The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1894-11-28
A SEVERE ARRAlGNGENT.
DIR. sCRUGGS' SERMON AGAINST I'M
MORALITY AND VICE.

Evil Influences of Peck's Bad Boy
tand similar Performances.
Hand Vote Taken.
On Sunday morning at the close of the
services at the Methodist church Dr.
Scruggs announced that at night his
sermon would deal with some questions
arising ftom q recent show in Dawson
known As ''Peck's Bad Boy"
The church was filled at night to hear
him. After tie congregation sang, cam
I a Soldier of the Cross" DR.. Scruggs
announced his text. 1t was from Gala
tians 5th chapter, beginning at the 18th
verse. The line of thought was concern
ing the impressions made upon the lives
of young and old by unconscious infu-
ences.
The preacher began by speaking of the
influence of books upon the young and
the tendency of the age to indulge in the
reading of trashy, yellow backed litera-
ture from which impure influences flow.
He next discussed the influence of pic
lures upon the mind, and spoke of the
corrupting, immoral and shameful bill
board pictures as exhibited in many
cities and the evil effects of the carica-
lures of great men which go to make up
the Illustrated paper of the ages teaching
disregard OF law and order, Coming
uONn TO the matter of immoral shows,
he traced their tendency to vitiate and
corrupt communities and gave examples
OF the gross immortality of some so-called
great artists of the stage. Then came
his severe denunciation of the strolling
players who go the rounds Of the smaller
towns He haG been informed that they
we've ''nums" of great cities, and that
they were those who fOrmd part of the
cesspools of vice and wickedness, plying
their shameless trade after midnight
hours in alleys and dark corners. He
asked the question if such should have
the right of way in our community
without q protest from honest maD-
hp0d and virtu0us womanhood if such
should be allowed to prey upon and sap
the morals of our boys and girls, one
show following fast upon the heels Of the
other with the latest ballet and skirt
dance.
Parties had come to him, and he had
asked others, and the consensus of opin-
ion was that the play masquerading
under the name of "Peck's Bad Boy
was the most shameful and contemplate
ever seen Da wson's opera house, tending
20 degrade aud debauch the minds of
Innocence assd purity. He called upon
Ehe community tn frown down such
InlquitouS performances, or time would
see dreadful harvest in our midst He
suggested that the city fathers should
forbid stlc!a car 5aSses OF shame and vice
from fOisting their alleged innocent per
formances upon he unsuspecting public, |
aud took a ''hand VOTE as to how many
would like to see such prohi bited by law
under heavy penalty. A large parC OF
the congregation raised their hands, thus
showing their approval. He urged that
sllen sewers with their bilious con
tents of ali that is vicious should not be |
allowed to overflow the town, that these |
drunken creatures with their filth and
dirtlness should not be permitted to
entrap the mothers aud daughters, the |
boys and girls into attending plays |
where the blood of nodesty boiled In |
imrotent rage at being thus deceived as |
TO the character Of the play they were
III Intending.
The whole sermon was a powerful |
appeal for chastity aud refinement, and |
willie we have full notes of the sermon
'Tant of space prevents US from publish |
ing il. In closing he appealed 20 all to
stand as a unit Ia condemnation of such
performances, to guard well the sanctity
Of their homes and the morals of the
youth of the town, TO ask Gud's aid, and
then stand firm for God and home and
native land"