The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-30
MANY GOOD and
ABLE SERMONS r
D.. Hawthorne Spoke on The Power
ofthe Press.n
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH FUNDS
New Building to BIO Erected by this
Church and Largo Contribution
Made for that Purposc-1sally
Mt Laurel Street Church.


''Tho Power of the Press for Good or
Evil was the topic of REV. DR.. J. B.
Hawthornc's address at Grove Avenue
Baptist church Sunday morning. The
address was most interesting and was
listened to by a most refined and in
telleotual congregation.
The speaker included in the ferm
Press" not only the newspapers, but
books. and all classes of literature He
declared that the most salable books in
America. to-day are trashy, frivolous,
and pernicious in their influence upon
morals The thoughtful books. ne sa1d.
are kept in the background by many OIL
the booksellers. The current literature,
he is Of opinion, is not only frivolous, but
impure
There are thousands of young men and
hundreds of old bald-headS and gray
boards, who hang around our neWss Iaio
and lingcr in our bookstores In search OIL
literary filth. They are moral Vuitures'
whose highest pleasure is found In scent
ing literary rottenness. Their minds are
saturated through and through Win me
poison of bad books. By the habitual use
Of such literature, they have made then-
selves familiar wtk all the discussed
deviltry of experience and accomplished
sensualists and are prepared to reproduce
their Ubiquitous methods.
DR.. Hawthorne also dwelt upon the
evil effect upon boys of the trashy liter
ture published, and spoke OF Peck
Bad Boy as especially Objectionable
In regard TO the newspapers DR.. law
thorne censured severely the fant Oh
printing every debauch and crime prom
inently. This. ne said, was fearfully de-
moralizing to community.
GOOD NEWSPAPERS HERE.
But DR.. Hawthorne had some nice
things to say about the newspapers. and
particularly those of this city. He said:
II am happy to live in city whose
newspapers are usually conservative in
tone. dignifed in spirit and considerate
Of the welfare of the public. am happy
TO live In a community where the daily
newspapers give large share OF their
space TO religious news. and to the dis
c9tssion of the great ethical principles OIL
blessed Christianity. There are such
newspapers in almost every community
of this land. They are factors in our
civilization that could not be eliminated
without inflicting irreparable injury upon
society. But j regret to say that such
newspapers are in a. minority. They are
contendinE against great odds.
''1t is simply impossible for us to build
pure and noble characters for ourselves,
or to elevate the moral condition Of those
around us if we keep company with n
corrupt literature. 1t is related of a
celebrated painter that he could not look
upon an unsishtly work without receiv-
ing impressions from 1t that would creep
into the pictures which he painted. Mozart
could never have written his immortal
anthems and oratcrios if he had been
familiar with Irish ballads and negro
minstrel songs. .ss
Fathers and mothers. I solemnly adj
monish you THAT it is impossible to keep
home pure. peaceful and happy, and send
out from it sons and daughters who will
be loyal to truth, duty and honor if you
permit unclean books and newspapers to
be read in your household"
LARGE SUM ASSURED.
The members of Second Baptist church
held their regular meeting at II o'clock
on Sunday morning After the regular
service 1t was decided TO forego the SER
mon and consider the matter of securing
funds for the erection of 4 new church
building on the southeast corner of
Adams and Franklin streets.
This lot was purchased about two years
ago. out of the Sinking Fund The cause
Of the movement is that the greater por-
tior Of the congregation lives i'll the
West-End, and that the neighborhood in
which the church Is now located is rapid
~ becoming q business portion of the
city.
The matter has been referred to
several previous meetings during the
last three of four months. Several bids
have been made on the old building, ant
the lot and the church will either be
torn down or used for business pur
poses.
RAISED $4,000
Although not over 1wo-tllirds OF the
members were present at the meeting
yesterday much enthusiasm was manifest
cd and over $4,000 was pledged towards
tie fund.
Addresses. favorlng the enterprise. were
made by the pastor. Hon. ]. Taylor Ely
son. w. J. Morrisette. DR.. George Z.
Steel and William Ellyson. The services
were interesting, and the choir rendered
a fine musical programme, appropriate To
the occasion. The choir, though not
members of the church. contributed to the
cause. and even the colored sexton. Char
les Mills. requested that he be allowed
10 subscribe.
The clerk of the church. Mr.. Frank
T. CruInp, reports that while over the
amount asked for was contributed, the
members absent from the meeting will
send their contributions and greatly en-
large the fund.
No plans have Yet been formulated.
hut a committee to look after this part
OF the matter will be appointed at
meeting to be held in the near future.
The meeting Sunday morning was a
most enthusiastic one.
EPWORTH METHODIST
Rev. G. E. B. Smith preached q. forcib!e
sermon at Epworth Methodist church Sun
day night in defence of the working girl
The service was well attended and the
closest attention paid the speaker
A special morning service was held Sun
day at Park-Flace Methodist church. Rev.
J. T. Bosnian preached an interesting SER
mon. and a special collection was taken
up which was unusually large. At the
evening service Bishop j.. c. Granbery
preached an eloquent discourse He took
fo-.- hic- 4n,t ...rho Il,ilirn1a Of this 1s.o.ld