Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-28
PULPIT POWDER.
Hot Shot Poured Into Two Society
Pastimes Yesterday.
Ball Room Pleasures and Progressive
Euchre Entertainments Vigorously
Denounced as Social Eyils---More
to Come.
scArHrNe pESuNcrArIoNs FROM MR.. LE-

scATHINe pENUNcArIoNs FROM Mr.. LE-
LAND
At the First Baptist church yesterday
Rev. H. G. Leland took for his subject
"What of Sa ans snares. the ball and the
lottery dressed in the sacred guise of
charity" The announcement of the cub
ject had drawn an audience somewhat
larger than usual and the church was well
filled and it is needless to say the sermon
received the closest attention of all. Mr..
add ress was certainly interesting.
for he handled the subject under discus
sion with ungloved hands and proceeded
to assail some Of the modern institutions
in manner which at least entities him
to credit for candor and fearlessness in
his opinions.
The text was taken from Peter iv:17:
FOR the time is come that Judgment must be-
gin at the house OF God; and If IL first begin at us
what shall the end be OF them that obey not the
gospel OF God!'
Mr.. Leland commenced with brief
history of the church both of earlier and
later days and said that the inconsisten.
cies which had gradually crept into it at
various periods had retarded its useful
ness and been such as to incur Gods dis
pleasure. He thought it the duty of the
pulpit to speak out against them. If
oh ha Ia
not he asserted, and they would go on
unchecked. He recognized the news
papers as valuable aid to the pulpit and
expressed thanks for many fsvors and
courtesies shown. speaking both in be-
half of the church and person
ally. Chief of the sources of
grief to the holy spirit was worldliness
in the churches. There was great need
of enlightenment on the things which
connected the church with the world
The word of God was sent out as a
sword to divide truth from falsehood
and in dealing with these subjects we
needed the whole armor of God. He was
glad that the subjects which he had cho-
son were 10 be presented from other
pulpits in the city also. There was re-
vivsl needed here in churches as well as
in other matters. 1t was needed when a
pastor and wife received an invitation to
a progressive euchre party. Progressive
euchre was a very common amusement.
Its patrons were among the churches and
among the respectable people of the com
munity, and yet it was gambling accord
ing to decisions BY the courts. and if it
was so measured by the low plane of hu
man law, it certainly was condemned by
Gods law. Mr.. Leland here quoted from
the criminal code of Illinois as proof Of
his assertion that the game was nothing
more or less than gambling.
The lottery was another affair which
was very common. The Louisiana state
lottery advertised openly and did bust
ness in defiance of the laws. The lottery
in itself was bad enough, but it was with
many an entering way for lower steps in
vice. The principle of gambling was in-
dulged in to startling extent right
here in Rock Island and seemed to
be On the increase. Right at the
church door almost for the last week
had been fair which by selling chances
was 8 violation of the law. He had
nothing but praise for the noble fire fight
ers themselves, but it was a shame to our
people to oblige them to do so. Accord
ing to law, there was a 1900 fine on the
building and also on the opera house for
a drawing recently held there, also on the
men who conducted the affair and sold
the tickets. There was fine Of not over
Sl00-and the law was weak in max
ing 1t so low on newspapers for adver-
Using any of these affairs. Here Mr..
Leland read again from the GRIM
inal code which he referred to
readily explaining that he had had a law
yer's assistance in the matter, in support
OF his assertions. No goods won by
rattle could be held by law and no one
could transfer such property and
give legal title. Church raft1es were
affairs of the same kind. yet respect
able people took part in and were bene'
fitted by them and glowing reports il
ho n
hoped church members, business mer
and citizens generally would be high
minded enough to arise and wipe out al
these customs.
Mr.. Leland discussed theatres briefly
quoting the language of Booth and 9th
ors on the modern drama, and character
izing it generally as an open huckster o.
immortality. Under the head of charity
balls. MI. Leland made remarksbl,
vigorous attack upon the entire subjec
of the modern dance, and quoted Drs
Theodore Culyer, j. H. Brookes anC
others, in language UNNECESSARILY scath'
ing, which he said expressed his own sen
timents. Yet the power of fashion hat
clothed the custom with the semblanc,
of responsibility, and even in the sacred
guise of charity it's demonstrations wer,
approved and managed by Christians
How low had Christian charity fallen t.
descend 10 such level for so holy al
end. The project must compromise al
who engaged in it. Clothing the vol
pointmer is and conception, it was a de-
fusion and snare.
HOT SHOT FROM MR. MELDRUM's PULPIT
The congregation of the Central churcl
acta.da.- rnarninn anraaa hlu diaa nr>oir I