The Washington times., 1906-07-02
NATIONAL EVILS
FLAYED BY PASTOR
The ReV.Mr. EaStOn in Strong
Address, Cries "Be
Americans"
DE2OUNCES TAINTED MONEY
Sounds Warning Note Against "Deeds
of Sham and Wickedness" Which
Will Bring Republics Downfall.

DR. Thomas c. Easton. pastor OF the
Eastern Presbyterian Church at the cor
ner of Sixth street and Maryland avenue
northeast, delivered a Fourth of July
address to his congregation yesterday,
mercilessly fiaying national wronsdoings
and warning all true Americans to work
FOR better Americanism.
We actual Americans" he declared,
with our aping of old-world customs,
and its effete aristOcracy here, and our
vulgar demagogfsm there. and our shall
low boastfulness everywhere, our tolera-
tion of public wrongs and scandals now.
and our inordinate haste 10 be rich-we
actual Americans seem hardly more like
the godly ideal than the actual Jew Of
the days Of Isaiah seemed like that ideal
Son of David"
DR.. Easton then proceeded to give IN
detail an unsoftened picture of those
things Of which he dIsapproved, saying:
Scores Business Methods.
IF It should prove true. and 1 fear It
will prove too true, that there are GER
tain bushes nletlo DDS in America. and
certain proposed legislation that tend 10
build up private Individual fortunes at
the expense Of the public credit: that
greaS corporations shall accumulate for
tunes at the expense of the health of the
citizens by tainted meat: that. for po-
litiCal reasons, we shall wink at the
existence Of a gross prostitution Of vir-
tue and foster Aormonism; that the
press Of the nation shall become a
muclIrake 10 dish out all the crime and
bloody orgies Of the country every three
hours; or that our State Legislatures
shall be merely the nests of bribe takers
If these things be true, they are the
deeds of shame and wickedness that will
hasten the downfall or any republic.
That the simple republicanism of the
founders Of the nation should give place
10 ra'si imperialism and stern autocYatic
dicts zion that holds a whole Congress in
bondage unto fear Is a most deplora BILE
fact. one which has dIsSraced the session
Of Congress just closed.
Fine Dress and Pleasure Seeking.
"Co;.sider. too. in our own city here,
the rage for fine dress and jewelry. and
theaterg going, pleasure -mongering. and
betting on the races, and the habit OF
borrowing from the Shylocks at enor-
nous rates Of usury to keep up the fat
pace. Think of the large Washington
contingent in the Moundsville peniten-
Uary. and ii is still on the increase, its
sole cause being the extravaganza. the
fast living and the gambling mania Of
cur young men.
Then we see the mad infatuation to
possess title and to join with the
destiny of some debauched duke or pen
niless' depraved prince, and the mad
race all over Europe to catch some
senseless bankrupt dude, whose grand
1lther wore star upon his breast
See. also, the wild passion OF rich mems s
sons 20 be allied with some star actress
These things are the indexes of the
present state Of the peoples minds" "
Continuing, he declared:
Peoples Worst Sin.
The worst sin of our people that can
be justly charged against them. is the
idle and criminal Indifference to public
duty"
DR.. Easton concluded with the arsu-
ment that the possibilities of a great
America in the future are so unlimited
that 1t is sin for her people TO indulge
in such sins and frivolIties as he de-
sC-iocd- He admOnlshed his hearers
that the only thing 10 do was TO pray
to God that He, through the Church of
God. might turn the minds Of all men
10 higher and better things. He prayed
for a higher national spirit and thereby
a more respondent national destiny for
America.
Or. Thomas Chalmers Faston was
born In Jedburgh, RoXburghshire Scot
land. and was educated in the Scotch
gree of A NJ, in this country from
BelOit College, Wisconsin. He began
his ministry in the Congregationai al
Church at Glastonbury, Conn, in 1861,
and was for several years pastor Of
the First Reformed Church at New
Brunswick, y. J.
Later. he was for nine years the pas
tor Of the Calvary Presbyterian Church,