Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-16
SINS OF WASHINGTON
TENDENCY OF MODERN WOMEN TO
YIELD TO SMALL VICES.

On the occasion of his annual visitation
to st. Johns Protestant Episcopal Church,
10Th and H streets northwest. yesterday
Bishop Henry Y. Satterlee of the diocese OF
Washington, spoke of the sins of Wash
ington society and especially the tendency
of the modern women to yield to certain
vices. the refraining from which in former
times had made them examples OF virtue
to men. The vices of smoking and drink
ing were particularly dwelt upon by the
bishop in this connection.
Bishop Satterlee was assisted at the serv-
ice by Rev. Roland Cotton Smith, the rec
tor Of the parish; Rev. F. H. BigeloW and
Rev. e. S. Dunlap He confirmed class
of eight candidates. In the congregation
were many persons of prominence, including
those in official life and those from the
distinctly social circles of the capital.
In the course of his remarks the bishop
said:
'The characteristic of the New Tesla
ment and of Christ's preaching was the
revelation of the love of God and of the
justice OF God, and that we cannot I'M
derstand what love means unless we COM
prehend what justice means. Two hun
dred years ago the dominating thought In
the theological thinking of the day was
exclusively regarded as the justice of God
and consequently the Christian of that day
seems to have been entirely blind to the
messages of Christ regarding Gods love.
The Other Extreme.
Now the pendulum has swung to the
other extreme. The dominating thought of
the present time is the love of God. and
this obliterates the consciousness of His
justice and also of the reality of sin. This
is a pseudo gospel. The New Testament is
not only the most loving book in the world
lit is also, in another respect, the sternest
book in the world.
mo one can possibly understand the
Christian religion or the New Testament
or the Apostles Greed unless he recognizes
the reality of human sin. Sin is the sep
arator, and so 1t Is treated all through che
Bible. But one has not to go back to Bible
times. He has only to look about him at
the present day to recognize the same fact.
Those of you who are to be confirmed this
day will have to face the sin of the world,
and especially those blatant forms Of sin
that characterize modern social life. 49,
'.In every other Christian age women have
been looked upon as setting an example Of
virtue to men. Today 1t is exactly the re-
verse. The gambling habits of the new
woman. ard her club. and her home. her
convlviai habits in smoking and drinking
and her general influence make her the re-
verse Of an elevating influence.
ITO such persons sin Is an unreality, but
the terrible penalty of this kind of life is
separation from God Those who are COM
ing today for the right Of holy confirmation
are to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
to enable them to live the New Testament
life The Holy Ghost is the spirit of for
titude who invigorates us with courage to
face the sin of the world and the sin of
ones own heart, and to bring that joy and
peace which comes to all who live in union
with God This is the old old story, which
is ever new-either. on the one hand, the
union with sin or the spirit of lawlessness
bringing separation from God, Or on the
other hand. separation from sin and union
with God"