The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-28

white as snow; though they he red like
crimson, they shall be as wool.
Then he read: Hear o heavens
and give ear, @ earth, for the Lord hath
spoken. / have nourished and brought
up children, and they have rebelled
against me. The OK knoweth his owner;
and the ass his masters crib; but Israel
doth not know, my people doth not con-
slider. An Sinful nation, a people laden
with iniquity. seed of evildoers, chill
dren that are corruptors: they have for
saken the Lord
Commenting on these verses he sand:
'Now | propose in this sermon to re-
count the charges God made against his
ancient people in this chapter of Isaiah
These charges. | think, will apply to the
people of Raleigh-certainly to some of
them. For this city is a second Sodom,
and | verify believe that hut for the few
Christian people in it, the city would be
destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. do
YOU know how they were destroyed! BY
fire and birthstone.
Some of these charges may fit you
If they do you had better look out. If
they don't fit you, well and good. If
you get mad and go off swearing you'll
never hear that man preach again, why
just remember it's the hit dog that hol-
lers.
II find here that the first charge is
Imgratitude.
Il wouldn't be surprised if this were
the crying sim of this people against God
tonight Sharper than serpent's tooth
is child's ingratitude toward its
parents. How much more is ingrattude
to God without whose help you cannot
so much as draw breath. How many
of You get down ON your knees to thank
God for anything. l wouldn't be sur
prised if there We're many tables right
here in Raleigh, laden with the luXuries
of life. at which there is never a bless
ing asked. How much better us that
than q hog? 1t is said that a hog never
looks up to see who shakes down the
acorn. All he wants to know is that the
acorn is there to satisfy his appetite.
Us it not the same with you?
1.-THE second charge is insensibility.
Even the OK knows his owner, says God,
and the ass his masters crib. These are
the two dullest animals in Gods king
dom, and the prophet does not name
them here by accident. lie OK submits
his neck to his masters yoke. He hauls
your logs to make lumber to build your
house. He plows the land to feed Your
children. But man is worse, says the
Bible: the OK works fer his master and
gets only cursGng and whipping; the
master does nothing for God who made
him and blessed him.
THE OK is good and useful and faith
full when he's alive and he's good and
useful when he's dead, but you are not
coed for anything, living or dead. He
knows his master, poor dumb brute that
he is. But you. rational, sensible man,
don't recognize the hand of God in any
thing.
''The third charge is that you've turn
ed Your back upon God. That is a terri
bile thing, to turn your back upon your
best friend. Have you turned your back
upon the Almighty? If you have there
is but enc road Won can be travelling.
You are going to the devil. | believe this
whole nation-has in great
part turned its back upon God. \ SIM
full nation, people laden with iniquity,
Il seed of eyildoers, children that are
Yes, corrui)tors, ccrTslptors Of one an
other. That's the fourth charge. You
are not only bad yourself. but YOU are
making other people bad. Are there
any places of corruption about Raleigh!
Are there any people here who curse
and swear? This is the most awful
thing / ever heard a man do, call on
God to damn him or somebody else. The
man who swears~bites the naked hook.
A fish amt big enough fool to do that;
I've tried him. You may fish half day
with a naked hook and never get nib-
bic. The man who sweaTs is a miserable
corruptor before God. | don't believe
a man cam he a gentleman and swear.
The man that will take the name of God
in vain is not a gentleman in my estima-
tom"
Here a man got up and went out,
and the preacher waited till the door
had closed on him, then he proceeded
lis there any man or woman about
Raleigh that will play cards? / tell You
tonight that the man or womam that
plays cards is a corruption / don't care
whether they play for money, fun or to
kiln time-as if time wouldn't die fast
enough of itself No good ever came of
card playing. Playing for amusement,
leads ON to playing for prize and
prize to playing for money.
Il pick up your morning paper here
and / find that Mr. and Mrs. So-and-So
gave a euchre party, and it was such
delightful affair, and So-and-So won the
prizes. Pray tell me if that's NOT gamr
bling? The man or woman who main-
tains a card table in their home, L don't
care how rich or mighty they are, is a
clmrupter of his fellow man. That's
plain language, but it's Gods truth.
is there anybody in Raleigh that
drinks or sells whiskey?"
Here another man got up and walked
out.
rs there anybody else that wants to
go?" asked the preacher. IF so, now's
the time"
Three young men who had been sit
ting ON seat behind three young wo-
men and whispering during the service
got up, took their overcoats and leisure
ly strolled out.
ssJShoca ml1St he three yollnlp wihiSkey