The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-17
TALKED PLAINLY TO MEN.
The Theater Crowded to Hear Rev.
Henry Marley.

htHFy y AEleys
The largest gathering of men at the
theater since the political mass meetings
of 1892 was held there yesterday afternoon
to hear Rev. Henry Varley's lecture upon
THE Curse of Manhood" Every seat was
taken and many stood in the rear of the
dress circle and balcony. Although there
were many curiosity seekers the major
ity Of the large audience consisted of earn
est, thinking men and the speakers ut
terances met with general approval
Mr.. Var.ey's language in discussing his
subject was plain and yet so chaste that
the most sensitive could find nothing 10
object 60. The services were opened by
singing IAN Hail the Power of Jesus
Name" followed by BLESSED Assurance"
MIR. Marley opened his lecture by stat
ing that it would be one of the plainest
to which his audience had ever listened.
AS precedent for plain speaking he said
that he would show them how plainly God
speaks upon this subject, and read from
the fifth chapter of Proverbs, where Solo
mon speaks of the Strange woman
AS instance of great men whose great
ness had been bIghted and whose lives
had been brought to an untimely end by
strange women he mentioned Gambetta,
who died from a shot received in the wrist
from his mistress at a time when France
most needed him. Sir Charles Dixie, who
but for his vices might have been premier
of England, and who was the victim of
| his own lust; Charles Parnel, Ireland s
| delverer, who came to a dsgraceful end
| through Mrs O'Shea, and the great sor-
| row of President Mckinley, because of
the shameful death of his wife's brother,
Of whom Mr.. Varley said that, while not
defending the woman, he richly deserved
the death that he died.
In speaking Of Sir Charles Dixie Mr..
| Marley said that he secured 1000 votes for
| him the first time he was a candidate for
Parliament He had been asked to stand
for the place himself he said, but did not
do so, preferring not to lose his indivldu-
atty or to be bound to any party.
AS further precedent for plain speaking
he quoted Christ. who said that who so
| looketh upon a woman TO lust after her
hath already committed adultery with her
| in his heart. Having thus announced his
subject Mr.. Varley led in a brief prayer
in which he prayed that he might be
| clothed with the power of the spirit that
the eyes and ears Of his hearers might be
! opened to understand something of their
| physical constitution
| There was nothing sensational in Mr..
| Varley's lecture, although he discussed
| plainly the effects both upon the mind
| and the body of the indulgence of the
lusts of the flesh. The evil effects re-
sulting to Individuals, to society and to
| nations were ably presented and some
| startling statistics furnished. Many in
! stances from his own experiences were re-
| lated by the speaker
| The sacredness of the marriage relation
| and the duty of men to obey the scrlptu-
! raj injunction to multiply and replenish
! the earth were dwelt upon. He deplored
! the evil tendency of modern society to
restrict the number of its offspring. In
| this connection he contrasted France
which had 100000 population in 1890, and
to-day has only 100000, with England.
| which has to-day 100000 in her own
| boundaries, at least $500, 600 descendants
| In America, with 100000 in Canada. a
| 100000 in Australia, 100000 in Africa. and
| at least 100000 upon the high seas and
| elsewhere throughout the world making
a grand total of 5000 000 of people. where
! as in 1900 she had only 100000 inhab
tants This he attributed to the prevailing
rule of large families in England and
America This to-day, he said seems to
be no longer the case in America. Deduct
| ing from the American population. he said
! the foreign immigrants and the increase
of the Irish and the negro populations
| and 1t could be found that the best ele
ment of the American population is not
| increasing but is at a standstill.
| Mr.. Varley's references to the friendly
relations existing between England and
| the United States, and the attitude of
England during the war with Spain. were
| heartily applauded. His utterances as to
the duties of men to themselves, 10 their
wives to society and to the youth of tbe
| rising generation, were Endorsed by bie
| audience, as was also his condemnation of
| the stand taken by many medical sciept-
! lists upon this subject.