Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-30
D[NPS1[R TALKS
IO GLASS OF W
Presbyterian Pastor Turns
Loose on City Administra-
ton and Civic Affairs
PAYS RESPECTS TO THE PRESS
Also Tells What He Thinks About the
Women's Clubs-Handles His Sub.
iect Without Gloves and Delivers an
Address Characteristic of Previous
EHor+.
Efforts.

The baccalaureate sermon, delivered
TO the class of 'O4 of the Marshalltown
high school by Rev. David Dempster.
of the Presbyterian church, at the
Methodist church Sunday evening, was
of a distinctly sensational character.
With the explanation that he would
abandon the classics and get down to
the actualnies of the present day world.
the speaker proceeded to roast the city
council, womens clubs, the T.-R., Sun
day base ball and all citizens who are
Cerelict in duty in not having antici-
pated the speaker in such attacks.
The church was crowded for the an
nual baecalaureate service. The MEM
bers of the senior and Junior classes
We're present In body, as was also the
school board. On the platform with the
speaker were Rev. Nathaniel Pye. Of
the Methodist church; DR.. Elijah
Brown Jones. of the Baptist; Rev. f..
Henry Lemon, of the Church Of Christ,
and Rev. j. b. Meloy. OF the State
Street United Evangelical.
The T.-R., following it's usual Gus
tom, solicited an authorized copy Of the
sermon but this the speaker preferred
not to give hence only the gist of what
was said can be published.
Rev. Dempster chose for the subject
of his baccalaureate address The
Choice of Profession taking as his
text, What thy hand iindeth to do, do
1t with thy might" He declared it his
object to forsake the classics as a
theme for the evening, and to come
down to the level the practical present.
His remarks here took rather unusual
turn, and developed a general attack
against the city administration and all
its supporters. The city council was
branded body of do-nothings. and
held up as a warning to his young
hearers. Reference was made to the
open visit of one of its MEMBERS name
withheld, to south side resort, and the
fact that such visit was noted by one of
the local papers, this being, "of course.
not the T.-R.," upon which the attack
was then concentrated for short time,
as being in league and sympathy with
the present corrupt administration of
the city government. The establishment
of Sunday base ball was touched upon
and was denounced in the strongest
terms by the speaker who was ap-
plauded in this stand by his hearers.
This encouragement then induced the
speaker to give some characteristic adj
vice as to the ideal newspaper man and
the duty of the press to denounce Sun
day base ball regardless Of cost to it's
business patronage
Rev. Dempster spoke plainly and
scathingly of the vice and crime that is,
according to his statements, allowed
full sway in this city. Here attention
was called to the many women's clubs
with their united and effective
strength, turn their attention to up
roofing dandy devils instead OF be-
heading dandelions. The emptiness Of
mere worldly honor and position in So
ciety was illustrated and an appeal
made for the turning to a more earnest
and higher life of usefulness.
Allusion was made to the city's new
cemetery. the Sixth ward burying
ground" a little cemetery that the
majority of the city council We're try
ing to establish. Rev Dempster upheld
the Sixth ward and its representatives
on the council. as being the only men
who stood for righteousness and were
Of q high standard Of morals.
Rev. Dempster forestalled the in
evitable criticism that certain Of his
remarks were uncalled for and out of
place, saying that he knew they would
be made. but defended his position by
the pressing need for the young peo-
pie who will soon take the place of the
present generation. to understand
clearly the wrongs they may be called
upon to right and the duties which
may fall upon them to fulfill.
Returning to his immediate subjec.
he reviewed the various professions.
emphasizing particularly the great i'm
portance of the right man in the right
place and attributing a great majority
of the worlds failures to the mistaken
choice of occupation. He closed his re-
marks with words of commentator
and encouragement to the class of
1904, counseling them to be do some
things" not do nothings."