it best that
mutual confidence exist. No reasonable
man will accuse the church of completely in
the sins of her members. We often find
the prejudices of men doing this. But the
world is growing better, for the average of
CRIMINALS IN THE CHURCH
is not one TO twelve, as formerly. If the
church cOndOne or seek TO hide the sins of
her members. let her abide the results. But
none feels so keenly the dishOnOr which
falls upon a professor as the church does.
The reasons for the universally Of crime
are many, and we mention few:
Crime is not so much a disease of the mind
as TO become the cause of ITS prevalence
There is such thing, it is true. as klepto-
mania-where persons have the mania for
stealing-but such are only occasional. and
exceptional exhibitions of mind trouble,
and have very little influence on the gen
eral average. But to forge check a man
must be cool, deliberate and must study tC
evade detection. If man change the cash
account his entries are made in cold blood
He refuses to hear the teachings of con
science. and that prepares the way fOl
| grOSSer wrongs. Though we may detest
| theology. technically sO-called, we all must
admit that at the bottom of all the crime
requiring d1liberatiOn, fOrethOught and pur-
pose there is that deteSted and unpleasant
doctrine of the centuries. viz: The heart
is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked.
This is the wide, far-reaching cause OF
the crimes which make even the type at
times refuse to print them. But there are
yet minor reasons for this
CRIMINAL CALENDAR.
l. This nation has passed thr ough many
wars, civil and political. War awukens al
the worst passions in men: strains human
virtues and good principles, and produces
havoc in finances. Here will be found one
cause OF crime.
.. Another cause Is the undue love of
money; and with this unwhoesOme love of
wealth men have become envious and avar-
icious, and then they find themselves ready
to do anything to get wealth.
3. The desire on the part OF the poor to ape
the rich is another cause of crime. We ind
this in the churches as well as all other so
ciety.
4. Speculation in general, and on borrowed
capital in particular. is another reason for
the increase of crime.
). The love of flash, glitter and show. a
reason for crime. Men and women want TO
outshinc others, and the difference in income
or capital is the after consideration. The
great aim of many is simply TO produce the
last great stir or sensation in society. This
keeps poor people away from the house of
God.
8. Small pay among the laboring classes
brings crime.
:. A prayerless church endangers the men,
bers, and temptations become strong when
Christians are in low state OF religious life.
{. Let the public remember the inevitable
law, what a man sOweth, that shall he also
reap" Lift up mems morals and you stop
the crime.