The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-02-02
JEPHTHAHS DAUGHTER.
Dr. Talmages Third Sermon to the
Women of America.


jert or Hia Discourse Is an Act
So Solemn That to Break 1t Is an Evor-
lasting Wrong.
BRooKLYN, Jan. 22.-The Rev. I. De
Witt Talmage, D. D., preached this morn
ing the third Of his series of Sermons 10
the Women Of America, with Important
Hints to Men," His subject was Broken
Promises Of Marriage" and his text from
Judges xi, 35: 81 have opened my mouth
unto the Lord, and 1 cannot go back" He
said:
Gen. Jephthah, the commander in chief
of the Israelitish forces. is buckling on
the sword for the determination Of the
pestiferous Ammonites, and looking up to
the sky he promises that if God will give
him the victory he will put TO death and
sacrifice IS 4 burnt offering the first thing
that comes out from the door of his home
stead when he goes back. The hurrahing
of triumph soon runs along the line of all
the companies, regiments, and divisions
of Jephthah's army. A worse beaten
enemy than those Ammonites never strewed
any plain with their earcasses. Gen.
Jephthall, fresh from his victory, is now
on his way home. As he comes over the
hill and through the valleys the whole
march homeward for his men is cheer,
but for him great anxiety, for he remem-
bers his vow 10 slsy and burn the first
thing that comes forth from his house to
greet him after his victory.
Perhaps it shall be the old Watchdog
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 paws against his master in merry well
come after long absence? No; it was not
that which came forth to meet Jephthah.
Perhaps it might 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 futter on the
shoulder of the familiar head of the
household. But who could have the heart
to slay such a winged innocentp No; it
was not that which came forth to meet
Jephthah. Or it may be some good neigh
Dor that will rush out to greet him after
having first been in to tell the family of
the near approach of the General. But
who could slay a neighbor who had come
on the scene to rejoice over the reunited
household? No; it was not that which
came forth to meet Jephthah.
As he advances upon his homo the door
opens and out of it comes one whose ap-
pearance under other circumstances would
have been an indescribable Joy, but under
the pledge of a sacrifice becomes horror
which blanches his cheek and paralyzes
his form and almost hurls him fiat to the
earth. His child, his only child, his
daughter comes skipping out to greet him,
her step keeping time TO timbrel which
she shakes and smites. Did ever a con-
queror's cheer end in such bitter groan?
No wonder Dore, in two of his MASTER
pieces, presents the scene. And Handel
made it the last and climactriC work of his
life to put this pathetic and overpowering
circumstance in an oratorio, seven mon hs
toiling amid its majestic harmonies until
his eyesight gave out; and, as though the
sad scene of Jephthah's daughters sacri-
fee were too much for mortal vision, the
grand old musician was led blind into the
orchestra for the first rendering Of
"Jephthah." All the glories of victorious
war are blotted out from Jephthah's mem-
ory, and his banner is folded in grief, and
his sword goes back into the scabbard with
dolorous clang, and the mufied drum
takes the place of the symbals, and the
"tremolo" the place of the trumpet, and he
cries out: "Alasl my daughter, thou hast
brought me very low and thou art one OF
them that trouble me; for | have opened
my mouth to the Lord, and | cannot go
*.
mountains without shelter, the maidens
who would have been at her wedding
ranged with Jephthahs daughter up and
down, bewailing her coming sacrifice.
Commentators and theologians are in
dispute as to whether that girl was slain or
not, and as to whether if she were slain 1t
was right or wrong in Jephthah to he the
executioner, discussion into which | shall
not be diverted from the oVermastering
consideration that we had better look out
what we promise, better be cautious what
engagement we make, better that in regard
to all matters Of betrothal and plighted
vow we feel the responsibility, lest we have
either to sacrifice the truth or sacrifice
an immortal being, and we be led to cry
out with the paroxysm of Jephthah; u
have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and
cannot go back"
There is one ward in almost all the in
sane asylums and large region in almost
every cemetery that you need to visit.
They are occupied by the men and women
who are the victims of broken promises OF
marriage. The women in those wards,
and in those mortusry receptacles are in
the majority, because woman lives more in
her affections than does man, and lacera-
ton Of them in her case is more apt to be
o dementia and fatality. In some re-
Cions Of this land the promise Of marriage
is consiGsred 10 have no solemnity or
binding force. 1t was only made in fun.
They may change their mind. The en-
cagement may stand until some one more
attractive in person or opulent in estate
appears on the scene; then the rings are
returned and the amatory letters and all
relationship ceases. And so there are ten
thousand Jephthab's daughters sacrificed
as burnt offerings. The whole subject
needs to be taken out of the realm Of COM
edy into tragedy, and men and women
need to understand that, while there are
exceptions to the rule, once having SOL
EMMY pledged to each other heart and
hand, the forfeiture and abandonment Of
that pledge makes the transgressor in the
sight of God perjurer, and 80 the day of
Judgment will reveal it. The one has lied
to the other; and all liars shall have their
place in the lake that burnath with fire
and birthstone
ia man or woman make promise in
the business world, is there any obliga-
ton to fulfill it2 If man sign note for
5000, ought he to pay itP If a contract be
signed involving the building of house or
the furnishing of q bill of goods, ought
they stand by that contract2 "Oh, yes,"
always answered. Then ask the further
questions: Is the heart, the happiness,
the welfare, the temporal and eternal
destiny of man or woman worth as
much as the house, worth $500, worth any,
thing3 The realm of proAigaey is filed
with men and women as q result of the
wrong answer to that question. The most
aggravating, siupendous, and God defying
lie is a lie in the shape Of broken
espousal.
But suppose q man changes his mind,
ought he not back out? Not once in 10
900 times. What if l change my mind
about promissory note and decline to pay
it, and suddenly put my property in such
shape that you could not collect your notep
How would you like that2 That, you say,
would be fraud. So is the other fraud,
and punish it God win, certainly as you
live. and inst "a certainly If vor do moi