The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-14
AN INTERESTING
SERMON At THE
FIRST BAPTIST
REV. EUGENE r. PENDLEToN DE-
LlvERED SERMON ON THE In
FLuENcE OF WOMAN, WHICH
HELD THE ATTENTION OF HIS
CONGREGATION FROM START
TO FINISH.

One Of the most powerful and logi-
cal sermons heard at the First Baptist
church in some time was that Of the
pastor, Rev. Eugene r. Pendleton, Sun
day morning. His. subject was. "Prodi-
gal Daughters and Mothers" and
throughout his discourse he was fol-
lowed with rapt attention by his con :
gregation His sermon was as fol-
lows:
Text: Favor is deceitful. aud
beauty is vain: but a woman that
feareth the Lord. she shall be praised :
but she that liveth in pleasure is
dead while she liveth."
The sweet influences Of the Pleaides
are not more benef1cent than the lives
Of good women, sending up the incense
Of virtuous hearts from. the affairs of
our homes, and the fairest beam from
the brightest star In the armament is
not more lovely than the blush of mod
esty upon a pure woman's cheek.
Mother" is a sacred name, enshrined
In our deepest affections, and asso-
life.
Unworthy ipdeed is any man 70
speak of the oimperfections Of godiy
religious and social systems. In fact,
any man must needs tremble as he
contemplates the subject OF this dis
course.
Secretly am feeling that. as /
look into the feminine type. there IS
but one appropriate text, Behold,
shew you a mystery"i
As much as southern men dislike to
think OF woman as descended from the
pedestal Of virtue where q chivalrous
race has placed her. we must insist.
that, If she occupy this high place Ia
our regard, she keep to the conditions
Of her apotheosis.
Man II known better by his public
rIfe, woman by her private life. 4
woman may elevate q man to her sta
ton IL she be above him; man often
er descends to the level Of woman.
If she be below him.
do not taITy now to speak Of that
large class Of good women who are
willing to be domestic drudges If nee1
be for the sake of husband and chill
dren, who have the divine benediction
resting upon them. Not Of them ]
speak. but rather do wish to point
out some pitfalls Of the girl OF today
which. may ensnare her unguarded feet
and rob her Of her precious birth
right
I also lift my hat to that class of
women who are bread winners. but the
parable Of the prodigal son describes
50 truly the course OF many a way
ward woman that If we were to insert
daughter" wherever SON. occurs IN
the passage we would not do violence
to the truth.
The underlying principles Of the
younger son are easy to see-self will,
and a determination to break away
from old fashioned restraints. A little
girl expressed the idea when asked
what she wanted to be when grown
up. She had listened to the ambitions
of her brothers and other children, bat
remained silent until alone with her
auntie and then confided that she
prerne court, and beyond human con-
troll! =
The prodigal boys course led him
over way Of self-indulgence, gross
and sensual conduct, to the swine
trough. Hers may lead over different
roads but they converge Just as surely
at the great highway to ruin.
Prodigal mothers are but grown up
prodigal daughters, and their baneful
influence upon their own daughters
only brings the greater damnation.
A daughters position is different In
many particulars from that Of her
brother. Her principal substance arr
her beauty and charm Of face and
character. Not hers are the rugge
masculine virtues nor the gross mas
culine vices. Hers Is the weaker ma
ture SO, like the delicate piece Of china
the more easily ruined, or the exquis-
lite down Of the peach, more easily
rubbed off. her virtues are in need Ct
greater safeguards. A woman car
rise to the highest or sink to the loves,
stratum of society Mere physical
beauty is her magic wand but 1t is at
the same time her greatest snare. A
society girl said to me once: "Mr
Pendleton, all that men require of 8
woman is that she be beautiful" This
was her error and her danger.
Beauty Is but skin deep, ugiy's to
the bone,
When beauty fades away, ugly holds
it's own!"
A more elegant poet has truly said,
''The world is full Of folly and sin.
Love must cling where it can. I say
For beauty is easy enough to win,
But one isn't loved every day"