The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-10
AUOAC|OUSNESS
OF EVIL OF THE
PRESENT TINE
REV. EUGENE r. PENDLEToN DE-
LIvERED INTERESTING SERMON
AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
LAST NIGHT.

"The Audaciousness Of Evil, or Nero
FYddling Whilst Rome Burned" was
the subject OF Rev. Eugene r. Pendle-
ton at the First Baptist church last
night, in which the pastor gave a
rapid and vivid account Of the Roman
empire during the 200 years Of peace
just before her fall was given. show
ing that power brought wealth, then
luxury, then wantonness. which cul-
minated In public revels and licen-
tiousness under the emperor, Nero
who perhaps enjoyed the sight Of see
ing his capital city burn, and then
laid 1t on the Christians and made a
pageant OF their bodies to please the
popuiace. He said In part:
Turning from Rome as an example
the habits Of peace of present America
were said to be symptoms OF danger.
The increase in the white slave traffic
TO please rich men, freakish dances in
society, and bizarre performances like
the proposed suffragette parade in
Washington where one society woman
wants to march either with diamond
heels or barefoot, and an image of a
recumbent nymph is to be carried.
clothed only in the atmosphere. all
show the way the wind blows.
lusts Of the Flesh Rampant.
Passing over the numerous soft
drink, tobacco, and coffee houses
which cater to the softening of
American life into weakness, the
worst things of elegant but wicked
club life, the ever present barroom,
the divorce court with it's alimony
catering to fusts of the flesh by max
ing marriage too light an affair, the
restricted district in every city, and
the howl of rage when broken up, all
requiring an annual quota of girls, and
the accepted tenet that every fair and
carnival must have its seamy side to
please this element were mentioned
in succession and discussed.
''The audaciousness of evil is shown
in these mad revels, with screeching,
hideous noises and debasing sights
pushed upon the people in spite of the
sober judgment Of thoughtful people,
and with utter disregard for public
morals and public health.
''The city officials are silent, and in
many places bought up, the press is
intimidated, and Nero is multiplied
into many petty provincial monarchs
whose policy is to rule or ruini The
filthy details OF Investigations in New
York, Atlanta, Chicago and other
places prove how strongly entrenched
we have allowed vice to be.
Piping Times of Peace.
Sometimes / think we need a war
or revolution to wake us up from
these piping times of peace. There is
but one redeeming difference between
Rome and some present day cities
and that is that the seeming roar OF
jollity which one might imagine is the
cry of the whole populace in approval
is naught but the peculiar megaphone
effect Of a few, maybe only two Oh
three men, crying their wares, and
| spelling for the show. The roar al
Ephesus must have sounded dreadful
to passerby, but "Great is Diana oi
the Ephesiansi' was really a cry ot
| despair. Thousands are not in sym
pathy with these before-mentione6
things and there seems to be healthy
reaction against indecency. Books for
merly sold on trains to provoke lust
are now warning against It; girl:
cnce easy marks for PROGRESSES art
protected at every station; a rising
tide of public indignation against the
white slave business makes 1t almos
certain tnat II viii be swept away. ant
the time will come when a gay
Lothario will find 1t as hard to find
a red light district as to find slave
market, and a drinker as hard to f1nC
a barroom as to find a public lottery,
"The mails are closed to indecen
matter, and am glad the parcel pos
puts the ban OF civilization agains
the liquor business. Government can
not go into private homes and Sc,
i what people do, but It can stop public
haunts and thus help nightly Il
answer the Lords prayer, Lead u!
not into temptation but deliver u:
from evil May God speedSthe da,
when moral men shall be in charge O
affairs, and no city can be strong 81
long as it follows immoral leaders
Let Woodrow wilson's wisdom ant
mderation be an example to all mer
in public"