Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1906-03-05
SOCIETY is
ARRAIGNED
BY MINISTER
Rev. James H. NOrthrup Preached
Last of Three Sermons
Last Night.
THE EXCLUSION FEATURE
Preacher Said Those Who Ef-
CIude Have Smallest Hold of
Their Own Position.

An able dissertation on society was
delivered by Rev. James H. Northrup
in the First Presbyterian church last
night. Mr.. Northrup first discussed
society in the abstract and then spoke
upon it as regards the relation of
Christianity bears toward it.
The paramount needs OF society in
Mr.. Northrup's opinion are expan-
sion, variety and the elimination of
bigotry as well as practical applica-
ton to society. He said that society
is not new, but that society as it ex-
lists today is patterned along similar
lines. although in smaller proportion.
to that of ancient times. Society is
essentially play, Mr.. Northrup~ said,
and, since amusement is its object.
variety should be injected into it. and
the line should be lifted so that its
chief features should not be simply
cards, dancing and drinking. He
made a plea for more receptions
where guests might devote them
selves TO what proper recreation they
chose, and he said that conversation
Of an interesting, fraternal and help
full character would be the main addi-
tion Christianity would give to soci-
ETY..
Deplored Bigotry.
Mr.. Northrup deplored the bigotry
and narrowness of society in its pres
ent state, and said he hoped to see
the day when intellectual attainments
would admit people to the best soci-
ETY. and when a person whose princi-
pies would not allow him or her to
play cards, dance, drink or smoke
would not be looked upon as bigot.
In the latter sense, the speaker said,
it is society who is the bigot; that
society, in that regard, exhibits sim
liar bigotry to that of the Puritans
who wanted everyone to worship God
in the way they did.
Many persons go into society be-
cause of the help it will bring them
in other ways, said Mr.. Northrup, and
many gauge their own actions by the
social standing they will secure there
by. Those who are most active in ex-
Guiding outsiders" from entering So
footing in society is least firm. You
will find that it is the one at the end
of the line who is generally a self
appointed committee on credentials,
he sal
IN y towns, Mr.. Northrup said,
one hears such remarks as, "Oh,
there's nobody here any more
amounts to anything socially In this
city, he said. he is glad he has never
hear such remarks.
The Latest Fad.
Mr.. Northrup told of reading IN a
New York paper the other day that
many society women now take crC-
cheting or embroidery or other need
lework to social functions with them,
and he said that the Mite Society of
his church is right in the latest vogue
judging from that. Mr.. Northrup
drew a mental picture of a time when
young women might be looked upon
as bigoted if they declined to smoke
cigarettes at social functions. He said
that it should be left TO guests to re-
quest what they wanted along urink-
ing and smoking lines instead of put
ting the burden of remonstrance up
on them by offering those things TO
them, as is done now. Mr.. Northrup
said that society should not be criti-
cized too strongly on the score of
exclusion, because there are many
people who do not desire to enter
society because of the expense and
time involved.
Mr.. Northrup drew his text from
Romans 1910: BE kindly affec-
toned one to another with brother
ly love; in honor preferring one an
other"
Last nights sermon was the third
in a series on men, women and so
ciety.