Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-08-21
WHERE Is THY BROTHER?
A Powerful Sermon on the Recent Homi-
eide.
Like Priest Like People--Like People
Like 0ficiary.
All the Commandments are Violated in
Sioux City.

the English Lutheran church, preached in
the court room, Sioux City, Iowa, August
8, 1856.
Wheresoever the carcas. 10 there will the
eagles be gathered together Matt "a, 2s.
Subject: The cause Of our present sorrow
and shame not wholly to be sought fof In the
saloons and in the neglect OF the city officials
Jesus Christ had just passed out OF the TEN.
pie at Jerusalem when his disciples called his
attention to the beauty Of that structure.
The Jewish nation were proud OF their temple
and city, which Was the headquarters OF the
only true religion In the world. And Jerusa.
lem was the capital Of a nation which had Je-
hovah for their king. The temple aud city OF
Jerusalem we're all and much more to the
Jews, than Washington and the state capitals
are to us as q people 1t was not only pride
In their city and temple that led them to ad-
mire it. But that temple was the channel
through which God communicated with his
people. 1t represented the source whence
came the power that protected their families
IN their civil and religious privileges.
Thither the twelve tribes instantly worship
ping and serving God, repaired each year, AMI
thence went forth the laws for their govern
ment. You NAV form some idea OF how they
regarded their temple and city, when you re-
fleet how we a. citizens regard our national
capital and the great cities OF our country.
Tie band that would dare 90 touch or ATTEMPT
to destroy them would touch every patriots
heart in this nation. But there is a calamity
which may bef.ll nation. and cities that is far
more To be dreaded than even the destruction
of our capital or Of our cities. And this ca
lamity is the decay In the public and private
virtue and morals OF the people.
When a nation or q city becomes lax In
morals, and the public virtue decays, and the
places of justice are perverted and become SO
nfamou that decent people cannot venture
into them, whes cases affecting the welfare Of
"A whole community are being tried.
When our jury system, already too defect.
i've to meet the ends OF justice, is rendered IN.
famous 10y the Introduction VI inhdcls and
atheists and drunkards into the jury box, for
the purpose Of defeating justice; and when
the powers that be are either Indifferent
towards Astounding vice, or in sympathy with
it. When the spirit Of liberty and 81 rever-
ence for God, which characterized the great
body Of the founders OF this republic 10 lost,
aud red-han6ed ~ tessneNs and the enemies
Of God and virtue are permitted to
gain the ascendency, 90 that every faithful
servant OF God and the state, walking in the
'NN'f' ~ - 'ot ARo6t6 ~ nv w lHN
cowardly assassin's bloody Weapons, then the
downfall OF the nation. the destruction of the
city and the wrath OF God Almighty poured
out without mixture II lot far OF.
The dragon and the owl will soon have
their habitatiop where our cities stand, and
desolatiou and woe will succeed .he period of
our glory and gre stnes in this city and coun-
try, when the servants Of the most high God
can be shot down like dogs, Al the corners 81
our streets, by goddess and conscienceless vii
aims, who now seek to subvert the govern
ment, h. quiet the Christian pulpit and to
drive Christ from our coasts.
When Jesus Christ was rejected by the
Jews, and when he left their temple and city
never to return, when that generation had lost
the spirit of Gods prophets, then their ruin
was nigh.
When the disciples, therefore, pointed to
taeir temple admiringly, the son Of God whose
thoughts were contemplating the vast expanse
of the universe, and the sublimer and more
permanent glories Of eternity, saw nothing
but a heap OF run aud Y track of dessolation
In Jerusalem, when ne was gone, who had
been in its glory and defense.
When Jesus passed out Of Jerusalem all be.
came common and unclean within its walls.
And when that whole nation acquiesced In
his death then the land Of Palestine was
stained with q blood outlines never to be
washed out.
ii'N ldllNiy hSNll uClIbD CAllS upon tHciH
for their great crime. Three DAYS later and
the temple stood a. if pealed by the light
nings of heaven. with It's veil rent in twain
from top To bottom, with the Shekinah gone
from between the cherubim, and all the SER
vices OF the priests, ana The smoke Of the in
cnse that r0se from the altar WAS blasphemv
1 the light Of God.
few days later. Jerusalem had become a car
cass, and the birda snuffed their prey from
aiar and came down upon the devoted city In
1ocks.
Caesar gave command for the reduction of
the city, and God had forsaken IL. Just be-
fore the destruction OF the city, Tacitus tells
us that voices were heard in the mir through
Jerusalem, saying, LET US depart" The an
gels of God took their fight from the city
And Titus with his ARMY came upon Jerusa-
EN- and it's inhabitants persisted by famine
and sword and the city and temple were utter
ly destroyed. Corruption and ain had rem
dered the city q carcass in the sight Of God,
and the eageis came by thousands To suck up
the blood OF its Inhabitants and 20 devour
their prey.
# is a remarkable fact With which every
soldier is familiar that although there should
not be the sign OF q vulture In the heavens,
yet no sooner had q great battle been fought,
and the scent Of blood and Of dead beasts
arisen in the air, than the heavens would I've
seen swarmiEg with these birds coming TO de-
your the slain.
II is true In more senses than ore, that
vhercsoever the CARCASS 10, there will the
eagles be gathered together.
"The yulture'S nose, which smells nothing
hut corruption, 10 no credit to It's possessor.n
And. alas, only too many human beings have
the yulture's nose.
] And may not this city snd nation take
warning from the fate OF great cities and EN-
pires Of antiquity, and repent and turn to God
before 1, Is 100 late, When moral decay aud
deceneracy o! manners, with a loss OF public
and private virtue Is the stigma Of q city or a
nation, then there can be no doubt but ttat i'm
mediate and genuine repentance, a solemn
turning 10 God, with fruits meet for repent
ence is the only way OF escape from ruin to
such a people.
Palmyra, Carthage, Babylon, ROM aud
Jerusalem are all monuments OF jehovah
wrath against the sins Of the people. The
burnt and blackened districts all over this
world where once great nations and cities
ticurished are Gods perpetual warning TO us,
that oblivion awaits Us il We depart from the
living God.
Let US now turn and consider our own con-
dition as a city and a nation. To-day this
whole ci, is in a deep sorrow, and IL covered
wnS shame. One Of Gods servants and an
ambassadors OF Jesus Christ, was SHOT down
like a dog on last Tuesday night in our
streets. This Is a horrible crime laid at our
doors. 1t Is not only a citizen that has been
fy.tIIv tpttri.ra1 lint n fo - I bapIad acgassf