The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-12-09

The announcement that Rev. Dr. RI
ler OF the Fourth Street church would
rreaeh last night on another living
tonic "A Plain Talk to sofIety People"
GlIed the church to its callscIty early In
tbe evening. Dr. Riker took as his
tnxt | Thes,, 9; 20, 81; "pesplse not
rrophesyIngs, Prove all things; hold
fast 10 that which is good These
words, said the minister, have REFER
epce to the sermons of the ministers oi
Chrlst-they should not be disreSarueu
By these who hear,
The doctor referred 10 the peculluV
class to which his talk Is addressed
society People," II occurred that
definition OF the term would 90 Timely,
and this is Il: "Those who are Giving
themselves up TO have a good time In
This world and are using their uine'
talents and money to have 1t.
The PEOPLE to whom he would address
himself are those Belonging to good
society" The pleasures Of good socl-
CIV. said the speaker, are Intensely
selfish and superficial Nothing is done
In good society that requires talent,
brains or skill Dancing card playing,
The theatre and the opera are the
rir,sures Of society. Anybody can
dance" said the speaker, 81 have seen
animals dance and have seen an edu-
rated hog handle cards. What does an
evenings entertainment In good society
require? A few tables and cards, Then
The society people chat awhile and then
get interested In the game, becoming us
eager to win the prize rs though II were
great sum This is called a good
time. II is superficial and something
anyone can do"
The life OF society devotees is also
profoundly selfish and is In that partlc'
ular opposed TO the Gospel OF Jesus
Christ Society spends for self and Is
wrapped In self, The 400 OF New
York spend $4,000 year on flowers,
which are sent 10 hospitals after they
have figured in costly entertainments
And this Is done, said the speaker. In
city where last winter 1000 people
starved to death. People who can put
these facts together and say that So
cIety is Christian. Is capable OF wonder
ful ,cats Of legerdemain.
The pleasures OF society are sensual.
81 have been criticized for speaking
plalnly N this matter" said DR. RlkeH
put DO not care for that have no
apology 10 make to this congregation or
10 this community. l believe that at.
tenton should be called to the damna.
bic effects Of the amusements INDUCED
In in society"
what is the difference between so
called good society and the despised low
sN,lctye Simply In the manner In
which they express their mutiny against
God Continuing the speaker said that
r5b0dy has said that he had miSrepre-
sented the facts In his recent sermons.
He held the amusements OF society and
its deyctees to be responsible for the
breaking Of the commandments, ana
that they are just as guilty as those,
who directly break them.
Some Of his congregation, he said,
have expressed dlsapproyal OF his ser
mons on the commandments. The doc
tor claimed that he had not told the
whole truth; the half had not been told.
4 young man of Wheeling had said 4
Few days ago that II his sister had been
present nj one OF these sermons he
would have felt under obligations TO
call him down. II that young mans
language mems anything, said DR..
RIEcr 1t means that the facts OF the
dane. the theatre and the card table
are too horrible for his sister 10 hear OF.
Yet she can mingie In IT, Do you not see
the foolish absurdity OF the thing? Is
h. not rendered fool and blinded as n
Tool to the horrible facts?
How DO society people defend their
line Of conduct toward Christ? They
ray no attention TO his call and high so
caty and low society treat Him about
alike. The burglar boots at the Idea OF
giving up his pleasures Just as the So
coty woman does. When the final reck-
uHirg comes. said the speaker, the adj
rantagc II there Is any. Will rest with
The outcaat rather than with the devo-
lee NJ society. For the latter may hear
m" message OF Christ but steel their
hearts against His love.
Within the past year how many soci-
oty people have quit SHINING against
m" p-oprIetlcs OF life and been convert
el' There may be one. but the speaker
't had not heard Of 1t. on the other
hand. the work of the Rescue home and
other blessed institutions show that
many have come out OF the fire OF aban-
d9ned lives to purity In Christ. He did
not know Of one society man that had
teen converted In the past year. but
many many young working men have
united with Christ
Continuing he said he did not believe
2 single society man or woman has
wei defined ssrlptural hope Of heaven.
wen founded Many do belong to the
church u God, but they have a wholly
INADEQUATE idea OF Christianity on this
line he said he would speak Mt length
next Sunday evening.
The doctor said he admired the en-
rrgy and ingenuity Of society people,
and iOr these qualities he coveted them
for Christ and His work. But too many
soa.aiy people have get themselves
against God and viii not come 10 Him
This Ir shown to be true by the fact that
tho churches are barely holding their
own year after year. while the Saliva.
i'pn Army, which works among tho
lower mosEes brings millions to Christ