The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-16
tages which his profession gave him, betrsys
and then deserts her!

tagcs which his profession gave him. betrays
and then deserts her.
Again DR. Hatcher says that he "can NOT be-
lieVe that young man guilty Of murder. and
particularly the murder OF his sweetheart" 1t
seems passing strange that the reverend doc
tor should not know that the art Of playing
at counting" embodies not one particle OF true
love Love 10 Of God aand Love worketh no
III to his neiseibor" Flirting Ia a product OF self
love. and Is OF the devil 1t IL carried for
! ones own selfish gratification utterly regard
less of the injury that may accrue to the VIC
tim. 1t IL qualification which seems to de-
mand frequent change Of objects Hence II
Is necessary when one ceases to please, that he
or she should be got rid Of to make way for
another. IL we may judge from the frequent.
with which such cases occur. 1t would seem
that troublesome deserted sweetheart fur
r'shes one OF the strongest instiga tons to muir
der The spirit of Adam Is still prevalent. In
the case before us, does 1t not seem reasonable
10 suppose that God would take Ills holy Spirit
from a man who would so degrade his sacred
calling and take advantage of the opportunity
and influence Ii gave him for such fgnoble pur
poses. and when God leaves Il man to himself
because of his unfaithfulness and hypocrisy,
what may he not be guilty of?
The writer has listened to many sad story
% betrayal and desertion as the result of these
hirtations, In which there could be doubt
that the girl had loved but the man never.
He has been ready to her off, and
desert her, after he had tired of her affections.
Nor viii he hesitate to foully besnrch the
character of former sweetheart in orHer to
palliate his offense. to save himself trouble
or expense. 1t matters not to him that he
I iOunQ her TOO pure to be ueSpO1lGd or her
virtue until he had won her confidence and
love by assurances OF affection and pledges OF
devotion. For does not society decree that
man may thus trampe under foot the young
girls he has ruined, and go merrily to win
fresh conquests. leaving them proken-hear ted
and crushed to face shame and disgrace and
sorrow untold--to be cast out as a worthless
thing by those who are ready to condone his
ohense. and court his attentions especially II
he has little money to his credit Is 1t any
wonder that she cries In agony, Anywhere,
anywhere, out of the world. nave become
accustomed to the cruel verdict OF society, but
are shocked beyond expression when preach
er of the gospel says OF of. hrs sons in the
ministry 1T is nothing against Minis that he
firted frequently with the girls and had many
sweethearts' and this at time when the re-
suit of one of these fiTtations has been the
death of one poor girl. and has brought grief
and trouble to many hearts. and scandal upon
the church OF God DR.. Hatcher says further
that II they do not prove that kichesou muir
dered the girl he shall stand by MIN and try
TO secure him charge In the South. In the
reverend doctors opinion 1t seems that ii Rich
eson did not murder the girl outright there lis
nothing against him. and he is well qualified
to assume charge OF the spiritual welfare Of
people.
We have been expecting TO seq these state
ments challenged by A,me member OF the clergy
who had resented the sur cast upon the min
istry, and who felt the baneful elects such
marks must have if allowed to pass unaues-
toned, but thus far We have seen no reference
to them. Does silence give consent? Is 1t
indeed true that the young preachers are
flirtatious these days" and are giving themselve.
up to the allurements of many sweethearts"
and that their elde.A are winking at such pro-
/ cecdings2 Where then shall We look for safety
for our young girls II the church leads the WAY
TO ruin? Where shall our young men gain
ideals of true and noble manhood If their
spiritual advisers are hckle and false? We
told by those who should know that there Is
one divorce in this country to every twelve
| marriages, and who doubts but Irritation paves
| tho way to most of these divorces. and that 1t
| Is mainly responsible for the blight that Is fall
| ing upon family life? The man wonlal
| who has principle enough to abstain from
| flirting before marriage Is very likely to con-
! tnue 1t after marriage; and who that Is con-
versant with society to-day does not know thai
| there many married fiirts as single onesE
! Does not this account for the terrible condi-
ton OF things among us! TO whom are we 10
| look to stem the mighty tide OF social evil that
! is sweeping through the land, threatening to
engulf in horrible abyss the domestic life
| of the nation? What agency can God use If
the church fails Him? And does anyone think
! He can will use flirting clergy? DIR. Hatch
| er says: Il converted him and have kept
| this fact lies the secret OF this young man s
| career? He probably aware OF the senti-
| ments entertained by his spiritual 90 father
in relation to such matters HAD ne Deen
| converted by the power OF the Holy Spirit and
endued with a Christlike love tor souls and
had DR.. Hatcher holy man OF God kept
| in touch with him in such exhortatons AZ
| Paul gave his converts. the results would
| have been far different. How often does Paul
beseech them to walk worthy of God and
OF their holy vocation. and to be an example
worthy OF imitation. One might not consider
| the doctors remarks 80 seriously had they ema-
mated from some unknown and insignificant
! person; but coming from one occupying a lead
| ing position in the educational and religious
! life Of the state--from who is in sucn
| close touch with clerical life. and who should
know the truth of which he speaks, the charge
| must be considered most serious. Dr. Hatcher
| Ia unknown us, but thu article In your cos
| umns from which these quotations have been
/ taken indicate him to be man whose words
should have weight in forming public opinion.
and to us it fearful thing that such
expressions from such source should be al
! lowed to pass without vigorous protest 1!
| they are not true they should not be permitted
/ TO injure the influence of our young preachers
| and the cause which they represent; II they
! are true then for the safety Of our innocent
and trusting girls. we'll as for the sake Of
| tho preservation of the purity and power OF
| the Christian ministry. the public conscience
should be aroused TO adherence OF a 'nrt-
| ing clergy. rEhonDAS.
| Susan Nov. H. 1911.