Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-18


SERMON PREACHED BY REV. D.
C. BABCOCK-HIS LAST ADDRESS
DURING THE ASSEMBLY-STERE
oPICON LECTURE LAST NIGHT.
TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME.
Owing to the disagreeable weather
yesterday the attendance at the Prohi-
bition Assembly was not as large as
was expected. In the afternoon short
ly after two O'Clock a hard rain storm
swept over the grounds, lasting over
an hour. Many cottages which have
poor roofs were flooded and the
grounds presented a very sloppy ap-
pearance. For the first morning exer-
else an experience meeting was held, in
which several people took part. 1t was
very interesting and quite a large au-
dience was present The main sermon
was delivered by Rev. C. H. Mead,
d. D.
Rev. Mead placed his own name on
the programme this year for the first
time since he has had charge of ar
ranging these meetings. One of his
men that he had secured had to disap-
point him when it was too late to Sc
cure a substitute, hence he filled the
place by substituting his own name
Yesterday he preached his first sermon
at the Assembly, and for over one hour
he held an audience which nearly filled
the auditorium. He is a speaker that
everybody enjoys, for he talks on sub
jects that are not touched on every
day.
For the text of his sermon he select
ed the fourteenth chapter and the four
tenth verse of Judges. And he said
unto them out of the eater came forth
meat and out of the strong came forth
sweetness, and they could not in three
days expound the riddle He read the
story of Samson's riddle about him fall
ing in love with a young girl whom
he married against his parents wishes
and about meeting lion which crossed
his path which he slew, being SO
strong. The riddle he asked his thirty
followers to solve in six days, but they
were unable to do so unaided. The
help of Samson's wife was secured and
the men of the city said unto him on
the seventh day before the sun went
down what is sweeter than honey and
what is stronger than a lion. And he
said unto them if We had not ploughed
with my heifer we would not have
found out my riddle.
Everybody, he said, after explaining
his text further, meets his lion and
everybody meets different lion The
first illustration he gave was one of a
man now in the Auburn, N. Y, prison.
This man, he said, was there on &C
count of stealing from his employer
while under the influence of drink. He
dressed in the best of style and had to
have money to get the clothes. His
income was not large enough and he
got to going in society and drinking
hard and this gave him his downfall.
Society, he said continuing, is in a
great many cases curse, especially
when so many men and women grow
up in idlsness and do not take any in
terest in God.
Once 1 went through the Auburn
prison and as l passed down the corri-
dor my attention was attracted to a
column of men above which was sus-
pended the letter 'I". Upon inquiry
l found out that this meant intemper-
ance l then asked how many pris-
oners were in the institution and was
told that there were over 14O0 and
over LOO were sent there for cases
which were Incorporate. While l was
standing there man came in and an
preached the chaplain, handing him his
card and asking If his son was here.
hC pam iOOhCu dt tilO va anu
said no, but the gentleman stated that
he was sure he was here but registered
under a different name. His boy had
been sent there some time before for
murder. and he had just found out
where he was. The meeting between
the two was terrible ordeal for both,
and afterwards the boy was asked how
he came to be there. He replied that
while he was drunk he committed muir
der and was sentenced for life. ~ had
a home that was surrounded with all
the comforts l could ask for, but I had
nothing to do and grew up in idleness.
l got out with the boys, commenced
drinking and this is what it has done
to me-" The father at this juncture ap-
preached the chaplain and said, II am
| worth $4,000, 900, and l would gladly
give you all If my boy could walk forth
from this building as pure as when he
was with me a. my home" This, said
the speaker, is the lion of fashion and
idleness. and he urged that no man or
woman grow UP in 1t.
Many a man starts out in life with