San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-01-07
WAS m w1sEp WAS IT JUsTa


der for the newspaper to take up
the work of the pulpit. Follow
ing the lead of Parkhurst, OF New
York, who has had host OF imi-
tators all over the country, one OF
the leading clergymen Of San An.
tonic has been Summing 1t and
giving his conclusions to his peo-
pie in q Sunday evening discourse.
For what? Has he told the people
Of San Antonio anything that the
newspapers have not told them
again and again? Has he indicated
any reforms in the lives Of these
outcast classes, among whom he
made his rounds, that has not
already been indicated by the
press? Has he done any real
service to virtue or responsibility
by psrsding these things be-
fore q mixed congregation in
great part composed of youths and
maidens? Has he served the cause
of pure and undefiled christianity
in any way by thus personally Wis
iting the disreputable resorts OF
this city? AS matter Of fact has
he not stepped over the bounds
that are legitimately set to
his steps? Is he not fairly charge
able with doing evil that good may
come, and Of these Paul says that
their damnation is just? Did he
learn single thing in those
rounds that he did not previously
know, unless that these resorts
were more quiet and less attended
than he imagined? Has he any
warrant from either the example Of
Christ or his Apostles for this act?
Can any one point to single good
following such visitation? Did
he go there to bear the message
of Christ to these outcasts? There
is nothing in his discourse to so in
dictate. On the other hand,
he did bring to the at.
tention of innocent minded
young men and girls matters
which are not the most approved
themes for the parlor and the
social circle, and 1t is very ques-
tionable whether these are proper
themes for the mixed congrega-
tions of the church. But leaving
this phase Of the subject, what is
the impression that the average
mind will receive from such an ex-
pose of the under life of this city?
Will it be just one? Will it con-
vey to those unfamiliar with our
city true impression of its real
intellectual. moral, social, religious
conditions? VIII it not rather
serve to bring the evils that are
natural to all cities prominently
into the foreground and stamp San
Antonio as an unusually vile
city? Will this not be giving
false impression Of the city? Will
it not be virtually bearing false
witness against it? The criminal
records OF this city show that it
has less violence in il than Is
found in any city of its size in
the south. That for a border
town with a mixed populgtion
IL is exceptionally free from deeds
of violence. That life and proper
ty are safer here than in any city
of its class almost in the world.
There is nothing Of this kind put
down to our credit in the arraign-
ment OF Sunday last. Why? II
the pulpit speaks the truth it is to
speak the whole truth, not apart OF
it. The press offers no excuse or
apology for those things con-
demned by this minister.
1t has again and again con-
demned most of the evils there
specified. 1t does condemn the
parading of the vice of this city
before the girls and boys of q
mixed church congregation. 1t
does condemn the unjust judg-
ments that will follow the publ
cation of that ministar,s sermon