The morning call., 1890-08-04
CURSE OF CRIME.
Rev. DIR. Easton DiscOurses Upon
Its Alarming Increase.

AT Calvary Church last evening Rev. T.
Chalmers Easton delivered discourse on
the subject of "Crime, Criminals and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of Warning" and the
speaker chose his text from jeremiah, %,
Shall mot visit for these things? saith
the Lord; ana shall not my soul be avenged
on such a nation as this?"
Crime" said the reverend gentleman,
taps the jugular vein of nation and its
life goes out. Such events are transporting
about Us now that the question arises, Are
We not becoming nation of criminals|
Sin is rampant in our gilded palaces and in
our novels. 1t is seen i'll what seems the
higher grade OF society, as well as Ill those
grades of meaner pretenSions. Everything
Teeks with crime, and wlckedness Is hold
ing high carnival at the banquet board OF
the nation. The secular press teens with
reports of startling horrors each day.
The United States to-day leads the
nations of the world in regard to murders
in proportion of population. In England
there are 237 murders TO every 10,OO0O0O
population; Belgium, $40; France, 265;
Scandinavia, 266; Germany, 279; Ireland,
Spain, $50. In the United States, the land
of enlightenment and intelligence, which
was founded by the Pilgrim Fathers, and
the corner stone OF which was lad in
prayer, there are $40 murders for every
100000 OF population. A CHASTITY record.
In September. 1885. there were $50 APP
plications for divorce in Chicago and 700 in
Philadelphia. Reports show that in Massa-
chusettS the native crime has doubled In
thirty years: that is. in 1850 one-half OF the
many criminals were native born, aud in
1850 they numbered more than two-thrds.
Massachusetts, too, is the State above all
others in the union distinguished for her
schools, colleges, papers aud men OF learn
ing and genius.
Another species of crime which is on
tie increase in this country is Infanticide.
We again lead the world in the wholesale
murder Of children. The slaughter OF emf
bryotic life is raging in the country. Crime
is iostered 10y idleneSS. An idle man Is not
in harmony with nature. Ignorance
also leads to crime. The major
part of the crimes are committed
by ignorant persons. The evil influences
San Francisco is more demoralized than
Chicago Not only are there hundreds of
saloons, but vile pictures are exhibited at
the news stands, and then there are the
dives, dance-houses and gambling dens.
''lntemperanee, though, is Tie chief pro-
Queer of crime. The open American saloon
is becoming the curse of the land. In this
city there were 25, 462 arrests last year, and
of these 1859 were for drunkenness.
Gambling RACES like a mania, and there
were l-0J arrests. DAY llldb GHCu Out VI Jul
5C0U saloons takes in IS day, representing
Sl4,6U0,0O0 spent in year for drink. Is not
that shameful? Is not the saloon an open
curse and the gateway to help"
The speaker then alluded TO the remedies
for crime. First of all he considered edu-
cation, not only of the mind but of the
moral nature. There is q deporable want
Of reverence for the church and home in
this country. Education should be made
compulsory in every State, and there
should be an amendment to the Con-
stitution of The United States, prohibiting
all persons from voting who cannot read
and write. In regard to home life, the
home should he reformed and elevated and
then society would be purer and better.
There is no pulpit like a mothers heart
and no altar like a mothers knee,
The last remedy for crime the speaker
said is the gospel OF Jesus Christ The
church is in need OF men to 60 out among
the poor and the vicious and carry the Cos
pei. II is Of no use to send Weakened
syC0phantS or shaking towards, but men
Of power and strong in the gospel and the
Holy Ghost are needed for such work. Let
these men 20 into the places where degra-
dation and vice hold their own and shed
the pure light Of the gospel in these dark
places. Then crime will decrease and our
land be worthy of Gods fairest blessings.