The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-09
talks ON URCHAsTITY.
Series Inaugurated BY Rev. E. L. Mil
Ter at Trinity Lutheran Church.
WILL BB SEVEN ADDRESSES
Pastor Miller Last Evening Introduces
tho Subject with q sermon ON The
Sin Of Unehsstity"-M Mayor Con-
nell and Others TO Participate.

l
rated series Of sermons and addresses
on the subject Of "Unchastity" by dcliv-
erlng discourse on "The Sin of Un-
| chastity"
His sermon last evening was in the
main an introduction to the series. He
took occasion to refer to the police in
vcstigation Of last week as an unfore-
seen circumstance. which made this
previously announced pulpit movement
the more apropos, and called attention
to the startling and deplorable revela-
tions concerning the boys who were
| connected with the affair.
He announced meeting for tonight
| for men only, at which addresses will
be made as follows: "Unchastity as a
Civic Crime" Hon. W. J.. Connell, may
or; "Unchastity as Revealed to the
| Physician. DR.. W. w. Ives; 1.-The Guilt
walton Of Personal Purity" DIR. L. NJ.
Gates. On Tuesday night there will be
O. women's meeting, at which Mrs.
| Frances B. Swan will deliver an ad-
dress and DIR. Anna c. Clarke will
speak on the subject Higher Moral
Standard for Women" Next Sunday
| night Rev. Mr.. Miller will close the
series with continuation OF last eve
| ning's sermon.
His text last evening was First Thes-
salonians, iv, 81:
For this Is the will Of God. even
your sanctification, that ye should alb
stain from fornication: That every one
of you should know how to possess
his vessel in sanctification and honor
And not In the lust Of concupiscence,
even as the Gentiles, which know not
God: That no man go beyond and de-
fraud his brother In any matter; be-
cause that the Lord is the avenger Of
all such, as we also have forewarned
and testified. For God hath not called
US unto uncleanness, but unto hOli-
ness"
No Apology to Make.
Mr.. Miller said:
Failure to deliver the Masters mes
sage regarding unchastity is just as
sinful in the Christian ambassador as
the contemplation of the subject is
disagreeable. Your servant has no
apology to make for raising his voice
against the unclean life, during this
Advent time Of warning, but rather re-
grets that. while never hesitating. as
you well know, to speak plainly In an
incidental way upon the matter, 1t has
never been made the theme Of COM
plete pulpit address.
The natural desire of the guilty to
be left undisturbed In their iniquity
never closes the mouth Of any minis
ter who approximates conscientiously;
but the reluctance Of many eminently
respectable church-gOers to hear
plain deliverance against sins of i'm
purity, often leads to the neglect Of
cardinal duty. The dislike towards
treatment Of this subject In the pulpit
is caused by ignorance Of the awful
slough Of carnal lust surrounding us
all, or by the false impression that such
utterances derogate from the dignity
of the ministry. Then again We are
told that no amount of preaching will
materially help to better things In this
particular. because sinners Of this class
are we'll nigh universally irrecoverable.
We are warned that our efforts may
not only prove abortive of their OBJ
iect, but may even be productive OF
harm to young hearers.
To such unchristian reasoning We re-
ply that, on the same ground. we might
as we'll close our churches because
much good seed fall on unproductive
soil and. carrying the argument to
logical conclusions In other directions,
we might as well disband our leglsla-
tive bodies because no amount of law
making will prevent men from stealing
and numbering.
Hope Promised TO All.
While the present discourse Is intend
ed more especially as a warning to be
placed on the edge Of the social quag-
rnire, 1t is distinctly denied that the
preaching of Gods word is totally in
efficacious among the lowest-fallen. AS
n foundation for all our legislative and
philantnropic work must be placed the
law and the gospel. 1t Is, after all,
"by the foolishness of preaching" that
men are saved. The gentle, forgiving
Saviour is still extending help and hope
to Magdalens, and every pastor OF ex-
perience knows that the devils of un-
cleanness In such hearts are often driv-
en- out by Christ's power, to make room
for sincere love and quiet service for
him. And II there were no visible fruits
at all Of Christian effort the watchmen
of Zion could not do otherwise than
warn. Paul's "forewarnlngs' and "tes-
against unchastity are found !
in every epistle he wrote. He thunders
and he pleads. He pictures the judg- |
ment scene and tells the awful sentence !
upon those thus guilty and he exhorts !
of the solely Christian |
claim to cleanness: "Ye are the tenn |
ple of the Holy Ghost" And so 1t Is in |
all the law and the prophets. Plain, |
forceful deliverances against the sin Of |
abound In every book Of the |
bible. And shall we keep silent who are |
to preach this book for |
reproof, for correction. for instruct |
tion in righteousness?
And are these clean times? While |
1t is true that Sodom is buried in the |
Dead Sea, do we not hear Of the horri-
BILE sins Of these people? Though Cor
nth is in ruins,is there no Corinthianiz-
Ing among US?
Reference 20 the Police.
When 1t was decided to treat this SUBJ |
ject in this pulpit the pastor was not !
aware Of the existence of any cause for |
the developments In police circles o.
this municipality during the past week. |
This theme has, therefore, been made |
apropos by unforeseen con-
ditions. The revelations now made in |
1icate share of guilt In drunkenness,
and bestiality among boys |
that IL startling and deplorable and |
which calls for the earnest attention of |
every parent to the habits of his child.
It will not do to take 1t for granted that |
your boy would never be thus guilty. |
Be sure that he is not.
1t is not out of place here to say. also,
that know that our mayor has yiyen