The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-23
PARENTS FLAYED
BY CUNNINGHAM
Scores Indifference TO.
Welfare of the
Children

MANNIEGToE, March 2s.-The
sermon by the Rev. D. W. Cum
ningham at the United Brethren
church last night was taken from
the text found in Jonah, 1:6. Tho
theme was AN Earnest Appeal
Ia a Moment Of Supreme Need"
The sermon was based on tEe
experience Of Jonah when the ship
he was on encountered a severe
storm and seemed In danger. All
the sailors and the captain called
upon their gods for aid, and when
they failed tho captain came to
where Jonah was sleeping and
asked him to pray to his God.
Jonah, said the minister, was
trying to run away from God, and
to get out Of doing what God
wanted him to do. 1t was n Job
no didn't like, and he didn't want
to do 1t, he said. I'VE have come
to q time In tho world when too
many people with critical sclseors
are trying to cut out OF the Bible
all that does not agree With their
personal beliefs or desires. What
we need to do is study the word
of God and incorporate its truths
In our living" he declared.
To obey the laws OF Almighty
God means that we cannot COM
promise, he declared, nor can We
do things contrary to his teach
ings without punishment. I'VE
can't be good Christians on Sun
day and lock arms with the devil
on the other six days OF the week."
he cried.
The Reverend Mr.. Cunningham
roundly scored people who do
wrong, because OF their Influence
upon other people. Zone iudivtd-
ual who refuses to do what God
would have him do" he said,
might work injury to the entire
community and keep many men
and women from salvation"
Discussing the sailors on
Jonah's ship and telling how they
called upon thei: gods when the
storm arose. tho, Reverend Mr..
Cunningham said that many peo-
pie today haye gods which they
worship as those sailors do. But
he declared. when the trying
hour OF need comes into their
lives It will do them no good to
call upon these gods; upon their
farms, their stock. their money,
or bonds.
Making reference to Jonah
slepeing while the storm ragged,
the Reverend Mr.. Cunningham
made the assertion that n great
many people today arc doing just
as Jonah did-sleeping during a
time Of danger. Men and wo-
men," he said. ARE endangering
lives by their indifference: they
are sleeping the sleep OF the sin
full"
Following out this thought. he
spoke Of the careless attitude Of
parents toward their children and
the influence this ia having upon
the boys and girls. He told OF one
girl who refused to become a
Christian because she didn't want
to be tied to her mothers apron
strings all her life.' "SIx months
after that" said he, that girl
had gone down to ruin"
This nation OF ours" he said,
fought to rise and put forth
every effort to save the manhood
aud womauhood Of our country"
Ho declared that every American
loving person ought TO stand out
against anything that will lower
the lives Of men and women; that
will take people down to hell:
that damages the morals OF our
nation.
Continuing. he told OF a man
who took great pride In the I'm
provement OF his stock: his sheep
his cattle hogs and horses. He
had blooded stock, he said, and
was always speaking of 1t and
trying TO improve 1t. This man
said the Reverend Mr.. Cunning
ham, had a very sweet, lovable
daughter, lone day while l was
at the house a sleek-haired sissir
fled fellow came UP 10 the house
in a car, the daughter got in and
they drove away. I asked the
man who the young chap was. 7
don't know he said. Some fell
low my daughter has picked up