The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-06-25
TALMAGEE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TkEMAGE, DID,,
Pastor of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

Chicago, June 21.--Sn this sermon
the preacher pointE ont the all toe
prevalent custom OF letting down the
moral bars during the summer VEGA
hon. Some Of the evils peculiar to SO
called popular summer resorts are I'M
sparingly denounced. The text is
Numbers xxi. %. BE sure your sin
will find you cut" $50 e
What are you going to do this sum-
mer? Take a vacation" you answer:
Il am going away to the country.
There was once time when I did not
believe in summer vacations. l thought
they were merely lazy mems excuses
for Sinking work. But now know
that was mistaken. I have been
gradually breaking down under the
ceaseless monotonies Of business.
want and need a change. | am going
out among the green hills or down by
the seashore. will leave word that
all letters and kilograms at the store
as far as possible must remain unan-
swered until get back. I am going
to rustieate. I shall turn myself out
to grass and let my mind run failow.''
Good resolve, that! l always did be.
lieve 1t better to pay for a fresh air
tonic and country sunlight than for a
medicine chest. / always did believe
1t far better to associate with the farm
oYs f}a Eefaa +ha +o11
gate keeper for a little while during
the summer than it is to have the doc
tor and the trained nurse your con-
slant visitants during the winter. The
hammerings of the woodpecker are
much more pleasant for one to bear
than the creakings of rheumatic joints
The sunrise over the eastern hills in
the country after one has gone to bed
at 8 O'clock ana slept through the
night is a far more enjoyable sight
to see than a sunrise in the city which
one witnesses after an agenizing night
of sleeplessness caused by that worst
of all inquisftorial fiends called insom-
MIA "
Beware Of Sabbath Dissertation.
But, my bearers, before we separate
for the summer, as your pastor j
would like to ask yon another ques-
ton: What do you expect to do when
you are in the country? How are you
going to spend that vaeations WELL
You answer, II really do not know. |
am going to let things drift and not
make any plans If feel like fishing
| will fish. If want to take drive
will go driving or viii take trip
upon my bicycle. But the simple fact
Is am not an enthusiastic sportsman.
Il fear the time some days win drag
heavily. But go away to the country
I WILL know need the trip" Yes.
my brother, your answer Is that which
most men can give. You have been
working hard during your life. In one
sense you have destroyed your ability
to play. Therefore when you go to the
country and do not know what to do
temptations will there assail you
which would never tempt you when
you are at home and at work. Now.
the purpose Of this sermon is not to
talk to Iibertines and loafers and dead
beats. It is not to upbraid the social
outcasts and the sinful vampires who
as human leeches try to suck the life's
blood out of their fellow men at the
summer watering places. That class of
people are not those whom want to
talk to now. But wouid today, as
pastor. earnestly and prayerfuliy give
a few words of practical advice to
hard working people who will spend
their vacations away from home.
would try to warn you against the
temptations which will confront you
and which. Ii successful. may destroy
your entire Christian character. The
leprous germ absorbed into the spir-
itual body in day may continue to
work its mali formations clear on down
to the grave and change your whole
eternal destiny
Summer red light the first: Beware
of Sabbath dissertation. That means
beware that you do not unarmor your
selves by one false move and leave
your beating hearts defenseless before
the poisoned arrows of the Satanic
luGlS. SG8SAiE yoQ AO GOG III a.
tically say to the evil tempters:: Here
am [. off on my summer vacation.
have left my religion at home. ! am
ready to let you lead me where You
will. For two or three weeks. or one
month at least. / will enter no church.
listen to no sermon. utter no public
prayer and ask for no divine protec-
ton. will take holiday from re-
Iigion as well as from business. and az
a beginning will disregard the Lords
day
How to Start . vacation.
hat do you mean by such warn
ing as that?" some one asks. why do
ron place such emphasis upon Sabbath
obseryanee2" Because. my friend. the
way you generally start your summer
vacation Is the way you will end 1t.
The Sabbath desecration Is the key
note. as rule, or the forerunner. OF
long series OF spiritual backsIiding.
Hew? In all probability your summer
a IN.