Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-08-20
A WICKED CITY.
A CLERGYMAN TALKS OF THE SIN AND
sHAMB" OF sIBUBENvlLLB.
A Timely Discourse by Rev. W. R. HarsLaw-
Words Of RsprOach and Censure for
the Residents
Rev. W. R. Harshnw, of steubenville,

Rev. W. r. Harshaw, of Steubenville,
preached sermon in the U. P. church, Of
that city, Sunday upon 1.-THE immortality
of steubenville," his text being Prov. vi.
81: "Can a man take fire Into his bosom
and his clothing not be burned?" A tele-
gram from Steubenville says:
''For the past four years Steubenville
has been wrestling with the social evil
problem. The city has obtained a reputa-
ton all over the country on account Of the
numerous free-and-easy saloons, with
houses of ill-repute as annexes, and
the present Mayor was elected last
spring upon the reform idea. That
idea has never materialize1, and affairs
in thia regard have grown worse until in
one quarter, embracing three squares OF
the main business thoroughfare OF the city,
there are eleven Joints of the worst Class.
The very atmosphere is pregnant with
stories of a damaging character affecting
the reputation of members of the leading
families of the city. Already some of these
have been made matters Of record by the
institution of court proceedings, and an
application for divorce will probably be
made this week which will lead to even
more startling disclosures than have yet
been developed"
The pastor said, among other things:
1.-THE time has come in this city when
the leaders of public opinion must speak.
Silence and inaction to-day is contemplate
and inexcusable coWafdice. There is no
use striving to conceal facts under claim
of superior modesty. propose to speak
plainly. l hops the Lord will give me
the ability to make the English language
express the plain, unvarnished, unex-
aggerated truth. Iwsnt to cut, and to cut
deeply, every one in any way connected
with this mighty volume OF unadultersted
nastiness that continues to flow through
our streets and pOlutes the very atmOs-
phere we are compelled to breathe.
LET us get a. fair, honest statement OF
the present condition of Steubenville in
this respect. One thing is certain. 10
open violation of the law of God and right
in the face of the law of the State, our
city 10 polluted by the presence of houses
of ill-repute In the past few days have
been told of scenes enacted right here in
your midst that would make hell blush
SO much for open, shameless immortality.
Further, where so much open infamy and
ahsme is manifest, you may be very sure
there is a source Of supply somewhere con-
cealed and hidden from the public eye.
immortality in public indicates i'm
morality in private life. The
hidden source of supply, higher
up in society, acts as constant
feeder for the number that have grown
cid in sin and shameless in iniquity. I'M
morality OF both kinds sbounds. Because
of it our city papers are constantly pro-
claiming our infamy abroad. The name
of our city has become the synonym of all
that is vile and immoral. Men laugh at
you when you say you are from Steuben-
vile. Possibly we are not sinners above
all men ia this respect; but we bear that
name abroad. The facts are awful enough
to arouse every lover of city and home to
action. This leads me up to notice some
OF the causes that have produced and con-
time to produce such results"
He then proceeded to particnlarize the
causes which have resulted in the present
situation, called for an uprising of good
citizens, aud vigorous enforcement OF the
law