Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-25
DR.. HAWTHORNE EXPLAINS.
The Omitted Part of His Sermon Supplied
Invitations to Repeat u.

IAlldHtd COnSttutlOn.)
The reference made by Rev. Dr. Haw-
thorne in his sermon Of last Sunday to
the plumbers, and the reply of these
thus referred to- was the subject of ami
mated comment on yesterday.
1t was a case in which both parties had
won their plumes as hard htters.
During the day the Constitution re-
ceived the following card from Rev. j..
II. Hawthorne, for which room is cheer
fully made:
Editor COnstltution,-As you have pub
lished some very abusive interviews con-
corning my sermon of last Sunday morn
ing. / trust that you will allow me Il
few words OF explanation.
Complying with your request, I sent
to the Constitution verbatim copy OF
the sermon. II certain qualifying para
graphs which contained the real animus
of the sermon had not been omitted there
would not have been stirred up the
feeling indicated by the interviews pub
lished in yesterdays Constitution. The
doctrine OF the sermon was that under
the ten commandments. as interpreted
by Jesus Christ and his apostles. the
whole world Is guilty. All have sinned
and come short Of the glory of God
Under these laws, 50 interpreted. no
man can look God in the face and say.
4 am innocent The application OF
Christs teaching to human hearts and
human conduct would show US that the
criminal classes include millions of people
besides those who have been convicted
and punished under the laws Of the State.
il the moral law. as taught by Christ,
should become the law Of the State it
would wipe out Wall street, annhilate
the grain rings. the meat rings. and the
Whiskey rings, stop half of the city water
works. cancel half Of the street-paving
contracts, and utterly annihilate the
plumbers business
Plumbers are not sinners above all
who dwell I'm Jerusalem, nor are they less
guilty than the majority Of men in other
legitimate pursuits. II there is one OF
them who can stand in the light OF
divine law and say. Il am absolutely
clean l will retract the words of my
sermon, and reconstruct my theology
"The loud and vulgar abuse in which
a few of them have expressed their
wrath illustrates Sam JoneS's immortal
proverb-It is the hit dog that howls.'
$50 delighted was the vast audience
that heard the sermon, that / am de-
luged with invitations to repeat H. The
sermons which my plumber critics have
denounced ere published in great many
newspapers, both secular and religious,
North, South, East, and West. and that
they are appreciated is demonstrated by
the hundreds of complimentary letters
that come to ms every month. Inc
wisest and best men Of all denominations
endorse them. with such backing L
am not seriously disturbed by mythical
Frenchman or two or three dsgruntled
plumbers. j. Il. HA" IiOf'Nh'
AN AMENDMENT OFFERED.
Later In the day DR.. Hawthorne sent
IN n qualification to his letter thus:
Editor Constitutions writing my
card TO the Journal have learned that
the omission of certain parts of my
sermon in your issue of Monday morning
was due TO lack of space, and that no
Injustice was intended by the city editor.
|. therefore. retract so much of my card
a. rejects upon his conduct in the mat
ter. / will make this statement in the
Journal tomorrow.
~. b. HAWTHORNE"