Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-20

ACCORDING TO THE PASTOR OF
EPwoRTH IT INSPIRES SELFISH
NESS. RETARDs DUTY, SEP
ARATEs FROM GOD, AND is A
GREAT HINDERANcE TO MANY
GOOD THINGS.
Rev. F. Burgette Short preached an
elcauent sermon on Pride to an i'm
mense congregation at Bpworth NJ. E.
Church on Sunday night. In part the
preacher said:
PROV. xvi. IS. Pride goeth before
destruction"
Solomon the wisest man, was per-
haps the proudest man that ever lived.
The results Of pride no one better
knew than he. When he said: Pride
goeth before destruction" he spoke
from experience, and gave expression
to an eternal truth. There is no heart
it has not entered, nor home over
whose threshold it has not crossed. It
finds its way into places of business
and even seats its arrogant self in the
sanctuary Of the Most High God.
1t is pride-selfsh, arrogant. con-
temptible pride, that makes divisions
in society. This spirit Is found among
the poor as we'll as among the rich.
Some Of us are proud as the peacock
and possess about the same amount
and quality Of brains. How we like to
parade in the sunny walks of life 10
show our clothes. Whenever you see
people making a display of their new
suits, you may write it down that they
regard it as the most precious thing
about them. And those who see them
believe they are right
No one enjoys looking at we'll dress
ed people more than I do, but to dress
costly just for the sake of the garment
is wicked. What denials some will
submit to in order to have fine clothesl
How they will rob themselves, the gro
cerynan and every other merchant
who via trust All this time they are
destroying themselves. Pride is reign
ing and ruling their lives. Their nobleT
nature has surrendered to base desire
and ambition, and if halt is not made
soon their bodies will rest in some
cemetery and the correct inscription
for the headstone would be: Pride led
to destruction Yes, It was the de-
struction Of body, conscience, charac-
ter and soul.
Il is pride that makes devotees tc
fashion. What crimes are committed
in thy name, goddess Of fashion Thou
changest thy raiment without respec
to season. convenience or comfort
and thy altar is kept wet with the
blood OF foolish victims who offei
themselves unto thee. The extrava
gance and changes of fashion are
curse TO society, and surely never haC
their origin in heaven An old Scotch
minister, preaching in the city o
Aberdeen, is reported to have said Z,
his congregation: THE people of Aber
deem get their styles and fashions from
Glasgow; Glasgow gets them from
Edinburgh; Edinburgh gets them from
London; London gets them from Paris
and Paris gets them from the devil.
We believe his logic is, at least, par
TALLY right; and the words of Solomon
are eternally true: Pride goeth befor
destruction" Four reasons substan
tiate this Solomonic verify:
First Pride inspires .selfishness
The proud man thrlves chiefly OF sell
He measures everything in its relation
to himself. He must have his owl
way and everything must contribute &
his benefit. He lives alone for sell
Something unpropitious Is sure L
come to such characters.
Second Pride retards us in respond
ing to the call OF duty II is both eas,
and pleasant to respond when dut
calls Us to gather flowers or help on
friends from whom we expect help Il
return. But when duty calls us &
walk the thorny path and pull ava
the briers in search for flowers: whei
it means to help the neglected VIII
can never help US, or eYsn our enc