The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-22
TO THE MANY CRITICISMS
EVOKED BY HIS SERMON
ON KISSING"
PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY
Must Save Us From the Corruptinq
Influences Of Smart Culture and
Big Money Unsanctlfed"--
Liberties Granted Be-
come Llcentious."

OF Calvary Bautist church, and pub
lished in The Bulletin at the time
was republished by nearly all tht
larger papers OF the country ant
many OF the smaller ones, and there
have been criticisms by scores ii
poetry and prose, humorous am
serious. Yesterday morning DIR. Bass
| took occasion to make reply to some
/ OF his critics and made some addi
4 tons to his former remark which
Twill probably interest the general
| public. Dr. Bass said in part:
/ We are disposed to laugh, some,
times at the crude Institutions and
the rude characters which were at the
| beginning and at the bottom of our
American civilization; but after all ii
was from them that we inhe tied all
the national Drawn and brain and vir-
ne we have. Alas! it is too true to-
day that smart culture and big
money" unsaactifled tend to run our
civilization to seed, or into the sand
The world has never been corrupter
or weaker than al the climax of it,
~ andest civilization; and If our civil
zaton proves an exception to the rule
il will be due to the maintenance of a
pure morality and primitive Chris
tianity. The seeming culture and big
money may rob MS of the purity of on
women and the nobility Of our men
and corrupt even our simple religion;
and if from the acme Of national glory
every other civilization began 10 de
cay. who can say that even Chris
tianity loosened by refinement and
fattened by luxury Shall be able t
subsist in purity and power, or save
MS from The Stalled and the purple
robed dropsy which has bloated ant
stag ated every other civilization il
The his DRY Of the world.
My ideas as to the proprieties du|
between young men and women ane
people who are no kin may be oil
fashioned and behind the times. but
let me say that every nation has bee
wiser and more yirtuous, If not 81
prog essive, in the primitive stages 81
* development. Integrity, purity an
religion shone brighter in the earlier
struggle of social and national lite
Liberties granted become too licen
tlpus Old ia hioseu social purit.
would not fit the gorgeous day il
watch We live; but it would be goo'
Thing If our goodness and greatnes
had more of the spirit and virtue o
primitive times and Institutions.
The two fist great laws of Gcd,
given to man. instituted and guarded
the Sabbath Day AMI Marriage. The
are the two pillars which stand be
meath the fabric of the social world
OF marriage only shall speak now
Marriage is one of the pillars whicl
st&rds upon The earth and reaches "
to heavo-; and upon It's unseen TOP
largely rest the doctrines of eternity
| have observed that infidelity an(
licentiousness alike have aimed t.
destroy marriage ties. by advocatIne
liberties before marriage The who'll
md 10 degrade the marriage relation
into The base ideal of free love affinit,
believe the highest and purest form
Of civilization /, impossible in an,
igc or country If the men believed
hat the young women they have LEI
o the marriage altar had been guilt,
If kissing half dozen other men be |
'oIe her marriage Marriage Is al
squire of the heavenly relation. of that |
'rion between Christ and his peopl, 1
T. which the rest" is made possible |
,cth for time and eternity. and moth /
ne could be a more criminal anC
u, sphemous outrage upon the wis
.1n an law. The goodness and mercy
4 God. than TO lay foul and sacri
'eous hands upon this sacred institu.
ion. which involves all that is blessed
nl .oly of the highest ideals of sal
alton bv grace through faith IN
'hrist in whom we rest and are
nited Palsied be the foot that wOult
rample marriage with unhallowec
rofality IN the dust Of RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Marriage should oe devoid of those
istful and selfish motives which SC
ften destroy life and happiness
owe is not for sale and happiness
annot be bought with money. noi
marriage merely a civil contract
~ a cold business pa ncfship under
b. hrm name If Husband. wife &
10 Above all. God forbid those mar
agcs which are founded in mer,
assion or dust. in which God cannot
e considered. and In which a mar
ants a woman instead Of wife. OF
which a woman wants a man IN.
cad Of a husband. This viii do for
limals which have no moral guide
conscience OF nature and yet there
Re- thousands Of beastly human
eings who thus contract for matri
ony which. in such cases. IS nothing
ore than a lifelong state Of legalizei
lultery.
Let us beware Of divorce laws
hich lay ruthless and profane hands
'On Gods FIRST great institution Let
stamp out the anarchy of free
veism and polygamy from oHr
0res Keen Gods marriage law IS
ordained i. and we shall keep the {