The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-03-11

ageous following OF the couVsctlOp you
may receive.
..Of the terrible influence Of this
evil there can be no doubt. You feel
the Chill of the real shock In II when
you hear il in an unusual place. The
first man ever sat beside - he faced
death, I had TO witness make his de-
parture from this life with . burning
oath ON his fever-parched lips. That
put a shock of the awfulness Of pro-
fame swearing into my heart that VIII
never leave me. stepped into room
for funeral and vas shocked to hear
q man who bent over the casket and
gaxed into the pale. cold face there,
curse and swear in friyhtful manner.
shocked? cOf course weowere, and
led the drunken man away from the
confines of those who were Dereaved.
But while that somehow shocks u. 1t
must remain that an oath before
dead man ID far less serious than IN
oath before . growing lad: and that
thing should shock us more than the
other, but II happens 30 constantly
men don't reckon on 1t at all.
II blush to own q truth recognised
today that America has become the
most profane nation on earth. A
young Indian, student Of Hampton
college, said one day In conversation
about profanity that the Indian Ian
Ruage had no swear words In II. When
ever an Indian wants to swear be must
resort 70 the language of civilization.
Tia time to cleanse our civilised rep
utation. We can all arise 10 the dig
nifty Of at least refraining from pro-
family, and we can enlist in the WORK
OF putting away from as that which
constantly works to destroy our nne
sense Of reverence. We cannot s2ord.
a ! people, 10 lose reverence. No
one can AFFORD that loss personally.
Reverence Is the basis of all that u
noble and tender In conscience. We
must heed SO serious matter - -
this.
THE sin OF profanity II not simpH
|a vulgar vice. or an ungentlsmAAy
habit. or even IN inexcusable insult to
God: but Il ID an atrocious transgres-
sion OF al that ID holy. and carries
it, own condemnation. oftan hear
the excuse Offered. oh. well, didn't
mean anything l said agree that
the swearcr doesn't mean what ho
says. but therefore object all the
more strcnuously that he will dare
bring to the service Of meaningless
ness the very most meaningful and
sacred terms the world knows 70 utter.
Why make bold to invade our most
Sacred experiences and gather from
such associations the finest express
sions and drag them out and Ming them
IN the mud u tie vAest associations
OF the world? II you don't mean what
you say, pray tell me why SHOULD you
say such sacred thinDf
THE habit as we know 1t today "
decidedly 4 modern wee. The Jew Of
the oiden time II said not to have
known the real name Of his rod. -
sacred did he guard It. The best bib
heal scholars today are not certain
what the word WAS. Yet this bold
age goes kicking the name Of our God
coupling Il constantly with the vulgar
and the obscene. What We mean ~
swearing today was unthinkable n
the days the Bible was being written.
Most Sins hAyo some motive or en-
PLANTATION. Not so profanity. 1t don't
help the swearer. No one respects
him, or honors him. or fears him for
1t, and he has In no way put any dis
tinction upon himself by Il. for the
most ignorant and degraded OF men
are often called experts 1T It. It 10
thoroughly Ut home In the most crimt
nal circles. appeal to you to help
the world at least to the degree Of re-
framing from the use Of profanity.
Help uS purify the atmosphere OF our
streets anl associations. Be reverent
In your manhood and set an examplo
even In your life of pure words out
Of pure conscience. We need q deep
sense Of LIES great realities. pro.
test against profane swearing. and
call to you every one to rise to the
dignity Of condemning II always and