The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-11
A TALE OF TWO CITIZENS.
REV. A. VI. WILLIAMS DISCUSSES
THE QUESTION OF GOOD
CITIZEN SHIP.

Features OF Good ana Athu AttiEeit-
ship and Their AppIication-sever-
al City Omciuls Come in for "A share
of Criticism-Why Mr.. Williams
Did Not Go Before the Grand Jury.
Election incidents He Gathered
by Observation Around the Polls
Another Hit at the sunday Liquor
Question.
The announcement that Rev. A. n.
Williams Of Wesley Monumental church
would preach "a sermon last nisht en-
What IL Takes TO Make Good Citizen,
which would be 10 some extent in the Ia
ture of a reply TO Mayor Herman Myers
recent interview, in which 1lr. Williams
citizenship was spoken Of. created consid-
cradle desire on the part Of many 60
know what the nature of that reply would
be. The consequence was that there were
many present outside OF the members
OF the congregation. and the church was
crowded.
The large congregation listened with
attention TO every word. Many OF those
present would have listened with equal
attention to "a regular gospel sermon
while others went out of curiosity to
know what would be said or what charges
made.
Rev. AIr. Williams took for his text
Acts xxi, p. And the chief captain
came and said Tell me art thOu HOO
MANI" Mr.. Williams SAID:
An incident of personal character ot
the passing week suggests the text ana
the principle underlying q criticism pas-- a
on me gives me "a happy oppgI lunttS lDt
preaching the gospel 1 am called 10 pre-
sent, which touches every relation OF t4ir
and proposes 20 pat man i'm Az these rr4.t-
q
atty I'm the affair is not the cause of my
preaching. il 10 were not for The lars -i
principle, i would not notice H. Ih0
term Roman is the equivalent OF citizen.
AN official questions Paul as to his citizen
ship, ana now high officer or our city
makes the same demand of me.
Il think he has made mistake IN rails
ing this Ques tiOn. A bishop of my church
once made this remark; That lady ought
not 10 have worn SO conspicuous BON
net. for 1t attracts attention TO her face
which lis very hCmely. Doubtless, the
reference TO nay being a citizen of SaVaG-
nah called the attention of larger NUM-
Der OF people 10 the manner of his az
tainment of citizenship. Ii his act ana
the advice of his very able lawyer was
been citizen Of SaXannah just a yea
longer than he has. Under the appoint
ment of the authorities Of our church, /
came to Savannah about Jan. ], 1884.
promptly gave i'm my taxes and paid them
when due After / had resided ~ the
county six months / registered as a voter
on the DOCKS OF nULN the CITY ana county.
or the i've tarces called elections, held
since 1 have been here / have been
part But my QueStlOner, II his act We're
necessary was not a citizen of the United
States until one day when the sable
garbs of night had thrown themselves
around the city ana in the presence or
a few persons whose hearts beat with "a
nameless fear that injunction or other
contesting process would keep their dari-
ing out Of the mayors chair, he received
at a great price that which was my own
by free birth.
Ills nomination was much like the re-
puted ward meeting in New York. The
chairman announced the meeting open for
nominations. AFTER a pause, Mr.. o DOna-
hue arose and announced the name Of Mr.
O'Faligant as a good man for the office
There was a silence. Then the chairman
asked who O'Failigant was. The nOmina-
tor said he is a patriotic and able gentle
man, he IS not now in the city, but is on
the steamer and will reach here in a few
days. So before he was a citizen, Mr..
Myers was nominated and got here in
citizen sense, just time enough 10 be
elected mayor.
Vow / do take offense at the manner
in which my citizenship has been treated.
There is a three-fold reflection in the in
trusion Of this question on the public and
with reference 70 a matter to which II Is
not related. First. on me personally. I am
so insignificant parsonage that the great
Mr.. Myers does not known me.
Second, on my profession. There is an
intimation that a man ought TO lose his
civil rights when he enters the pulpit
There was a day when mankind was di-
Vided into three seXes-men, women and
preachers: but I thank the Lord / was
not born in that day. When l entered the
pulpit l did not lay down my manhood
consecrated il to God and the sacred
interest of humanity. The ballot ought to
be one OF the fields through which
operate, and the calling of the attention
OF the public TO the subterfuges and in
sincerities of those who pose as good citi-
zens is a direct duty Of my calling.
certainly VIII not let tWistihcation gentle
men decide as to my duties in either
Third, there is also an implied reflection
on my denomination. If l have not had
the privilege and pleasure of being resi-
dent Of your beautiful and noble city
longer than four years, IL is not my fault.
] certainly would be glad to have been
identified with IL these many years. It is
the fault Of my denomination which has
established an itinerant system, that is
10 blame for my misfortune.
i must digress 10 say something In de-
Tense Of that great denomination. Just
now there seems TO be in Savannah a dis
position to crush 10 out of the city. Its
mayor denies citizenship TO one OF its
humble ministers and others boycott in
business Its laymen. An excellent and
worthy member Of the Methodist church,
who even does not agree with me in opin-
ion, was refused trade during the week
because ] had the courage TO speak my
convictions as to the way things We're be-
ing run in the liquor business. Let me say
the Methodist church in this section is no
insignificant affair. Speaking approx
mately, should say that In Georgia, IS per
cent. Of the populate are its adherents.
There are nearly $4,000 enrolled members
in the white church with which ] am con-
nected. In South Carolina about 81 per
cent, in Florida fully go per cent, and in
Alabama, about &c per cent OF the people
are related by profession or affinity with
this church. They are among the most i'm
telhgent ard useful people of the south
In Georgia there are more Methodists att
tending college to-day than from any 9TH
er denomination. They are active i'm bus.
mess and influential in all the affairs OF
the land. AS church IL stands for the
highest morality, and the truer ii ha.
been to that standard. the more it has
prospered.
Now. I contend 1t is no small thing tC
offend this great and influential denomi
nation. VIII it do Savannah a great dea
Of<gCod for it to be published in our mum
erous correctional organs that d Metho
dist preacher is not considered a citizen
when he is sent by his conference to this
city, and that laymen are boycOttel ii
business, because they belong TO a churcl
that dares 20 seek 10 alleviate the evil!
that flow from intcmperance?
suppose they should follow the example
of the Savannah LIQUOR forces and try tn,
boycott, would 1t DO the dry goods, thi
Clothing, the cotton, the naval stores, mann
Interests of our city, any great gOod2
In his talk TO the Senate committee, Tn
mayor reminds US that sOnVille
H H Hnn