The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-18
a HIGHER MORAL TONE.
Rev. c. II. Strong Holds That Every
Man g. His BROTHERS. Keeper.

Man g. HIS BrOfherss Keeper.
The important AM vexatious question.
Am my brother keeper" was ably
handled by Rev. C. II. Strong in his dis
course al St. Johns church yesterday.
The sermon might properly be termed a
discussion Of personal responsibility
Rev. Mr.. Strong hrst discussed the cir
cumstances under which the question was
first asked, when Cain, the slayer Of his
brother Abel. was questioned by the Al
mighty as TO the whereabouts Of his
brother.
Mr- Strong reviewed the topic from the
physical. financial. social and moral stand
points. taking the Affirmative view that
each man is responsible not only for his
own condition. but 70 a large extent for
the moral and physical welfare Of those
with whom he Is associated and the we'll
being Of the community in which he re-
sides Much stress was laid on the
question Of how 20 raise the morals Of
the community The preacher took the
position that too much dependence must
not be placed in the mere enforcement Of
the law, but that individual personal in
huence must be exercised in order 10 ele-
vate the moral status Of the community.
He spoke Of barrOoms and the drinking
habit as viewed by many men who hold
that there is no harm in taking a drink oc-
casionally. This may be true, he said.
and yet there is no man who would not be
better morally, physically and financially
If he never entered a barroom. Older men
might say that they see no harm in 1t, yet
how deeply would any one Of them feel If
told that his son were intoxicated or had
been engaged in a barroom brawl The
responsibility for such a sentiment, he
said, rests upon tho men, especially upon
the older men. There are communities.
Mr.. Strong stated. in which for young
man to enter barrOOm or to be known 10
have been in the least intoxicated means
social ostracism and injury to business "a
wei as social standing. such condition
OF anairs was due, not to the enforcement
Of the law, but to the moral sentiment Of
the community exercised in that particu-
lar direction.
Mr.. Strong made a plea for a higher
moral tone in the community. He urged
that II Is incumbent upon every person 10
pay his just debts. Many people are llv-
ing beyond their means, he said, and in
curing debts which they are not able to
pay, because they feel that they must
live in the same style as their associates.
Competition is natural Every man and
every woman feels that their children
should have the same advantages as their
nelghbors' children. They are unwilling
that they should have a whit less in any
uVSACc. EeOple contract QeDtS winch they
can never hope to pay in order that they
may keep up the same appearance as
tneir neignbOrS. Such a condition of ar
tairs and such a sentiment is a shame
upon Christianity, which should inculcate
honor and honesty above all things. Peo-
pie who are not able TO do so indulge in
luNurles, and the result is defalcations by
business men, and petty thieving on the
part of young men
Mr.. Strong discussed the influence of
the older mems influence in church at
tendance and church membership. 1t Is
due largely to the failure of the older mon
to properly exercise their infInence he
sald, that the young men are not more
largely represented in the churches
where are the young men this morn-
mgr he inquired. AT the clubs. in The
railroad offices, on pleasure excursions
why are they not interested in church
work; why are you not able to influence
them in this direction?"
Mr.. Strong said that possibly the old
conception of religion, which regarded re-
uslOuS duties as compulsory has failed
10 any longer exert its influence and the
new conception of religion that we need
It's influence to develop our moral and snir-
ltual characters, must he brought to bear
me Old way of forcing the young to at
tend upon religious duties seems 10 have
gwen away to the new way of leaving
them to do as they please. The old way
was not right, and neither is the new
PossiDly between the two lies the true
way Personal influence must be brought
70 bear ana the moral responsibility of
the elder Tor the right thinking and right
DONG OF me younger given fuller sway
In his peroration, Mr.. Strong spoke of
the beauty of Savannah, the refinement
culture and nobility of its people. and
made an earnest plea that every man and
every woman should use his and her ner
sonal influence to raise the moral tone Of
the community, that each should fully
realize that he is his brothers keeper
ana that in order to perform his duty he
should keep himself from communicating
influences.