Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-13
PULPIT UTTERANCES
The Themes Discussed by Number of
Pastors Yesterday.
Current Topics Treated From a Re.
Iigfous Standpoint and the True
Aims of Life Discussed.


this city is kept alive and active during
the summer months. and no doubt one
cause that contributes to that result is the
able discussion of the topics selected by
these who occupy the various pUlpits.
Rev. E. Olin Eldridge he pastor of Doug
lass Memorial Church, continued last even
ing the series of sermons on the sins of the
times. The theme last evening was 1.-The
Evils of the Modern Dance" He said the
dance was worldly amusement, and while
dancing is spoken of In the Bible, the min
lister maintained that 1t is only mentioned
In connection with religious exercises. He
denounced the found dance, and spoke of
dancing generally Injurious to health
He said that the surroundings were often
Objectionable. and that dancing was expen-
sive. The preacher said that the dance was
immoral and ought not to be countenanced
by Christians.
At the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church yesterday morning Rev Francis A.
Horton of Providence. r. L., spoke on the
theme OF passing judgment on moral char
acter. In the text which was Wherefore
by Their Fruits We Shall Know Them" the
preacher said was a principle of Judgment
which Is easy to understand, but more
difficult of application. He said that men
were not able to judge their own Chris
tan character, and they could not Judge
the Christian character of their brethren
Men could not be judged until their labors
were ended; the data of mental capacity
and surroundings were not ascertainabIe
The preacher said the text taught that
right living was the major part of living
ana that splendid creed and a bad life
were not compatible. He made plea for
charity in judging others and denounced
the framing and circulating of false re-
ports.
The usual Sunday afternoon address
to young men in the hall of the Young
Men Christian Associa ton was delivered
yesterday afternoon by Rev. Charles H.
Dodd, the pastor of the Pedie Memorial
church of Newark, ". j. He told the story
OF Naaman and Elisha. His theme was the
frequency with which Christian young men
allow other things to come before thei-
Christian faith.
morning Rev. DIR. Lamkins, the pasto:,
spoke on the theme of the fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man. The
preacher said that in his opinion the great
trouble OF the world today is that there a-e
too many people I'm 1t who fail to subscribe
to this doctrine. While he did not believe
that God had created all men equal in all
respects he believed that there is one place
that is before the Lord
The differences Between the First and
Seconi Adams was the subject of a ser
mon last evening by Rev. DIR. Pitzer, the
pastor or The Central Presbyterian Church
He said that the redemption lost in the
hrst Adam was restored by the second
-Afam, who was Jesus Christ
c,i rev; w; T. Parsons. this pastor of the
Church OF the reformation, preached yes
teruay on Gods way of helping us out of
spiritual depression He said that too
conspicuous success is a cause of de-
spondency. as some men can stand defeat
better than victory. Cowardice is also a
fruitful cause of dependency and some
Christians are Respondent because they are
dyspeptie. The best cure, he thought for a
low spiritual life is the lifting up of the
physical life. In the opinion of the preacher
the most discouraging feature about the
race problem Is the contentment of the
negro. He is satisfied with his meager life
Until the discomfort of ambition is infused
into him his condition will continue a dead
level of dependency.
The pastor of the Peoples Church, Rev.
DIT. Alexander Kent, chose as the theme
of his discourse yesterday manly content
ment and manly ambition. He believed in
men accepting present conditions cheerful
ly and contentedly, but he thought that IL
was wrong TO have such spirit of con-
tentment that is willing to make narrow
conditions permanent conditions and so
shut ones self out from those larger op-
portunities for growth and progress which
each one ought to see that the future brings
with 1t. Such contentment, he said is un-
manly. What was needed, he said were
men who, while they have great content
at their heart which fills them with peace
and gives them strength to endure and suf-
fer. have also a lofty and wide-reaching I'M
selfish ambition. IL is not desired to have
with conditions in which this
higher life is impossible.
At Waugh NJ. L. Church yesterday morn
ing the pastor. Rev. Alexander ]. Gibson
preached on the subject of the daily life as
furnishing the means for judging people
He spoke of the distinction that many draw
between morality and religion, and ex-
pressed the opinion that though man is
not religious, he may be moral man and
a good man. and is obeying Gods law in
observing the moral code, but such a life
Is not model life. He reminded his hear
ers that a mans constitutional makeup has
much to do with his life, and they should
be careful not to judge all alike. The boy
brought UP in the midst of crime has not
the same chance as the boy who lives under
religious influences. A good life, he said,
Is the ideal Of happiness and virtue. Christ
Is the ideal of the Christian life. By fol-
lowing his teachings closely and initiating
his example We may do what seems to be
almost an impossibility, and that is to love
our enemies. not merely to forgive them, but
to love them.