The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-23
THE SECRET, HIDDEN TRAP.
WAS THE SUBJECT OF DIscussioN
ny REV. SETH WARD
nefore the Y. NJ. q. A. Yesterday ~
trenoon--Dclicnte Subject fo
chilly Handled.

noon, when Rev. Sctn warn y, s'S'''
Methodist church discussed the Secre'
Hidden Trap.
The arst of these discussions was inc
Common Trap" the barrooms, by rev
~. M. Mason THE Dollar Trap, by Mr.
| Jones. and on next Sunday the series viii
close with a discussion Of the .Big rap
by Rev. DR.. Lcavell Of the First Presoy-
terlan church.
In selecting this series of discussions ior
men Secretary Kincade has done mucn
toward popularizing the Sunday afternoon
meetings Of the Young Mems Christian
Associations. az each discourse has pcen
well attended and the hall yesterday after
noon was filled to its fullest seating capa-
city. - c..,,
In addition to the address by Rev. setn
Ward there was earnest prayer and some
very excellent music by the Young Men
Christian Association quartetto,
The title OF the subject assigned Mr.
Ward was one calculated to arrest at len-
tion In suggesting the hidden secre. uea's'e
He prefaced his remarks by saying tnat
| Tho subject assigned him was delicate
one and one rarely referred to in pubic
discussion social imrurity. He satn u
was not his purpose to advertise this evil
as it exists in mi-public fern IN TINS
city, nor to discuss its prevalence in pri-
vate life. The Bible classed those addicted
10 this eyi, as the most vicious and hard
ened sinners and says that they shall not
inherit the Kingdom of heaven. hut In the
commission OF this sin, men defy Inc au-
thority of Jehovah and dare the visitations
of divine retribution. Upon the nainten-
ancc OF social purity depends more largely
xtf tnn
welfare OF mankind. Destroy or ignore the
obligation to abstain from such indui-
gences except under the bonds of marriage
and the foundations Of home have been
undermined the protection OF childhooo
has been removed, motherhood and tather-
hood have been robbed OF their sacred
ness and the basis Of all social order has
been DESTROYED. Hence civil and social as
we'll as religious considerations. emphasize
the value of chastity and the Importance OF
purity.
He denied the often repeated assertion
that the social evil is necessary evil.
Such teachings, he said, was untrue de-
structive to social order, dangerous 70 me
individual soul and libel on the Justice
of Cod II indulgence in lust is necessary,
then it is unrighteous in God to forbid IL
and unjust in Him TO punish the Violator
of this law If such evil is necessary then
there can be no safe and stable basis Tor
social order and our dreams OF ciyil right
eousness and social impurity are impos-
sible of realization. II the social evil be
a necessary evil, then some children are
born into this world doomed in advance TO
and eternal damnation, for this
so called necessary evil can not exist with
out some mothers pure daughter being
upon it's altar. The offering OF
human victims at Noloch's shrine in olden
times was not so terrible as this. That
destroyed only the body; this destroys
soul and body for time and eternity
He referred to the unjust distinction by
which men and women are judged by dit |
ferent standards. In advocating single
standard he would not pull the women
down to the standard by which men are
Judged but would rather raise men to the
high standard up to which the woman must
live. The act that will blacken vioman's |
character and make hor an outcast forever, |
NAV be practiced by men and scarcely |
excite comment. They are sowing their
Wild Data" society says. God has only
,ne law and that law makes no distinction
between the sexes. He demands purity in
man as truly as He demands it in woman.
Not only is man equally guilty with
but In many cases he is more
guilty, because he is the tempter. Many
1 ruined woman owes her fall to misplaced
confidence in some man.. The man who
will win the affection and confidence OF
Ter on and on, then ruin and desert her,
las exhausted the possibility of human
guilt. The hell prepared for the devil and
lis angels is place too comfortable and
90 respectable for such man.
The speaker contended that the sexual
appetite while largely physical had men
Lal side, and the stronghold of temptation
was often in poisoned and vitiated mind.
Control your mind, said he. and you Will
have little trouble in controlling your
conduct. Keep your thoughts pure and
your mind in the region of things pure
and beautiful, and you will find yourself
acquiring the greater Of all mast,ries, the
of yourself. Avoid corrupting as
and keep out Of the malaria of
Immoral influences There is a fallacious
dea that every young man ought to see
he world, which too often means merely
The qualification OF an obscene curiosity
which is In every case hurtful to the OBJ
server. II your eyes have never looked
ipon the aliurements OF vice and the hor-
ors of depravity, give God thanks that
lie has saved you from such scenes. Men
10 not study architecture among the ruins
II fallen shanties; no more can men learn |
morals In the haunts of vice or cultivate |
lirtue in the atmosphere OF the saloon and
he brothel. See all the bright things in ,
ions world thar you can. you will see ,
nough OF the dark things without LOOKING !
or them.
Marriage is humanity's normal estate.
'od made man and woman and Himself !
oined them in wedlock amid the toys OF
cdenic life, do not believe that man
houid assume the responsibilities of !
'edded life without due thought ana rea-
enable provision, but regard the grow
ng dtsinclination to marriage. rather the I
rowing disposition to make fortune
rst, as a. fact franght with much peril. I
lot only is wedlock the natural estate Of .
'an and woman, but Its anticipation the !
xpectatlon OF leading some pure woman !
God's altar, there to be made one with Q
or Tor life, will be check TO wayward .
houghts and scnsuo,,s desires and an in y
entiye TO purity OF soul and OF life .
In conclusion Mr.. Ward conteuded that s
ae greatest OF all safeguards againsta,o- Q
'a impurity and all other sort OF i'm
ari,y = the grace received by faith. Re- Z
glon Is The only perfect refuge for the
ms ADDRESS was listened TO with mncb o
'irnss ana al lis conclusion Secretary p
M, ue announced the big Trap as the !,
io'eee ior next Sundays discourse. q
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