The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-03-02
Sam Jones on Dead Beats,

He eaid 10 a recent sermon: .sRelieion
takes hold OF man and straightens him
oat, snd after he Is s,raigbtened ou,
makes him do right towards his neigh
bors. like this sort Of religion that
adjusts d man right toward bis fellow
men. I Ike q righteous man. Righteous
means straight edged II there rs any
thing In this nineteenth century we want
TO wske up TO II Is, if a man Is chris
tisn he must be religious man be must
he. an honest man The trouble Is. the
church all over the country has sunk
down, and down SO low that the world
has hacked water on It. You talk about
in6deIs end what harm they are doing in
the church, Inever hada penitent yet
tell me IngersoI was 10 his way; but l
have had q heap of sinners sap !: III some
Of leading church members would
settle With ne I would talk to you; but
they owe me and won't pay Oh, Tor
honesty! honesty | want to see The
day come when if am a Methodist
can go to anv merchant in this town and
say, Il want Sl0, 600 worth OF 900 is.'-
We'll, can you secure me = mo, sir, l
have no properly, but | am member
OF the Methodist church. 'Oh, IL that
10 the case you can have the goods with
ont security Brother, suppose you 90
down town tomorrow and try TO run
vour Msthodism on one of these fellows.
IGreat laughter On. shame upon Us.
brothers. for tue Church OF God Al
mighty to cloak and to keep man In it's
quarters that is liyirg in a $20, GOO
house, riding in a 81 200 carriage. and
that same member OF God Almighty's
Church has robbed the poor widow that
has not got shelter 10 cover her head
Il ain't right! And say to-day, the
God that said 'Thou shalt not steal,'
said with equal emphisis. 'Owe nc. man
anything. You must wake up sooner
or later. II you can pay vour debts,
and do not pay your debts, God will pu,
you In hell for It We want honest men.
Fonfteen years ago when I gave nv
heart to God. the devil had bankrupted
mefor hoth worlds. was several hun
dred dollars ir debt, and all | had was
sbout 5000 worth Of household furni-
urea boz tailed pony and SS. My
wife did the cooking, ironing and house
work, and did sll could to help her.
and have seen The day when my wife
: did not have good dress and Ihad no
coat save the one on nv back, and that
was not whole, and i have seen The dav
when ] would walk up and give my 90
en- The debt, and perhaps the same day
when worked on, some would-be frieDd
would cay, u would have more conf
dence In Sam II be would only pay his
debts, and II you had stepped up 10 nv
heart YOU could hear the blood drip, drip.
Bot was as honest when could not
bay ss afterwards when | had paid =
Brother. brother, lei ps do our level best
TO pay our debts. No homestead ex.
emption in mine There is many fei.
bow down in Georgia who tss swapped
his home 10 heaven for poor piece Of
land he could not make living on. As
cure as vcu live. my brother, it is q mis-
take. Whenever nv creditors let me
have upon my integrity ! will never hide
Q dollar from them so long as God let's
me live. These bankrupt end homestead
laws, nine times out or ten, are premi
nms on rascality. | don't know dozen
men 10 Georgia that ever paid their debts
ifter they took ibe benefit OF the hank.
supt law. Whenever you give fellow
carte blance at a Court House, that is
The last you are going 10 see Of him
Brolhers, we want religion that will make
us honest.