The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-05-17
DISCOURSE ON
SOCIAL EVIL
Is Handled by the Minister
without Gloves.
hidden NATIONAL EVIL
Rev. D. H. Bailey Talks
Plainly to Congregation,
Rev. Bailey Advocates a Crusade
Similar to the One Which Has
Been Made Against Saloons.


ID. II. Bailey at Epworth M. E. church
Sunday evening. There was a very
large congregation present and the
speaker was heard with unusual in
terest
In opening his remarks Rev. Ball
ey selected the seventh chapter OF
Proverbs as q text for his address
and noted that the subject was one
of a delicate nature and therefore
one which was not freely discussed
by the general public The problem
of social evil is a most difficult one,
according to the pastor and is more
difficult of solution even than the
problems of capital and labor. IL
deals with the delicate subjects
which people generally refrain from
discussing in public and so is one
OF the most hidden themes. He
said that he had never known a pas
tor to discuss this subject and he
thought the matter should be dis
cussed. People laugh often when II
minister of the gospel breaches chas-
tity and personal purity, said he, and
deplorod the manner in which the
evil in many respects is being upheld.
For many reasons this problem is
a most difficult one and largely is
this accountable to the fact that
through generation after generation
in the past this evil has been tolerat-
ed. In Greece and Rome where cul-.
ture prevailed this sin held sway
and continued to increase so that
these worthy people died in their own
llcentiousness. In all nations this
evil seems to have gotten hold upon
the people and there is a noticeable
tendency OF people to hesitate in
dlsmissing It from the community or
even discussing 1t.
The evil is hidden one and IS
extremely difficult to discern. Like a
deadly disease in the human body
it gropes about in the dark and as
sumes proportions which the victims
cannot realize until they are over
whelmed with it; it goes about in the
darkness seeking those whom II may
destroy; gathering in those who are
unable to use matured judgment and
destroying them.
The social evil is more reaching
and terrible than any other evil, its
influence being of such a character
as to corrupt the whole social sys-
tenn. just as a disease may cause a
part of the body to Suffer, the speak
er said, just so this evil as 1t becomes
powerful contaminates the whole
structure of society. It's effect upon
the officials of government was noted
by the pastor, who claimed that eth
er these houses of evil are allowed
in every community from bribes Of
fered them to keep quiet in the mat
ter or the officials themselves arr
patrons OF this evil. In very many
cases this is true and in connection
with this evil, the saloon and thu
gambling den go toward the corrup
tion of the officers of government II
this country.
The effect of the house of prostitu
tion cannot be felt more critical.
than in the home. II this evil ono
breaks into the home there is NJ
happiness there in the future, and 5,
there cannot be happiness anywhere
There is only happiness in the hom
il it be on this earth and II the evi
of prostitution enters any home ther
cannot be other than continuou
clamor ending in disputes, divorce
and in many cases suicide. TIL
whole realms OF home life are con
taminated and the evil assumes ter
rible forms
Rev. Mr.. Bailey quoted a physician
who had two grown up daughters, a
saying that eighty per cent OF tn
young men of the land are caused {
suffer from the effects OF disease
fore their wedding day. The phys
clan trembled, he said, at the though
OF their coming days when tn
daughters would be selected as con
( entirely questionable from the hiC
. den sin. The evil is far reachin
. upon the young women and especia
ly upon those who are seduced ini
: these houses, their life from thu
! period being an average OF seven an
half years.
In bringing his remarks TO a cloI
the speaker urged the women OF Il
w, c. T. u. to go forth EN- masse al
see that these evil places are banis
/ ed from the community. If the me
are unable or unwilling to do this
must remain with the women TO a
compllsh it. He declared the reca
a splendid system in governme
whereby one third OF the people ms
hold an election for the recall OF /
Official who is not doing his duty. /