The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-05-22
FOR FALLEN WOMEN.
THE INJUSTICE OF Furnishing THE
WOMAN WHILE THE MAN is
PERMITTED TO MINGLE IN
BUSINESS AND SOCIETY

Rev. j. P. McFerrin, D. D., Pas
tor of Cemetery Methodist church,
at Chattanooga, Tenn, preached a
sermon on fallen women on Sunday,
to an audience numbering $500 of
the leading people of that city.
During the course of his sermon be
said:
To US, there is all the difference
between sin found out and sin
undiscovered. We walk every day
in the midst of moral lepers, but we
do not see their sores. We associ-
ate with adulterers and never shrink
from their touch. There are wives
in this city who would fly from their
husbands as from a coiled snake if
they knew their private lives and
husbands who would be ashamed of
their wives if they knew their
thoughts.
If the doctors of Chattanooga were
forced to make public the secrets of
society, many a fair reputation
would be blasted and many a high
headed, sanctimonlous church mem
Der would sink to the depths of in
fanny, where he ought to have been
twenty years ago.
In world of sinners, let us not
talk so much about social ostracism.
If we are going to hew to the line,
let US be just, and treat all that are
equally guilty. If fallen woman
deserves the punishment society Wis
its upon her, then let her partner in
crime share her fate. They are in
the same boat; but, for mercy's sake
don't throw her overheard, to be
drowned by social sharks, and row
him safe to shore. @
Let him go with her, meet the
same doom here and sink 20 the low
est depths of hell hereafter.
But how is it? The poor woman
is treated as a moral leper, Stunned
by decent society, fenced off with
her kind, left to go on in her course,
and come to an untimely grave and
an awful hell.
But the gilded rascal who made
her what she is stalks forth from his
lecherous den dressed in the garb of
responsibility, and is allowed to en-
ter our churches, sits in our parlors,
dance with our fair maidens, mingle
with our best society, deports in the
sunshine of fashion, and in gay plu
mage hides his blackened soul.
Reeking with the blood of his VIC
tim he goes forth as a wolf in
sleeps clothing in search OF other
prey
And the worst of all is, he is
known, and yet in measure, is re-
spectedl
l besecch you, if you ever come
across such fieDd in human shape,
before you exteno to him the hand
of welcome, think OF the soul he
has murdered and the hell he has
kindled. IT there is man who de-
serves lower place in hell than
another, it is he who wrecks life
and leaves it stranded upon the
shore. If there is a being almost
without the infinite circle of forgive
ness,sit is the man who blights puii-
ty in its bud, and robs another of
the priceless jewel which he. can
never restore.
Oh, thou corrupter of innocence,
look upon the torn and bleeding
lamb which thy lust has slain, and
shed tear if the fires of passion
have not already consumed the
foundation of thy soul. Look to
him who beareth the iron rod of
vengeance, and think of the appoint
ed time of judgment.
Think you that you are walking
safely because God has forgotten?
; His wrath may slumber, but His
bolt shall yet smite you, and thy
shadows of death shall be phan-
toms of horrible meaning. De-
mons shall mock thee, and remorse
shall strike her talons in thy heart
and rend it.
! As thou art borne down'tC thy
doom, the walls and shrieks of thy
victims shall greet thee and helps
everlasting storm shall howl above
thee, and rains of perpetual misery
pelt thee.
Then corruption of innocence, go
forever from the view of the pure
and the good, and may every
thought of thee be erased from the
tables of memory. The world will
breathe freer when you are gone,
and rejoice that one more plague is
stayed.