Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-06-08
"sOCIETY. ATTACKED.


Rev. Thomas Dixon Jr. OF New
York recently preached a sermon on
the vanity. humbuggery and hypoo-
rlsy Of "socieiy" a. the word Ia under
stood Ia fashionable circles. He said
In one sense society was Insignificant,
In another It was practically Omnipo'
tent. The little clique which arrogaies
the title Of society Ia simply mob,
and the impudenoe with which ith
right 10 that title---indicaling "a IL does
the solidarity Of manklnd-is assumed
Is pronounced something amazing. IA
suming to be- the arittocracy OF the
world, they are In reality an aggrega'
tlon of all sorts Of light.headcd, in'
significant people. "rhey could all be
dropped from the world tomorrow and
the worlds business would not suiler.
They are 20 insignificant In the sum
total Of the race that they can be left
out Of account In considering lie
problems but Tor the fact that their
ideals haveA reflex action upon the
masses OF the people,"
Tho preiensions Of this set, Mr..
Dixon declared, are accepted by thou
sandr OF people - facts, and "their
ideals are bowed down TO As though
they were the dellveranoes Of the ora
Giles Of the Most High, while they are
only worthy Of study and discussion
because Of this tremendous Influence
upon the ranks below them" The
reverend gentleman, proceeding from
mere opposition to violent drnunoia.
ton, declared that 'lho so-called high
society OF our great cities IL In its pre-.
tensions n humbug, In Its customs the
incarnation Of vulgarlty, In its stand
ard Of life essentially immoral aud
corrupting."
While agreeing with the purport and
object Of what IL said, tho NEWS Ia
scarcely prepared to follow the speaker
90 far. "Sooiely" Ia not essentially
immoral nor does II necessarily lead 10
immortality; but II does lead to II it
does not embody unworthy vanitita
and disposition 10 overlook the reali-
ties in favor OF the gliding and the
froth OF life. The suhloiued lines are
less subject to criticism;
Il, Is OF tho Garth earthly. It smells Of
tho loves ideals possible To rational man
aud woman, Money l. the foundation
ON which H. temple OF worship rests.
Mammon Is tho god thoy worship, whom
they serve, and u little Insignificant Top,
wiihasupeTAnnuatod European title, IN the
angel Of which they dream. Marriage Is
made question Of alliance for the
multiplied ion Of fortune or of ohicauory
for the gaining of fortune. II becomes
strictly matter OF bargain aud sale. IL
becomes strictly commercial transact
ton, and mothers angle Tor desirable
mon us the faithful fisherman bats his
hook and waits for the victim.
The preacher then engaged In tho
narration OF a case In real life in which
the Objectionable characteristics not to
say repulsiveness OF such proceedings
were plainly illustrated. Ward Me.
Alllster's "Sooiety As Have
Found Ip Is brought under
the pulpit orator's mstaphorical
scalpel and disSected In fine style,
while the author himself Is pilloried In
thoroughly Characteristic manner.
We cannot close without giving this
drastic doctor one more hearing in his
own words. After showing tho f.llits
aud even indecen 3i,s In some cases OF
the dress Of the class OF people spoken
Of, he proceeds 10 launch the following
verbal thundorboll;
Tho occupations Of this circle of people
are such That any statement describing
their position IN the world OF ethics
could scarcely DO nyordraWu, ENlrayu-
gance and luxury and idlono.s arc tho
opportunities the devil always uses to
wreck tho human soul. The society ct
which ! am speaking spends It's time In
balls ana receptions ana suppers, operas
-oxtrayagauco M the city aud
oXtrayugauce out of the CITY. Thor
business in ITO - 10 eat and 10 drink and
TO slurp, To- pend The winter aud spend
the summer Think OF normal, ration
nj human being living o., nu end " NE
simply tn perform the daily functions Of
the body and think OF tho mOnstrous
iusoleure NJ such an aggregation ofas-es
calling themselves society,"
The society people arc contrasted
with such men rs Darwin, Pasteur,
Franklin, Edison, Peter Cooper and
others, aud mention rs made Of the in-
cident Of the Earl Of Shanesbury cry
INK because he had 70 die aud leave 80
much suffering IN the world that he
could not provide TOT, These We're all
antpodal characters In life because all
useful and living not for display nor
vain pleasure but that the world might
become better ami happier Ttslme
times requires radical remedies t,