Year: 1875

Il


--!id'Per's Hcetig


OMMUNlCATION


OTTuMWA, Oct. 9th. 1875.


EDITORS COURIER :xOn Saturday
evening last and on the Sabbath fol-
lowing attended tho pnblic religious
services held in the First Methodist
Church building, and ! could but be
impressed with the deep carncstness
of the several speakers. The entire
spirit of this scries of Union meetings
Is for better condition of affairs in
our midst, and sincerely believe that
every Legitimate effort made for the
Improvement of the moral atmosphere
OF this city shouid have the sympathy
and aid of each individual. The fact
IL, that we have been SO entirely inter-
ested in and boasten SO continually of
the wonderful business life of our
community that We have substantially
forgotten the moral aud religious
wants OF the city, aud in consequence
wlckeduess in nearly every form has
become. among US, intolerabiy bold
and insoient, With showy ana Costly
equlpage, vice such as kills the body
as we'll as the soul, rides unblnsbingly
In the clear light ct day through our
| streets while virtue walks. While the
good people OF Ottumwa have not
mad the disposition or courage TO act
upon the offensive, they at the came
time have in no proper sense acted
upon the defensiye--they have allow
| ed encroachments to be made upon
their moral rights and upon those Of
their children. LII corresponding tres
passes had been made upon their legal
rights they would have long since
sought protection through the law.
The truth is, our people have been
given too exclusively to worldly in
tere,ts, they have been pulling down
and building larger, 30 that little or
no time has been left them to caro- for
those higher interests that so intimate
ly concern the individual and COM
munity. The material interests of our
city are not to be neglected or ignored.
but it should be remembered, how
nvcr shat .-Sas lt-.-s.-ss- Nsr1SN
material growth of Ottumwa may
possibly become quito immaterial
when compared with the loss of those
virtues that are every where character
istic Of men and women. "What will
it profit man If he gain the whole
world and lose his own soul, or what
will man give in exchange for his
sou" !" Ottumwa has many. excellent
points and we all are interested in
her. She is fortunate in her situation
she has a scenery, which for variety,
beauty and breadth are seldom equal.
cd Land which are in every way worthy
of the Highest skill of the artist. She
has an intelligent aud entcrprising
population, and many other advantages
that bcspeak for her city of no in
considerable size in the near future.
fanlts as we'll. Shall this disagreeable
fact be confessed aud met? What say
you my friend? can hardly UNDER
stand how other than an affirmative
answer can be given to the question,
for IL Is not only your right, but your
unmodiied duty TO see that your home
and the community in which yon live
are safe for you and Tor your children.
We do owe sacred duty to these boys
| and girls. the young OF our city, who
arc soon TO take our places. Do YOU.
parents, never fear for the welfare of
yonr children when yon consider the
great number of gilded retreats we
have all around US in which vice, in it's
most tempting forms, turks and with
| an evil ego watches for its victim
There is need that sufficient moral
courage be given us that we may dare
speak in no uncertain voice against
any aud all evils that threaten the life
| of the individual or that of the COM
munity We are not men il we dare
do less. But how shall these evils be
corrected? answer, mainly through
| the homes in our city--there Is an un-
seen and yet well nigh irresistible
power in the teachings and influences
OF a good home. Its mission is to at
tract and draw to itself and thus max e
secure. This truth is felt or recogniz
ed by all classes. There is to be. seen
to day in our city this same attractive
| word, home, given as q name to one OF
the ca oons upon our streets, and in q
business point OF view, l confess it's
selection denotes financial judgment.
| Ii the world is to be saved it must
primarily be saved through its homes.
Rev. DR.. Williamson, of New York,
said to his people on last Sabbath:


"There can be no goddess churches
grouping godly homes. Family re-
ligion is the condition of spiritual
church. The heart, tho home, the
church society is the order in which
revivals of religion rise and spread.
1t is not easy to live godly life at
home. Husbands and wives, and
brothers and sisters, are good judges
OF each others sincerity Pions pre-
tension cannot here escape detection.
The idea of home ia God's idea. Home
IS benediction OF the gospel rather
than an institution of tho law. Now
there are far reaching purposes in all
the plans of God. He hath ordained
for eycry home its priesthood. Father
and mother are Gods ministers TO the
family flreside. They need not lose a
soul from the precious group intrnsled
| to them"


am cure it must be trna, If we wonlI
RID ourselves OF the evils surrounding
US we must fortify our children and
make them strong to resist tempta-
tions by and through the saving inilu-
ences of our homes.


Tho life and well being of tho child
Is everything to the father and mother
for its physica wants We are con-
stantly anxious and watchfal. How
this fact Is illustrated and brought
home to US by the fearful and intense
searching for the lost Charlie Ross by
his loving parents, and yet in near
neighborhood TO us arc children more
absolutely lost than little Charlie
should nothing DO done, and no word
spoken, and NO reward offered that the
Lost may DO returned to hearts that are
painfully anxious to receive and to
arms that arc eager to protect and keep
safe


| We ahnull cyoafa epc1 a ,,ohl;c