The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-07-27
An Eloquent Address to the
Fathers and Mothers. " X
By ~. B. E" in the Homecoming Star.
EElTgEss - ~ 1919 sFsF aasfGgzasEyE =

| contempt, and further, that some,
yielding to the seductive influences
which surround them, to their own
independence Of spirit, and to the
depraved passions and appetites to
which all flesh is heir, had fallen
from that straight and narrow path
which leads to eternal bliss.
Now, it might be said by those
who, perchance. may peruse these
lines, that such a statement as to
vice and immortality fourishing in
the towns of this region might with
equal propriety and truth be made
of people everywhere, there being
black sheep in every flock. But,
l answer, this lack Of virtue and
disregard for integrity Of life is
greater here; what is more danger
Gus, it is confined mostly to the
younger sect, and worst of all it is
not on the wane, but is increasing
with the lapse of time. Therefore,
since this poisonous shrub seems
to be more widely diffused here
than elsewhere, and more virulent
and deadly in its effects upon the
morals and manners Of the COM
munity, all the more necessity is
here for drastic and adequate meas
ures to eradicate from the soil this
rank and eXecrable weed, and in
its place to plant the violet of truth
the lily of purity and the rose of
, holy aspirations.
There is no sin, there is no vice,
there is no corrupting defect which
, can aflict a human being that is
more odious to God and man, that
comes more under the ban and rep
rotation of law divine and human
than unChastity in woman, and in
confluence in man. Two ancient
and venerable cities, Sodom and
: Gomorrha, as the holy Scriptures
relate, were destroyed by a rain O.
/ fire from heaven, because Of the
f prevalence of these identical sins
f therein which had aroused the con.
1 Stunning wrath of the Almighty.
4 From the beginning to the end
S of the inspired writings, that well
t spring and source whence Chris
3 tan men and women draw daily
i inspiration for their conduct ii
e life and upon which all enlighten
S ed creeds are buttressed as upon
y foundation impregnable. there i
). no precept that is ottener reiterated
e that is asserted with more emphatic
: force and vehemence, than tina
e which inoculates purity of life, ant
e depression of our baser instinct.
S This precept, or rather co m
e mandment, is, as it were, golde,
# thread, or a necklace of Jewels
0 which starting at the very alpht
It of the sacred writings, run
: through from verse to verse, fror
/" chapter to chapter, from book t
book, in the old, and especially i
y the new testament; and repeate
Is again and again in different word
d and phrase, shine with a brighte
G 1uster, with more uudying bri'
/. 1iancy, where the various writer
es Of the word Of God grow more elC
IL quent, more enraptueed, more il
II spired.
g 1t was his supreme regard fc
ii this purity of heart that led Chri:
lie himself when dying on the eros
" to entrust his mother, the blesse
h Mary, to the beloved disciple S
q John, committing her to his Gu
c. tody in words which have echoe
IL with a sweet cadence down throug
i'd the centuries that has passed" Sol
lie behold they mother, mother behol
lie thy son!" Because he know TIL
I'd in the breast of St. John there W;
of no guile, and that from his DO,
es hood, his life had been pure, eve
k, as virgins.
m The rise, progress and fall
a kingdoms, nations and empir
H. which so strikes the imaginatiC
he and moves the interest of the st
is dent of history, can all be explai
lis ed thus: as long as nation is fl
Sc ed with patriotism, and practic