The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-02
POOL ROOM VS.. POLICY SHOP.
GOLD-PLATED SIN BREAKS JUS
TICE's sTaONG LANCE,


The Pigmy's Straw-Rev. A. VI. VIII
Ifams on Shakespeare's Moral
Teachings-The Pool Room as Bad
a. the Policy shop and the sunday
Club Put on n Par with the sun
day saIOOn-The Lesson of CnssiO's
Drunken Debauch.
"Bnbe Morals illustrated in Shake
speare," was the subject Of Rev. A. NJ.
williams discourse at Wesley MOnumen-
tai church last night, and under that head
he found plenty Of Illustrations right at
home for emphasizing the different ques-
tons touched upon. His text was from
James Ills, Then when lust hath con-
ceived II bringeth forth sin"
Ingersoll, he said, calls Shakespeare his
Bible Shakespeare's plays. he said. con-
stitute a wonderful work. but there are
two things which put the Bible incompar-
ably above this. the greatest Of our Htera-
ture. The first of these was the purpose
displayed in the two works. that Of Shake
speare being entertainment and instruc-
ton. that of the Bible being mans re-
demption and elevation. The Bible, as
the book of redemption. holds forth hope;
Shakespeare's plays, as faithful picture
of human nature, depict despair.
The world would have been much worse
than it is to-day with Shakespeare as its
only Bible. Oven though the Bible does
show an offended judge outraged at vio-
lated law, it also shows a loving Savior,
full of tender entreaty, holding out help
ing hands.
Rev. Mr.. Williams said he wished to
draw attention to a few moral lessons
that may be learned from Shakespeare,
and apply them to the morals that exist
in Savannah. He spoke first of what he
called the social distinctions shown in the
treatment of sin by the citys lawmakers,
as well as by an unhealthy public senti-
ment. In his rawlings King Lear is made
to say.
plate sin with gold
And the strong lance of justice hurt
Arm l. with rags. pigmy's straw doth
savannah. he said. verfies this prop
osition. The pool room sin, he said,
could be plated with gold. because the
city gets a good license out Of it, and
others profit through patronage they get
on account of its existence. The evil is
ling spirit is fostered. ne said. But it is
plated with gold, and the lance of justice
hurtless breaks before II.
While this is going on in the council
and among our so-called better classes,
what do we see in 'sin armed with rags"
he said. why. our papers are filled with
the glorious accounts our police depart
ment is making in the crusade on policy
shops. l would not for one moment
call this body "a pigmy's straw" 1
in suppressing this evil. Let the good
work go on. But this / do say, let our
all gambling-let as much diligence be
displayed in rebuking the sin plated with
gold as that armed in rags.
Il see, too, the Chinaman's opium Joint
been ra10R0 ie N
be diligently pressed. An interview tells
how at least one young man has been
ruined by this evil. Some of us know
hundreds of young men that have been
bloated by the liquor saloon. A man that
raises his voice against this evil is called
at once crank Why? Because much
gain is had through the whisky business
There are business houses rented, whole
sale business conducted, an army employed
in other words, in Savannah the liquor
saloon is sin plated with gold, the opium
joint is sin armed in rags. Some say
what good does your preaching do. I am
afraid, like the lance of Justice, 'it hurt
less breaks" but the pigmies' straw is
piercing the opium danger.
Then we have in Savannah the Sunday
gold, the other armed in rags. Before the
former the lances of justice of two admin
istrations-I cannot tell how many more
have hurtless broken.
Would that Mr.. Moody's coming would
bring such a revival of righteousness as
well as goodness that we would all unite
what garb 1t comes"
He next referred to the evil of drink
Cassie in Othello, whom DIR. johnson de-
scribes as brave and honest, ruined only
by his want of stubbornness to resist an
| insidious invitation, and who, when asked
to drink, said: Il have very poor and I'M
happy brains for drinking; 1 could well
wish courtesy would invent some other
custom of entertainment"
Il am sure" he said, there is a loud
response to this sentiment. The treating
custom universally Condemned iG
like inviting your friend for a promen-
AIDE on a pavement of thorns, and to those
that can see within the red mire the Bit
ing scorpions, 1t Is like a banquet in a
| charnel house, full of the bones of the
slain in such enjoyment.
Like too many, Cassie yields to en-
| treaty. becomes drunk, is disgraced and
| loses his high military rank. Witness the
remorse that fills his soul.
g I have lost my reputation, have lost
| what remains is bestal. Drunk? and
| speak, parrot? and squabble? swagger?
swear? and discourse fustian with ones
| own shadow? o., thou invisible spirit of
| mine, II thou hadst no name to be known
| by, let us call thee devilp
| 20, that men should put an enemy IN
| their mouths to steal away their brainsl
| that we should, with joy, revel. pleasure
and applause, transform ourselves into
| beasts" ITO be now sensible man, bv
| and by fool, and presently a beastt o.
stranSe-eVery inordinate cup is unbless-
| ed, and the ingredient is a deVili'
"They say Shakespeare paints nature
| as II is, and surely the fearful picture
| he here gives us is too true
"A brother asked me the other dav if
| thought l would convert any souls by
preaching these sermons. My reply to him
was, 1t depends on what you want TO
| convert the souls to. If you aim at maxi
| ing them feel a kind of goody-goodv
emotion. 1 think not. and l do not think
we miss much. But if you desire a life
| of Righteousness, goodness, worthfulness
to the world | am sure | am on the
| right line Before sound conscience can
be had, conscience must awake do not
| know how we can awaken conscience
without showing the dangers that sur
round men, without arousing them to their
neglect of duty, without inspiring them
| with proper conceptions of the scope and
meaning of the Christians calling"