The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-09-04
DIR. BABBITT FLAYS
Sins And FOLLIES
OF SMART SET.
The Pulpit. Says the Preacher. Must
Abandon Ancient theology TO
Correct the Obvious wrongs OF
the Present lime.

The Rev DR.. Dean Richmond Bao-
bltt. rector of the Church OF the Eplpn
any. preached recently on The
Sins ana FolIies Of Fashion. While
recognizing much good in fashion and
avoiding extremes Of statement or
counselling eccentric opposition to
fashion. DIR. Rabbit yet made a strong
appeal for Christian earnestness aud
dignity as a corrective 10 the abuses Of
fashion. in various circles of society,
and criticised severely many OF the
doings of the so-cslled smart set in
America. He said In part:
Il am more and more convinced tnat
we of the clergy must preach clearly,
pointedly, as forcibly as possible. TO
the sins and follies of the times. dwell
less on the exodus of the lsr9lltes
from Egypt and more on the exodus OF
Christian virtues from American LIE.
The less pictorial about things
happening in ancient Jerusalem and
more pointed about things happening
In New York.
when l speak tonight in this spirit
on Tue Sins and FoIiIes of Fashion.
am not willing TO LEND my pulpit
TO the mere denunciati0ns OF the
satirlst. for to do that alone is TO
lower il.
But l wish to appeal to YOU, and
through you to Others, on behalf OF an
effort TO correct some OF the glarlng
abuses of American society. Each one
of us is the Keeper OF Christian morals
and public OPINION to the extent OF our
social abilities and influence. and II is
lust as necessary for each of us to
carry out reforms in ourselves and
neighbors, if posi- ole. as it would be
to reform the entire nation, which Is
impossible.
There are many WAYS to look at
the selfish, wasteful, indecoroCs,
baletul and often insane class OF the
so-called Smart Set who seem TO
make a crusade to get their peculiar
social antics in the newspapers, as
enthusiasts impale butterflies for
exhibition in a museum. The sense
less class In the public initiate them,
the sober thinking class have pitying
contempt for them. the earnest
Christians blush for them, the patrlo-
tic American abhots them and the
genuine aristocracy of America anq
Europe laughs ar them.
L
DINNERS. on their balls on their
dresses, on their yatchs is yulgarly
ciphered out TO astoni:h the crowd,
until you might tancy they were
luxurious ana spendtnrift patrlclans
OF ancient Rome, dazzling a pleoeian
mob with their splendors, exciting tho
hunger of the Roman proletariat by
accounts of feasting on 'night1ngales'
tongues and drinking priceless wine
from myrrhan chalices.
Now this class so abusing fashion.
so endeavorlng TO lay upon certain
social stra tam OF wealth the lmperlous
law of a social custom. as selfish as IL
is foolish, cannot be excused on any
ground. Their example is pestilent to
America, their antics
violation of all normal sanity, their
moral standard Ieprebensible at the
bar of Christian morals, their lives,
with all their glitter and brilliant
rlppery, are personal degradation to
themselves, as revival OF heatnen
'hedonism. ana MAKE rapid descent
into that Avernus OF the senses where
lie buried all the best and choicest OF
human aspirations. :,
The recurrent nigh balls and
utter devotion to brilliant costuming
that osteutatlously. often imodestly,
exhibits the beauties of bodily form.
the gambling TO wee sma hours OF
the morning In salons redolent with
a sensuous atmosphere, tempt many
of the young women OF the smart set
either to dangers TO their sex. to
disqualification for domestic life, with
Its cares of wIfehood and motherhood,
or when once married rush them
speedily through the divorce mill,
that peculiar diaDolism of the American
smart set which seems to grind so
certainly ana 30 small. | speak in this
not of the genera, character OF the
women of the smart set. for that is a
term covering a wide reach of lnd'-
vlduals But speak OF many
cases among them.