The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-18
OFFENSIVE PREACHING.
Sensational Measurements Designed
for Eject on the Ignorant.

Washington Post.
Far more afflicted than the worst in
koko's little list of society offenders who
never will be miss'd' is the preacher who
undertakes to WORK UP a revival of religion
by such methods as many of the So
called evangelists employ. For example.
take the Rev. Jones, who is now in the
midst of a protracted spell of pulpiteering
at Wabash, Ind He illustrated his COM
prehensive view of the mercy of God by
assuring his hearers that "a woman who
wore plume in her hat had no chance of
salvation" Thereupon four women in the
congregation who happened to be wearing
plunes arose and cast them into the stove.
Presumably, those ornaments were ostrich
feathers, a real thing of beauty, involving
no cruelty nor any sacrifice of bird life in
their production Whether the Rev. Jones
was declaiming mainly against cruelty,
vanity or equally against both we are not
advised. but, in either case, his presump-
ton was preposterous
What is the effect of preaching that is
intended to make the ignorant and credu-
lous believe that the all-wise Creator Of
the universe, the all-merciful Father of the
human family, has bolted the door OF sale
walton against women who wear hats be-
decked with the products OF the ostrich
would the mere acceptance of that concep-
ton of the Deity, be promotive Of the love
of God? Would Il create or stimulate fer
vent piety? Would the hearts of millions
melt toward being who, as they had been
convinced, had decreed that the persistent
wearing Of a feather in a hat must eventu-
ally land the wearer thereof at terminal
infinitely distant from the abode of the
blessed
Another preacher, Professor Sharp. of
Boston University. proclaimed In a church
In that city last Sunday that no woman
who wears sea gull or song bird In her
hat can ever get to heaven" We do not
know whether he means that woman
can't go into heaven wearing sea gull or
a song bird in her hat, or whether the
wearing of such ornaments in this life will
work a forfeiture of any chance OF that
felicity: but in either case he offends egreg-
iously. The reasonable inference, however,
is that he means to shut out of heaven
all who are so recklessly cruel to encour-
age the slaughter of birds by using them
for ornamentation. That inference Is all
most inevitable from the context. He was
speaking of Easter, and he desired to warn
the ladies against following cruel fash
ion But he would not deny them any
reasonable indulgence: Buy pretty
church. for what better place to wear it
than to church? 1t is an honor to God
and benediction to the soul TO have and
to wear Easter bonnets.' That is quite
censurable than the Rev. Jones, who pro-
claims as vehemently against "frivolities"
as cruelty. But both of these preachers
need a curb. Clergymen who put such limi-
tations as they do to the mercy of God
and the receptive capacity of heaven are
not promoters of religion. The God whom
they present to their hearers is not the
Christians God. Such a Deity would be
infinitely more cruel than the thoughtless
women who encourage the killing OF song
birds had as that is.