Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-11
Dr.. Whitehouse Resigns After
Vigorous. Sermon.
SINS OF SOCIETY. SCORED
Blames Congress and the Nation for
Washington's Social Inebriety."
SAYS SABBATH IS DESIGNATED
Not the Fault of Residents, But Of
Foreigners and Congressman.
Called to Tacoma.

"A social inebriate is a sinner in the
sight of God. What I mean by social
inebriate is a person who enslaves him.
helf to the duties of society, as we know
the term at the present day. until this
ensavement becomes dissipation, a dis
sipation which spells neglect to every
natural duty inherent in man and wom-
an" declared Rev. George Ellsworth
Whitehouse pastor of the Emmanuel Bap-
fist Church. last night in a sermon on
"A City's SINS The sermon was. in q
way. the continuation of a short address
on the same subject delivered before the
opening session of the District of Column
bia w. c. T. L. last Wednesday.
Immediately after the service Mr..
Whitehouse rendered his resignation as
pastor of the church. to take effect No
vember Z, on account of i'll health and
a desire to take up his future labors in a
climate less severe upon him. He has
been given a call from the Sixth Avenue
Baptist Church of Takoma. Wash.
| Mr.. Whitehouse chose as his text the
twenty-third verse of the tenth chapter Of
first Corinthians: "All things are lawful.
but all things which are lawful are not
expedient; all things are lawful. but all
things which are lawful are not edify-
ing.
Il know what see and I know what
hear. My ears and eyes do not de-
ceive me-" said Mr.. Whitehouse. There
was some objection to my words to those
good women last Wednesday in welcom-
ing them to this house of God. hard
ly expected everybody to agree with me-
because l presume in some directions the
words hurt. 1 spoke, however, from my
heart, my honest convictions and from
what I know and have h. ard. 1t Is the
minister's duty to discuss matters, re-
CARELESS of the material disapproval, and
thank heaven I have not been hampered
or dictated to by my trustees or dea-
cons.
Blames Congress and Nation.
II reiterate what I said last Wednes-
day. but for the sins Of this city Wash
Iingtonians are not to be blamed even to
a small extent. It is my highest belief
that If the observance of the Sabbath
were left to the Washingtonians them
selves 1t would be observed duly and
| truly, and as we'll. If not better. than
in some other cities.
THE blame must rest first upon Con-
gress. and then upon the nation as
whole. Washington Is a cosmopolitan
city, made up of persons from every Sec
ton of the country, the peoples represen-
tatives, and foreigners. 1t had been said
that Boston was distinctive for its cul-
ture, New York for its commercialism
and Washington for It's society. Il is this
Cosmopolitan composition OF Washing
toms society which creates the evil OF
Sabbath dissertation. In it we find the
lsocial inebriate. the person who enslaves
himself or herself to its pseudo require
ments. and the consequence Is the right
eous evil we speak Of
II have seen with my own eyes the
social duties pursued Sunday afternoon
as though 1t were g. week day and to
such an extent that It makes . good and
cody man blush for tho divine thought
lessness Of his human fellows. I have
heard 1t said that card playing - q rec
ognized Sunday afternoon institution, and
in some places goes on all day. Not more
after my address to those good women
last Wednesday-one OF them came to me
and told me all had said was absolute
ly true.
Asked Prayers for Her Sons.
81 have two sons who have gotten be-
yond my control. and one Of the evils
they have absorbed Is Sunday card play
ing she said. They play all day-gam-
BILE, I presume. Oh. Mr.. Whitehouse.
pray for them, please.
I'm some Of the homes here Sunday
as we'll as week days. am told, and
know it to be fact, wines and other IN
toxicants flow as freely as they do in
the grogshops. These are only two OF
the evils of the many which constitute
the Sunday abandon in Washington.
The remedy lies In the home. and 1
that the home, is the bulwark Of the ma
ton. The guiding and training In the
home lies with the parents and primarily
with the mother.
the great gift of the Creator. II such Is
the case, then women should make the
most Of the SIT. The ideal; my ideal and
the ambition of every true woman should
be to make a home and be mother.
The Mothers First Duty.
And in making the home the mothers
place is there. Nothing should be allowed
to interfere with her home and her home
duties 1 condemn everything-clubs So
cieties. even Sunday school and church
service-if it take the mother away
from the home to its neglect When such
neglect becomes a dissipation 1t becomes
| a sin. 1t means the differentiation of the
home, and just SO far is the home neg
lected just much more is the nation
weakened Protect and support the homo
| spiritually as we'll as materially and the
nation gains strength.
Spiritual teaching to parents and chill
| dren Is. one of the duties of the church,
and hence the shertcoming Of the home
lie in the failure of the church to proper
~ perform it's duty. The church In Wash
ington is not up to its privilege in work
nor its duty in work-this is notorious in
church conferences. Washington is one
| of the most difficult places ministers
know of to labor in. Their work Is cur
tailed, minimized and sometimes belittled
because of the sins of Washington So
ciety.'
Resignation Surprise to Many.
The resignation of Mr.. Whitehouse will
be acted upon by the church at bust
ness meeting Thursday evening. Although
it has been known he was In ill health, to
many of those among whom he has Ia
bored the resignation came as a sur
prise.
1T will be a terrible loss for US. one
we will have a difficult time in repair
ing" said a member of the congregation
last night. His leaving US Is personal
loss to every person in the church He is
beloved by us because of the godly and
| ho hoC IiShA tn, hi