Evening journal., 1900-03-12
''SAPHO'' RAKED
FROM PULPIT
Rev. ]. W. Easley Sees No Good
in Theatres and DenOunces
Them Accordingly,
DIR. MURRAY ON ADJUSTMENTS

HE SPOKE ON DANCING, THE
AIRES AND CARDS LAST NIGHT.
WE NEED MORE MADMEN, SAID
REV. F. C. JENNINGS YEsTER-
DAY - NEWS OF OTHER
CHURCHES.
Rev. ]. w. Easley, pastor Of Brandy
wine NJ. e. Church, made an attack
on theatres last night, when he deliv-
cred an address on "Sapho, or an
Awakened Public"
His text was from First Corinthians,
XIV, SS: BE not deceived. evil commu-
nications corrupt good manners"
Mr.. Easley said; "All the evils Of
life, all the corruption of youths, all
the curses of the card table and wine
table comes from not observing this.
''Sapho" is one of the vilest and
most wretched books ever published,
but what could we expect, as it was
written by a Frenchmen, who was not
very particular. have never read all
Of the book nor never expect to, but
/ have glanced over enough OF It TO
convince. me what it is.
In Wilmington we have two the
atres and people are constantly Hood
ing these dens of vice. They 90 and
pay money to have their passions play
ed upon. Shame on American people.
Shame on people reared in American
homes. Nothing but low theatricals
come here. Not one of Shakespelre's
great plays has been produced since
have been here. A woman's beauty on
the stage is a mark for the devil and
his allies. They may retain their pur-
ity but people will not believe ,hem.'
DIR. MURRAY ON ADJUSTMENTS.
"Amusements" was the subject Of a
sermon preached by Rev. w. J.. S.
Murray, d. D., in st. Paurs NJ. E.
Church last night. In part he said:
"Dancing-There are two opinions
concerning 1t. Some in and out Of the
church, who advocate it and some VINO
condemn it. Some say there is no harm
in it, it is not so bad as gossip and
slander, it makes people graceful and
is good exercise. On the other hand
It tends to evil, destroys interest in
sacred things; dancing people are not
devout; it is a bad example. How are
we to settle it? We are in a world OF
good and evil We are endowed with
power to choose. We are responsible
for our choice. How shall we decide
Take all the facts. Look at Chris1s
life, his example then ask: Wrat
would Jesus do?
Cards-Are approved and condemn
ed in the same way as dancing. The
Methodist Church in New York started
in the blazing light of a pack of cards
santched from the hands OF
players by Barbara Heck and thrown
in the fire, after which she exhorted
a local preacher from England To
preach the Gospel or the blood of souls
would be on him. He lifted his voice
and Methodism began to take root here
as In England. But it is quite fash.
ionable to play cards now. and often is
the minister asked II it is wrong. WHY
do people ask me if there is any harm
in dancing and card playing? They
never ask is it wrong to read the Bible
or to go to church. There is no doubt
here, but in the dancing and care
playing there is doubt How shall W,
settle It? Who is our example? Lei
us ask: What would Jesus do?
The theatre has been under discus
sion during the past week especially
1t is not the best plays that excite th,
multitude, but those that pander I,
lusts and stOOp to the vulgar and semi
obscene. Let it be said to the credi
OF the women of Wilmington that bu
few were drawn by the Objectionable
play a few evenings ago. Some cal
che theatre school of morals, othcrl
say II is the gate of hell What are W,
to do when there are conflicting opin
ions? Paul said if eating meat make
my brother to offend l will eat no NOR
while the world stands. We owe tl
weak brother something. But Chris
is our example. Let everyone decid
this question by and through Hin
What would Jesus do?"
LIFE WITHOUT SIN.
Rev. D. w. S. Chase, of Woonsocke
r. l., preached an interesting sermon
at st. Andrews P. e. Church last nigh
on Sin" Mr.. Chase said in part:
This text has been used to teach tn
doctrine that it is possible for peopl
10 live without sin. The argument
that God commands the people to liv
without sin and He would not CON
mand what is impossible. This gives
very incomplete idea of what sin Il
II sin consists Of doing certain imprc
prieties one might say at the end {
the day that he had not cursed. ha
not done any wrong action toward
anybody and Therefore had not sinnef
but If it consists Of wrong though
then one possibly could not saw he ha
not sinned. If one goes further it ma
be said that it is just as much of a 81
TO leave something undone that shoui
be done"
Y. NJ. c. A. HALL YESTERDAY AL
TERNOON.
Rev. F. Cornwell Jennings. pastor
Honover Presbyterian Church. preaeI
ed an interesting sermon from Hose
tx. Z, taking as his subject: THE Spi
itual Man is Mad"
Mr.. Jennings said that the wor
needed more enthusiastic men al
dwelt upon the strange characteristic
of life.