The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-03-08
aTHE EVILS OF SOCIETY"

Rev. j. ii. thompson, formerly Vi
this city, preached sermon on
"The Evils of Society" and how
woman's influence might be used to
eradicate some of these evils. The
Evening Record of Springfield, pub
fishes in part the sermon, from
which we clip the following:
"A woman's best instinct IS toward
right and justice and mercy. Her
calm, thoughtful consideration leads
her to correct conclusions on most
subjects of public welfare. Her
affection tempers severity and de-
vises plans to nelp the erring and
suffering. Her gentleness is an at
tractive force that Is felt by all who
come near her. Her persistence is a
golden cord that never parts, and the
whole force of her character is
brought to bear upon it in one con-
tinuous strain until her object is at
tanned.
Men may give up; women never.
When the line of battle waivers,
woman sees some new cause of hope
AMI rushes on to victory. Her will
power, her endurance and her pa
thence are the three mystic links
that insure her final success. Her
personal attractions, delicate atten-
tions, persuasive manners and
womanly ways render her we'll nigh
irresistible.
"Then why has she not accom-
plished more? Why is not our
social system much better than it is?
"Why do evils exist which women
might counterfeit and destroy? The
answer is twofold.
Frst-She begins too late. Sec
ondly-Her standard is too low.
A mother took her two-y ear old
child TO a wise man and asked how
early she should begin the moral
training of her boy. The answer
came quick and decisive: You are
now two years TOO late
''The work of refining and uplift.
ing must begin in the cradle and
continue to the grave. Each holy
precept should be stepping stone
to the high and broad foundation
Christ. A fault INDUCED in infancy
becomes deformity in mature life
The mother is not displeased with
her boys little declarations of re
bellion, but afterwards her heart is
bruised Ly his fall and she sees he,
mistake when it is too late.
1.-The young wife is often disap
pointed in her husband and is dis
gusted with his loose habits, but she
would do well to remember that as 6
lover she overlooked these same
faults and encouraged the begin
nings of these identical habits.
LET young ladies' be more careful
of the habits of their beaux and they
will have better husbands.
IF young women refuse the atten
tions of young men who drink, thert
will soon be fewer drunkard's wives
1.-The cigar whose delicate arom,
tickled the nOstrils of the coy maidel
during courtship, becomes the often
sive pipe in married life. If womel
do not want smoking and maloderou
husbands, let girls refuse the atten
tions of putting and aromatic boys
Should the young ladies of any com
munity boycott dramdriukers at,
tobacco users, these habits woul
wonderfully decrease in very shor
time.
1.-The trouble is that Young ladie
fear there will never be another Gro
of boys, and that If they do not cate
husbands from the present bate
they will be doomed to be old maid,
Better be an old maid for centur
than to be a widow with husband t
support and endure.
Would that young women wer
as careful Of the characters of the
escorts as young men are of the girl
they choose for their sweetheart'
Sex makes no difference in sin. Lit
young women demand the sam
purity of life in their beauX thS
young men require in their fiance
and the evils of society will soon b
reduced to the minimum.
"When young wOman's reput;
ton is once blemished she is ca
out forever and cursed by her kim
but the man who shared her erin
is received in society and becom,
the husband of some pure woman
he choose to do so.
LET women, especially young W
men, awake to a knowledge of the
power and the weight Of their r
sponsibillty. God will hold them
account for the influence conferrC
upon them, for that influence is
great for evil as for good IL not pro
erly used.
"She herself should be the embed
ment Of all virtues, the compost