Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-02-02
IHE WORLDS SINS.
Bah Believes That Only God and Satan
Are Interested in Our Temp
tationS and FalIiDgS.

A CLOSE ACQUAINTANCESHIP
WITH THE SERPENT - WHEN
WOMAN APPROACHES a CLER-
GYMAN WITH A RECITAL OF HER
SINS. LET HER TAKE A CHAPER-
ONE ALONG, SAYS BAB-THE
BEST EXPRESSION OF PENANCE.
REVEREND ICED PURPLE-NO
ROMANCES OR GOSSIP WANTED
IN CONFESSIONAIS-HOW CLEV-
Err WOMEN CAN HOLD MEN
VALUE OF MAGIC WORDS-WHY
MYSTIC SLANG Is UNLIKE PAT
ENT MEDICINE.
(From Our Regular Correspondent
New York, January 81, 1896.
1t is the story Of St. Anthony over
and over again! A saint and a woman.
and the woman is backed by the devil,
and the saint-well, not a Ia Kiplng,
indeed, no, it is the same story. It was
told about St Anthony this story, long,
long ago; and then, in a way, Hawthorne
told II In the Scarlet Letter" and then
a more modern novelist told it again.
but not quite in the same way, inasmuch
as it was the saint and not the syTen
who did the tempting. But now mod
ern dramatist puts it upon the stage
and the audiences are Mortified or
pleased, wearied or delighted. But
nobody seems 10 realize that some part
OF the same story is being told every
day. When woman was made an eX-
pertinent had already been tried on man
and subtlety was left cut of his compo-
sitiOn. In the creation of woman II
was not omitted. From the very first
she had what might be called little
ways of her own. and these little ways
We're approved Of and increased BY her
close acquaintanceship with the serpent.
WOMEN BEFORE CLERGYMEN.
Too often. and I am a woman who
says il, religion in woman IS hysterical
and dramatic; consequently. IN ap-
preaching a clergyman, nine times out
Of ten she looks for a certain amount Of
spiritual enjoyment She joys in lay
ing bare her heart to him. she feels a
keen delight In telling Of her sins, and
lingering over them as il they were
virtues. and I will give her the benefit
of the doubt, she fOrgets that this cler-
gyman is a man as well as q priest.
If she is dainty, sympathetic, charming
to look upon, and Of that mysterious age
which gives her the privilege OF speak
ing a little more plainly than a girl
would. she becomes a frebranl that
touches, not only the soul. but the heart
Of the man who meets her. Take The
man In the play. He is a High Church
man who fasts vigorously. who IS stern
and cold, severe, and really more than
bitter with the sinner. Most people
are who have never been tempted He
forces an unhappy girl 10 confess her
weakness before the whole COngrega-
ton Then there comes into his life
a woman. hard Of heart and sweet OF
face; charming in manner and fiippant
Of speech: exquisite in dress and with all
the dainty touches that indivldualize
a woman, such as a sweet perfume,
about her.
HE CLAIMS IT WAS FATE
that threw this woman unto his arms,
that made him realize ne was man
and not a spirit, and then, poor, con-
ceited wretch. he thought he did pen
ance for his sin when he got up before
the congregation and told them that
he was the greatest sinner among them.
but, like David, he had fallen, and that
he asked their prayers.
Where was the dramatist's skill? Or
did he count on all Of his audience be-
ing stupid? That wasn't a penance
for that man. You and 7 know that
once we talk a thing over We feel better.
Il was a magnificent exhibition OF the
vanity of a clergyman. If, instead Of
getting up in the congregation and
speaking mis- little speech, in which he
compared himself TO David. he had
kent quiet with his sin ever before him.
fed the hungry. warmed the cold. carel
for the sick and made his life the pen
ance for his sin. It would have am
ounted to something. But no. with his
magnificent vanity, he takes Il for
granted that all the world. or oil his
world is interested In his sin. lily
dear friend. eneralizing. the world
doesn't care for our sins unless they
hanDen 10 be the kind that are con-
sidered had form. There are only two
neonle interested In our temptations
and our falling. or our resisting, and
those are God and Satan. The sum
and substance OF it all was. that this