The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-23
The Women of America, With I'M
portant Hints to Men.
Tragic Story of Jephthah and His
Unfortunate Victory.
~ Have Opened My Mouth Unto the
Lord, and Cannot Go Back"
The Sacredness of the Marriage Vows
The Worst Lie Is That Untitled
Promise to Give the Heart
and Hand.

BROOKLYN. Jan. 22.-Thc Rev. 7. De-
Witt Talmagc, DID,, preached this morn
ing the third OF his series Of Sermons to
the Women of America with Important
Hints to Men," His subject was: BRO
ken Promises OF Marriage" and his text
from Judges XII 80; 81 have opened my
mouth unto the Lord and ! cannot so
back" He said:
General Jephthah, the commander-in-
chief Of the Israclitish forces, is buckling
on the sword for the determination of the
pestiierous Ammonites, and looking up TO
the sky he promises that il God will give
him the victory he will put TO death and
sacrifice as burnt offering the first thing
that comes out from the door OF his home
stead when he goes back. Tho hurrah-
ing Of triumph soon runs along the line OF
all the companies, regiments and divisions
Of Jephthah's army. A worse beaten
enemy than those Ammonitcs never
strewed any plain with their carcasses
General Jephthah, fresh from his victory,
is now on his way home. As he comes
over the hills and through the valleys
the whole march homewad for his men
lisa cheer, but for him great anxiety, for
he remembers his vow TO slay and burn
the first thing that comes forth from his
house to greet him after his victory.
Perhaps il may be the old watch dog
that shall first come out, and who could
get heart TO beat out the life OF faithful
creature like that, as he comes fawning
and barking and frisking and putting up
his paw against his master in merry well
come, after long absence2 No, II was not
that which came forth 10 meet Jephthah.
Perhaps II may be young dove let out
from its cage in the generals home, which,
gaining its liberty, may seem TO rejoice
in the public gladness and 1utter ON the
shoulder Of the familiar head OF the house
hold. But who could have the heart 10
STAY such winged innocent? No; IL was
not that which came forth TO meet Jcph-
thah. Or II may be some good ncighbor
that will rush out TO greet him after hav-
ing first been in 10 tell the family OF the
near approach OF the general. But who
could STAY n ncighbor who came on the
scune 20 rejoice over the reunited house.
hold2 No. Il WIS not that which came
forth 10 meet Jephthah.
As he advances upon his home the door
opens, and out OF IL comes one whose APP
pcaianco under other circumstances would
have been an understandable Joy, but under
the pledge Of n sacrifice becomes a horror
which blanchcs his cheek and paralyzes
his form and almost hurls him flat 10 the
earth. His child, his only child, his
daughter, comes skipping out TO greet
him, her step keeping time 10 tmbrel
which she shakes and smiics. Did ever q
conqueror's cheer end In such bitter groan?
No wonder Dorc, In two OF his master.
pieces, presents the scene. And Handel
made Il the last and climacteric work OF
his life 10 put this pathetic and oyerpower.
ing circumstance IN mn oratorio, seven
months toiling among Its majestic harmon.
les until his eyesight gave out, and, as
though tine sad scene Of Jephthah'f
daughters sacrifice were too much for NOR.
ial vision, the grand old musician was led
blind into the orchestra for the iint render.
ing OF Jephthah. All the glorics Of vic.
torious war arr bloited out from Jcphthah's
memory, and his banner IL iol,lcd in grief
and his sword goes back into the scabbard
with dolorous clang, and the mulilcd drum
takes the place Of the cymbals, and the
''trcmolo" the place OF the trum.
pet, and he cries out "Alas
my daughter, thou hast brought
mo very low and thou art one Of them that
trouble me; for have opened my mouth
TO the Lord, and cannot go back" Dur
ing two months amid the mountains with
out shelter, the madcns who would have
been ut her wedding ranged with Jcph
thah's daughter mp and down, bewailinl
her coming sacrifice.
Commentators and theologians are IN
dispute ~ 10 whether that girl was slain Of
not, and M TO whether, II she were slain, Il
was right or wrong In Jephthah 10 be th,
executioncr, discussion into which
shall not be diverted from the oycrmasier
ing consideration that We had better lool
out what We promise, better be cautious
what engagement We make; better that IL
regard 10 all matters. OF bctrothal ant
plghtcd vow we feel the responsibility
lest we have either 90 sacrifice the truth Of
sacrifice an immortal being, and We be lee
10 cry out with the paroxysm Of n Jcph
thah: III have opened my mouth unto III,
Lord, and | cannot go back"
There is one ward In almost all the In
sane asylums and a large region In almos
every cemetery that YOU need 10 visit
They are occupied by the men and womer
who are the victims Of broken promises o
marriage. Tho women In those warl'
and In those mortuary rcceptacles are h
the majority because woman lives NOR
In her affections than does man, aud LAGER
alton OF them In her case Is more apt 10 b,
dementia and fatality. In some rcgion
Of this land the promise Of marriage Is con
sidored TO have no solemnity or binding
force. II was only made In fun. Thel
may change their mind. The engagement
may stand until some one more atiractiv,
III person or 6T;S;,tciiii;t ii estate erycnrs OF
the scene; then the rings are returned ant
the amatory letters and all relationship
ceases And 40 there are 10000 Jcph
ihah's daughters sacrificed as burnt offer
inps. The whole subject needsto DC takei
out Of the realm Of comedy into tragedy
and men and women need TO understand
that, while there arc exceptions 10 tn
rule, once having solemnly pledged u
each other heart and hand, the forieitur
and abandonment Of that pledge make
the trRns,rcrsor In the sight Of God,
pcriurcr, and 10 the day " judgment vii
rcyealit. The one has lied 10 the other