Middletown transcript., 1894-06-16
SOCIAL PURITY.
The Theme of Sermon Preached in
the NJ. Il. Church.

condition OF morals in our community.
We are jealous of the good name of our
town, and hope the interest awakened by
some late Developments, will lead to re-
formation that will save us from the un-
savory repute of other places more or less
notorious.
We may expend time and means in pub
lie improvement, and develop the material
resources of our town and offer the best in
ducements for business men to settle among
us, and thus contribute to the general pros
perity of the community; but no man will
invest his capital or bring his family into a
place where the lawless and impure domi-
nate the moral sentiment of Society.
We are glad to believe that the best class
of our men and women are in accord with
any purpose to restrain vice and immor-
aity, and put check upon the irresponsi-
Bile who claim the right to any line of ac-
ton. ne matter how demoralzing its ten
dency.
Let the search light of high toned pub
lie sentiment uncover the wrong doing in
our town and make it an inviting p lac
to all who seek home where their
families may be protected from he sins
that currupt and destroy.
The pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church preached q sermon on the subject
of Social Purity last Sunday evening 1t
was timely theme, ,and forcibly presented.
His text was from I'd Chron. XVI %, HE is
a Leper' He said In part:
That there could be no public discussion
Of this question without a deep sense of
responsibility as to the wisdom and pru-
dence exercised in the presentation of the
subject An English minister few years
ago said he felt, when called upon topreach
on the social evil, that he coveted the ton
que of an angel rather than that of poor
frail man. There are times when in the
presence of prumiscuous audience, the
damnable sin of unchastity must be spoken
against.
1t is the serpent that leaves the slime of
its trail upon the velvet carpet, within fres-
coed walls and the gilded halls of the rich,
creeping down through the middle classes
of society, into the slums, where both soul
and body, lie PROSTATE, reeking like fes-
ter;ng sore, poisoned in every tissue and
fibre Of life, and at last, like helpless
leper the victim of this sin is borne beneath
the shadow of death, to hopeless hell, tn
fires Of which can never refine nor cure.
When you get within the glare OF Ibis
demon, and note the power to degrade, cor
rupt and make beasts of men and women;
when yousee how this sin kindles the iire>
Of hell in human souls; when you see
the comely, chaste and pure, dragged
down into the cess-pool of vice;
when women and men with the braZen
impudenae OF the devil himself walk the
streets and defy the common rules Of de-
cency, you wonder God does not visit
swiftly with the judgements OF fire, and
burn out the dark corners, VIII ere these
representatives Of the pit lurk to beguile
innocent victims.
The speaker then called attention to some
of the causes which produce these depraved
conditions of society. The tendency of
much Of the cheap literature Of the day is
to relieve the mind OF any apprehension
as to the evil consequences of sin.
Convince a man that the law of the land
will never call him to account for commit
tia. theft;ypu at once openthe way 10 organ
il, band of thieves and robbers, in every
community and neghboril ood. Let it be
understood that the law against
arson. cannot be enforced, no night
would 60 over your head without the
heavens being lighted by the incen
diary blaze consuming property. Give the
assurance that conviction for the crime of
forgery cannot be made in our courts of JUS
tice. and much of the best brain would be
enlisted in schemes and plans to swindle
and defraud.
With all The restraints imposed by civil
authority. how many sad cases are coming
to light every day.
There comes to the front to-day a class
Of destructionists, who with an air OF wis.,
dom, tell US there is no higher law. Ay,
worse than that, they say there is no God!
No law! No punishment! They would
license men to sin. yet, society for self-de-
Tense. and selfprotection, enacts and en-
forces law and Furnishes the guilty. De
tect the man who places an obstruction on
the railroad track to emperil the lives Of
messengers, how soon he is in the hands of
the officers of the law, tried, convicted,
and punished. And yet the man who digs
a nit fall across the path of your boy OIL
Girl and down through it. sends them tc
eternal woe, God can neither restrain mol
punish.
The law of the land will punish the
b;ohwavman. who lies in wait for his ex
,acted victim and robs him. But God ha!
no power to arraign the sensualist who
lurks along the pathway of young life
ond robs your girl of her virtue and
yonr how of his purity. The poor deluded
ono who has listened to- and imbibed sucf
.o,o,,;ros and throws off all restraint
IGNORES all responsibility, unbridles hi
nass;ons and leads life OF lust and shame
as,ro,s God is God he will be brough
- ;u.tice. and will wake up in hell
- there comes no opportunit.
. make amends for his wrong doing.
The disgusting details spread broad-cas
or.r the land, of the trial OF that sci
convicted, self-confsssed hypocrite, wh'
~. ,o.day in the House of Representative
- onr national capitol; man who ha
disbonored the fair name Of his ancestor;
=. and the church that honored him; the eS
- POSITION seing made to-day in the metre
nol;s Of our land, where testimony IS beln
bo,ra Of officers of the law being bribe(
mon naid and supported to maintain peace
ana .reA shield the weak and innocent, ar
hand in glove with the proprietors OF IN
anu .;,ost A. dsn. in that great city, levyins tr
hnts on the sin of sins. and growing ric
ou oay the e proceeds of crimes, of the blackes
'r T,. loose views entertained for ti
s,asa - Of the marriage tie, that obtains
ja,1s 81 thsse DAYS; how can the pulpit be silen
WI when ' this crime against the family, again'
sontatv mns% ~. and against God. is treated $
1UJ,.y I%%,,y' ii. baneful influence Of v, which
~ snread and destructive! These ar