New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-15
BROOKLYN NEWS.
DR.. HILLS ON CITY'S VICE.
CONDITIONS IN METROPOLIS REMIND
STRONGLY OF THOSE OF INPE-
RIAL ROME. HE SAYS.

Franklin Matthew's recent article in 'Harper's
Weekly" the prevalence of vice in this city
under Tammany rule furnished the theme OF the
sermon of the Rev. DR.. Newell Dwight HILLS In
Plymouth Church yesterday morning. In his dis
course founded the prophecy in Revelation IN
regard to Rome the Doctor led up to the condition
of affairs in New-York disclosed in MT
Matthew's article He said presented very
serious aspect and treated it hs a subject or the
utmost concern to everybody. to all men and women
who had property families.
Dr. Hills thought the duty of individual effort
fell upon people in these circumstances. and they
should only raise voice of protest, but should
excite a public sentiment which would not allow
such things to exist. In speaking OF what an ldeai
city should be Dr. Hills dwelt upon the mistake
men made in making merchandise OF wicKedness
fin any form.
The subject of DR.. Hillis's sermon was "Our City.
Its Neglected Glasses and Moral Condition, and
How Can We Help Make 1t True City Of God"
and the text taken from two verses OF the
Book OF Revelation prophesying the wiekedness OF
Rome and its destruction. AMI describing the glo-
ries of the Holy City. The Doctor said in part:
The Bible is full of warnings to great cities that
have hated righteousness and loyeo inlquiy' 80 M
not less man SaIds AND Whatsoever city
sows. that shall IL reap The CITY Inat soW %St
sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption,
and the city that sows to the spirit snail OF tne
vine Book pleads for National ana
ton that follow the transgresson Of Gods laws.
Let us confess that the description of the impe-
rial and the condemnationS that We're pro-
nounced upon it remind us strongly Of conditions
that prevail in our own great metropolis. lnueeu,
this portrayal of merchant ships, ana Inerket
places and rulers who trafficked in the souls or
men seems like the word of some traveller VINO
has fingered long in harbors on our wharyes
and In our parks and public squares and related Tor
the impressions or the scenes Ihat hie Ho"spiA-
With perfect accuracy one might write New York
in the place OF imperial Rome Into our haroors
come the ships laden with spices, OILS, wines,
not caravans of camels but caravans with hoors
OF steel bringing stores Of grain and fruits ana
wheat from the Western plains. tiither, TOO, come
the merchants with furs from the frozen North
the East and silks from the West, while our
public buildings glorious with porphyry from
Egypt and marbles Of yellow and red and black
from Africa and onyx quarried in Mexico. and
times the richness Of Our forests and mines
limitless and inexhaustibe, that our mer-
chants are in danger of believing that nothing can
interrupt our prosperity or threaten the city's
future.
Not that we are pessimists The tendency of So
cety is upward, the gains of the common people
regular and the periods of corruption but
eddies in advancing tide. Some cities break all
the laws Of God and merit destruction but some
cities break some of the laws of God and merit
some of the penalties and warnings. Every sin is
a seed, holding its own harvest of penalty. The
city that sows one saloon will reap a hundred
drunkards. One corrupt ruler who pillages the
shall reap one hundred men who in times of dis
tress shall pillage the city. The city that
moral ilHteracy for it, children and youth shall
reap one hundredfold and women who will
tranple ruthlessly on the sancity of public law
and private property and lift the weapons of de-
struction upon the institutions of the land God is
not Knocked. No city has ever played with a shark
but has received a conffagration.