San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-10-10
TO MEN ONLY.
SAM JONES BREACHES ON THE
EVILS OF THE DAY.
Night Tears Shed-GUod Res
oiutions Made.

men which has ever been looked upon in
this portion of the country, gathered at
the Sam Jones tabernacle last night to
hear what was most rousing, and plain
sermon, to men only, on the text, Escape
for Thy Life" taken from Genesis.
At O'Clock the seats and standing
room of the tabernacle were packed with
men of all description, trades, professions
and nations. all eager to have their curl
osity satisfied, and all evidently expect
ing to hear an awful talk and afterwards
TO see that noted divine. Sam Jones, car
ried from the platform in an unconscious
condition, from the effects of an egging
which not only they, but he, him
self expected. This did not come,
to pass. Instead of a continual murmur
Of dissent during the sermon, there was
the prOfoundest respect paid to the
preacher; instead of sarcastic giins there
was look of sadness on all faces with a
picture in the cOuntenances which read,
II will improve or die in the attempt. 1t
was a heart and SOul-SJirring gathering
and it is safe 20 say the words uttered by
Sam Jones last night will live and be
cherished in the memories OF the hearers
through the remainder of their lives.
He said in substance, after making a
few introduction remarks and announcing
his text:
God has implanted in the bosom of
every man an instructive love OF life. God
has implanted in every mans bosom an
instructive dread of death. There is but
one thing stronger than these two in,
stiucts-diSpair And suicide is the last
retreat OF dlSpair.
The text comes to us in the form of
an exhortation. Sin is the most awful
thing in the universe OF God. 1t is the
one thing that can permanently damage
an immortal man. Poverty and distress
may hurt for while, but sin damnS for
ever. 1t is not where you are; 1T Is what
you are. The high altar of Heaven is no
hell is no lower that guilt. had
rather be in your penitentiary in
stripes, condemned for life. time
there and know in my mind that | was
as innocent as an angel, than to be
like you, who, If you mad Justice, would
be in the ,pe1tentiary. 1t is not where
you are, old fellow, but it is what you are
that we are talking of tonight. Judged by
the standard of san Antonio a sinner is
all right. a gambler is gentleman, a
drunkard is looked upon as decent man,
a licentiOuS dog is man among his fell
lows. The San Antonio standard Is the
same as the standard of hell. You are
down as low as hell. You can determine
moral standards by the way in which the
people look upon the debaucher and the
iibertne. Profanity is more COM
place | was ever in in my life. Old
men, middle aged men and boys
you say that you swear but will not steal.
Why? Is 1t principle? No; it is the po-
Iiceman and the court house and the jail
that holdsyou back. But you say, Sam
Jones, did you ever steal? Yes: | stole
the blood out of the cheek of my pure,
sweet wife, and that was as far as | dared
to go. What do YOU want to swear for?
The people of San Antonio and the
goats of Georgia have no Sabbath. You
have churches here. You have as good
people in this tOwn-SOme OF them-aS
ever walked the earth. and you have got
some of the worst. But say to you that
whenever Americans turn over their Sab
bath to foreigners, you have sold outyOur
heritage, and your children will live to
be damned for it, If you are a decent
God fearing German, give me your hand;
but if you are a bper-swilling old wretch
of a drunken German your place Is for
nv foot. A pot belled Dutchman will
get out on your sidewalk and say, Il
does not like dis American Sabbath" II
you stick knife in him a keg of beer will
run out. say If they don't like our Sab
came from If you let set of low black
guard foreigners overrun you, you are
contemplate towards. | don't know
who your MAYOR or officers are, but do
know that it is time TO put out the
whole crowd. They are running things
all wrong. They are dividing the spOilS
of the lost women. They are letting the
defiance of the law. What you need Is an
administration that shall have morality
and back bone as long and strong as
circus tent pole. IfyOu made me mayor
I wouldn't have little job like that
I'd clean this old town up in three weeks.
Look at your low variety theatres and
your gambling heIlS. The devil
up to sun down on Sunday.
And now to gambling. have it from
one who was of and with the gamblers
that they are no less than $50 professional
gamblers in this town. | dom suppose
there is policeman who can't 90 TO a
dozen places where from two to hundreds
of men are gambling And yet they have
sworn to support the law.
Hes got pull. You know what that
means in San Antonio. II it wasn't for
tn at pull the police would pull him.
You old hypocrtical scroundel, you.
Progressive euchre, indeed! Some
of the incest, cleverest, biggest
hearted men | ever met are professional
gamblers. They would put some OF you
church members to shame was their
charity known. / an your friend: Boys,
think of the horrors OF gamblers wife's
life and say here now, I've thrown my
last card
"Licentiousness! Oh, the deep guilt of
MANY men i'm this town! There is no life
so debanching as that of the libertine. II
your mother knew of your midnight
reyels. Young man, yOu could never hold
up YOUR head again in her presence. II
there is a deeper, darker place in hell than
any other it is for married
man who will come home from
house OF shame and pillow his head
by the Sidel of his pure wife.
Your wife has as much right to revel in