Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-11
II .iO ms > and md was at'eutively listened to
elsie VENNERn
Ne"' Dr. SwoPe Takes One OF Holmes
Novels for HIa snhIect


Al 81. Matthew's p. E. Church. last
evening, the pastor. Rev. DR.. R. r.
o"oPe, preached an interesting sermon
70 iair sized congregation, taking his
text from the fifth chapter of St. Paul's
epistle to the Romans.
i will introduce my subject to-
night, he said, shy referring to the
story OF Elsie Venner written by one of
the most popular American authors,
Oilver Wendell Holmes. The writer
says be heard it criticised as a medical,
ed novel, and the genial 'autocrat OF the
breakfast table seems to regard it as a
Val'o criticism. The scenes were laid
IN New England town. Elsie Venner
Is beautiful girl Of culture and refine
ment, out who repealed all by her pecu-
ilaritieS Of speech and manner.
She possessed many OF the quail
Ties or the Serpeut, its likes and
dlSHkeS. She seems to have had some
thlng OF the character, or rather the
lack OF moral character, belonging to
the serpent. Her desire appeared TO
De 70 do harm, even to her associates
and benefaCtOrS. The explanation
given by the author was that before her
birth, her mother was bitten by a rat
t!esnake. The purpose of the writer
was to bring forward for discussion the
question as to whether this peculiar
girl was an object OF Divine pity or Di-
vine wrath.
The doctrine Of original sin has been
accepted as one of the standard doc
trines Of the Church. All the fathers
OF the Church have accepted this belief.
The question that is brought to our
mind iS-what is the truth in regard to
this matter? The whole trend Of
modern investigation and thought has
been to bring before as the theory of
eyOlutiOn-a constant DEVELOPMENT.
Biblical criticism has likewise come to
the front and has a word to say on this
subject The first chapter of Genesis,
in which the doctrine Of original sin is
found, is accepted by many as more
poetical than historical, as q mere tradi-
ton, handed down for a number Of
years.
l believe IN holding up a God Of love.
We must recognize that there is in Him
the perfection OF goodness that we re-
alize Ia ourselves so imperfectly. l am
disposed to think that what is needed is
a reStatement Of the facts in Genesis,
in accordance with modern thoughts.
Science says there is a law Of heredi-
tary, and the sins Of the parents are
visited on the offspring 10 the third and
fourth generations. This law has va
rious aspects, and on the whole is a
good law. / observe that every time
any labor saving invention was
introduced il was considered an
injury, as 1t necessitated the throwing
out Of employment Of number Of per
sons. All the blessings which we enjoy
to-day are the results OF years OF tears
and misery and constant toll by our
foreiathars. / recognize that much Of
the faiths possess, as we'll as the evil
thought and inclinations, have been in
heirited from my forfathers. 1t Is with
US as with Elsie Venner; we are objects
Of Gods pity, and not His wrath.
Two thoughts are suggested by my
subject, warning and encouragement.
In the first place we are warned OF the
the awful responsibility which rests up
on us, in handing down to future gener-
atiOnS our vices, and sins, and evil in
clinations. We live again in our child
rem; IL IS in this manner that our i'm
mortality is in the race. The thought
should learn us TO be careful and make
our lives conform to the laws Of hered-
ity, as we'll as the principles Of the
Word OF God. Struggle against
sin, pray against it, and
don't get discouraged. II your evil in
clinations are strong, you must have
more patience, and more strength and
steadfastness of purpose, to fight the
battle for right If you persevere,
Gods grace will surely be with you.
Temptation tests your strength and de-
velops IL.