The morning call., 1893-09-25

high white ministerial collar. that lends
touch of severity to her rich costume of
black Duchesse. which was made In the
latest style.
Rev. Horatio Stebbins. in a few brief
but cordial words, introduced Mrs. Chant
saying that she was so we'll known, both
In her own country and in this. as to need
scarcely anything of the kind. Mr. Steb-
bins stated that the lady had come 10 us
as a representative OF manv of the sncie-
ties OF women in England which are doing
noble philanthrOpic work, and had been
especially welcomed in the parliament of
religions recently held in Chicago. Per-
sOnaly he welcomed her for himself and
for his congregation in the name of woman
hood, In the name of Christianity and in
the name OF all the high and noble graces
which go to make true Christianity what
it is.
Mrs. Chant then entered the pulpit. and
after reading the fifteenth chapter of st.
Luke and making an earnest prayer for
help and guidance and closer walk with
GOD, announced her text as being the old,
old story of the prodigal son. particularly
the words, And when he was yet great
way off his father saw him."
Ihls story OF the prodigal son, Mrs
Chant sald, was to her most moving and
essentially human one. 1t had come down
TO us through 1000 years, and was as true
and touching now as wnen first uttered :;
the only trouble about it was that il was
wrongly interpreted. Some church peo-
pie seemed to mistakenly think that prod
lgals were born among the husks and in
the company OF swine. This doctrine of
original sin She could never believe.
1--WE are all born in our Fathers house !"
she said, "and it behOoves us who have
not wandered therefTom into a far eoun-
try not only to welcome back the prndigals
who have, but to search for them along
the highways and byways of life, and find
ing them among the hogs try to help them
TO come TO themselves and set their faces
hOmeward."
In commenting further upon the story
the speaker brought it clearly before her
hearers that the prodigaI of the past is
with US now, everywhere, and that the
supreme egotlsm" of many of our Chris
tian people keeps them from believing
that the Door, wretched. despised outcast.
the criminal. even the lowest sinner. is as
dear to the heart of the Father, in whose
house he was born, as the son who never
strayed away.
Speaking of the old faith and new Mrs.
Chant said: The line of demarcation he
tween them is that the old took no note of
unbapplness or pain or sufferipg-the
good, the true and the beautiful we're only
considered; but one came who lived among
the lowiy and whose plea was to love
others as ourselves and the new religion
was born. True religion is that which makes
us charitable. pitiful and helpful, and true
Christianity. instead OF being PLAYED
OUT. as some people think, is not yet played
in"
In this connection Mrs. Chant spoke of
the present prison and reformatory system.
and urged that instead of committing the
care or our wrongdoers to common class.
our very best men and women should take
charge OF such things, since 80 find the
pest slue OF another can only be found bv
giving him the best part of yourself"
ms, she said, was ''he lsrOdoxy, heresy
and revolution, for putting it into opera
ton would overturn the whole prison sys-
ten, and will In time"
Urging upon her hearers the necesstv
OF praclicing Christianity. she called upon