The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-16
REV. {. |. MILLER'S S Sermon
Tells About Causes Of Uachastity and
Safeguards Against 1t.
RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS
Their Carelessuess Has Much to DO with
the Childrens' Sin-Thcrc Should
Be Some Provision for Cen
eral Social Diversion.

In Trinity Lutheran church last night
Rev. Edwin Lunn Miller. the pastor,
delivered his sermon continued from
last Sunday on THE Sin of Unchas-
tity." His remarks are of more than
ordinary import, following the separate
meetings of early in the week for men
and women when addresses We're made
by Mayor Conneli. DIR. W. w. Ives and
DIR. l.. NJ. Gates and by Mrs. Frances
Il. Swan and DR.. Anna c. Clarke.
In the first part of his sermonic ad
dress, last Sunday. Mr.. Miller dwelt
upon the multiformity and the enormity
of the sin. Last night he spoke upon
the chief feeders of the evil and the
safeguards against it. His text was
from l Thessalonians. iv, 81. Much
that he said was an Endorsement of the
sentiments expressed during the meet
ings for men and women during the
week. He remarked:
1T is deplorable that a lack Of par
entail authority must head the list of
causes for unchastity. 1t is admitted
that some sons and daughters have
careful conscientious parents, whose
efforts go for naught. But parents.
parents and parents was the keynote
of warning in all the addresses of the
early week. Are the parents of the
s51 girls. who, according to Ma yor Con-
nelrs statement. walk the streets in
the evening, exercising their proper
duty? Possibly some parents are guilty
of over-confldence in their children.
and would resent from kind friend
any indication that the girl or the boy
Is wayward. This does not lessen the
responsibility of the pastor or the
friend: 1t is the duty of each to put
parents on their guard before the bell
has tolled the downfall.
DO Not Begin Early Enough.
To all things, there is beginning.
And 50 In reference to lack of parental
control 1t will be found nine times out
or ten that we do not begin early
enough in restraining children; in many
cases we are afraid of them: we COM
mand and are disobeyed we protest
ana are insulted-and so 1t goes. The
chlidren go and come-as they are per-
mitted-and who Is to blame? The
children or the parents?
Bad literature and vile pictures
which unfortunately flood the land have
much to do with fascinating the Young
mind' The bill boards. the Illustrated
papers found in lesser barber shops,
cigarette pictures and many other
things are illustrated schools of vice
If they cannot be kept from the sight of
the child. the child should be taught
their harm.
with girls, poor girls who work in
factory and store, the love of money be-
gets possession of 1t. How? Often
through the barter of virtue Degrad.
ing popular amusements such as the
cheap dance halls are a common medi-
um between innocence and degradation.
The stage must not be wholly con.
demned. 1t has its good features and 1t
has its bad ones. and every parent
ought to be satisfied what kind Of play
the children attend.
10 More GIrts Vented.
IAN abundance of restrictions against
unchastity are provided. OF law there
Is sufficiency. so 1t is needless to speak
of or suggest new ones while the old
laws are not carried out As to licensing
prostitution, the plan is, first. counter to
good morals: second, it really provides
no physical safeguard according to the
testimony Of physicians themselves
We have enough licensed evils; let us
put no more blots on our national repu-
tation.
UNLESS a man has religious principles
firmly rooted in him he will fall If as
sailed under certain circumstances, and
parents are guilty of a grave error and
running a fearful risk If they do not in
culcate in the child the love of God. the
church and the Sunday school. Re-
solves go for naught If unfortified by
prayer and nearness to God. Let Him
that thinketh he standeth take heed lest
he fall"
with your religious precept and ad-
vice add an attractive home life. The
combination Is one of the strongest
against worldly temptation and gross
desire. The father should not be too
busy. and the mother should not be
too petulant to join in their children's
fun and encourage them in 1t. This ex-
ample will guard against a bad result
If the child is ordered to choose this
or that amusement. or, worse still, Is
left to choose for itself With good
home life. habits Of industry should be
encouraged.
Church Is Not Guil'icss.
"The church is not gultless. 1t is
somewhat neglectful; it is careless.
What does 1t provide in the way of
sociability? You say the church is a
religious not a social institution. So
1t Is. But does 1t forget that Christ
began his public ministry at a mar
riage; that he enjoyed frequent visits
to the house of Lazarus; that he ate
with publicans and sinners. Let us try
an imitation. . 1t Is true that many
church gatherings purport to afford
pure social enjoyment, but 1t is also true
that the average affair of this kind is
connected with some scheme to make
money from the liberal giver. and the
poor man Is disgusted.
''The social part of the problem,
will go so far as to say, merits the
attention of the state. The Athenians
had their feasts and games; so did the
Romans in the great Collesium: con-
tinental countries have their distinc-
tive public amusements, but II is often
deplored that we live SO fast as to neg
lect the social requirements of our ma
ture and particularly of the poorer
classes. Cannot a Christian nation pro-
vide clean amusements for its citizens?
Would II not be profitable? We have
our Young Mems and Young Women's
Christian associations and the like
They are good and commendable, but
there are distinctively social pleasures
which they cannot give. but I have