The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-09
The AUBURN SCANDAL.
Rev. Wesley c. Haskell Refers
Again to II.
Takes No Back Ground, and Kp0ws What
He is Talking About.

At the Peoples Church in Auburn last
evening the pastor, Rev. Wesley &. Haskell,
as sprelude to his address, made the fol-
lowing remarks, taking for his text, "Cry
aloud, spare not; lift op thy voice like
trumpet, and show my people their trans
gressions, and the house Of Jacob their
SINS" lisa. 5S:1.
have no apology to make for bringing
this thing into the pulpit. II failed to
lift up my voice against this glaring evil
the vev. stones In the streets would cry
out against me. 1t was no private affair
put public scandal ] want you 20 un-
derstand now at the very start that did
not and do not speak against any man or
company OF men. spoke against shame
and an outrage. / spoke in ths name OF
our homes, our mothers, our sisters and
broIiiers. / spoke in the name OF God
and truth ana justice. The Bulletin said
that spoke without knowledge, and 1t
also twisted out of the context and out
OF meaning what was said. DO men
think that would take the responsibility
OF rnis thing upon myself b!indlyf i
said that "the boys were in 1t, "and this
thing was charged against me. My
statement was true--they were in 1t. What
40 you mean when you talk about the
boys? Do Jou mean the children? 1t
the boys OF fourt cen, fifteen and sixteen
were invited in, or FAD anything to do
with II in any wsy, knew nothing of 1t
at the time and said nothing about 1t.
1 was speaking Of ",he boys"-or in other
words the young men, and sometimes
older men. But ell this talk is to avoid
the main issue; 1t Is straining at a gnat
and swallowing a csmeI. Imade protest
| last Sunday night in the name OF this
| church and in the name Of every good
| ana virtuous citizen, against fact. That
| fact has not been denied and cannot be
denied. am not responsible for rumors
growing out of the fact. IL these rumors
were exavgerated-if they were false IN
a single instance-the punch bowl Is re-
sponsiole for thst. Had there been no
intoxicating liquors drank that night,
| Auburn would have been spared this
scandal. could enumerate facts that
would make this congregation rise IN
| holy indignation. 1 90 not wonder that
1
women weep. and mothers pray that
their sons may be saved from temptation
and shame. Some one has said 1t was not
| n church time. Well / should hopo not
| But man may be a man even If he does
not belong to the church. 1t Is because
the church is the guardian OF public
| morals that the man who is the mouth
niece of tine church must speak, even at
the risk of losing friends and making
enemies. But 1 had rather stand alone;
I had rather leave my church and Auburn
forever, than to be a traitor TO my con-
science or finch when duty calls.
NV fathers fought under "old glory
ana fight under the stars and stripes,
protected by the law, and under tae white
banner Of Christ, for a principle as SUD-
lime as heaven and as lofty as tho stars.
II Is wicked to cry 'pesce, peace" wnen
there is no peace. 81 am come," said
Christ, "not TO send peace on earth, but
a sword" Agitation is the fan With
which God will thoroughly purge his
floor and the chat he will burn with un'
uuenchatie fire. A service OF fasting and
prayer would be most appropriate at thi:
hour. An earnest cry TO Almighty Go1
unto whom all hearts are open and al
desires known, and from whom no secret'
are MD, to cleanse the thought OF oui
hearts by the inspiration OF His Holy
Spirit, that we may perfectly love him and
wortnily magnify His holy name, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.