The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-14
CITY NEEDS ENLARGEMENT.
REV. CHAs. II. STRONG ON DEsIRA-
BILE LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.

Many Things That should he Done
without One Tear of SOrrOw-A
Better Suburban Population Need
ed-He Cares Nothing For Either
of the Political Factions, But Is
Ashamed to Know the Purchase OF
the Negro Vote Is Such "A Power In
EIectiOns-BarrOOms should BE
Closed ON Sunday and Boys Should
BE Kept on the street Corners at
Night.
Rev. Charles H. Strong, at st. Johns
church, last night, preached very inter
esting sermon on the ways of Enlargng
City's Life" taking his text from 81.
John x, 10. 81 am come that they might
have life and that they might have it
more abundantly."
He began with the proposition that 1t
is the duty of minister Of the gospel
to give attention to questions that direct
ly concern the people of community. He
could not feel, he said, that any ques-
ton is altogether outside of the Bible,
and one might discuss business,
politics, society and finally they would
come to the moral side of it.
Every man. he said should be inter-
ested in the city in which he lives, beyond
just what he can get out of it. There
have been funerals in Savannah, he said,
attended with all the pomp of outward
ceremony, and followed by resolutions, at
which there was not one tear of sorrow
shed, and why? Because the man was an
egotist he lived for himself, and did
nothing for the city's advancement or
enlargement, either in a material or q
moral sense. He said he spoke not of
any special man, but of an ideal case.
Rev. Mr.. Strong pictured the enlarge
ment of life and knowledge that follows
upon going from a village to a town ard
then to a city, saying how in the small
places one knew all about ones neighbors
and much gossip was INDUCED in, as to
their affairs. But in larger places there
was found an enlargement of ideas and
discussion of more intellectual matters
was INDUCED in.
The question was, does Savannah need
enlargement, politically, physically, COM
mercialy? Can it be enlarged on the ma
terial side and on the moral side? Rev.
Mr.. Strong made it apparent from his re-
marks that he thought it did need en-
largement and that it was within the
power of it's citizens to bring that en-
largement about. He compared the Sa-
vannah of twenty years ago with the Sa-
vannah of to-day, with it's now handsome
streets, its good water, and its tree COM
mission, which is devoting time and at
tention to the study of botany for the pur-
pose of identifying the city
He spoke of the paving of the county
roads, which he Endorsed highly Savan-
nah at present has little outlying popula-
ton of a desirable class, he said, but with
the proper inducements he thought pop
ulation of desirable white people such as
in most instances have been seeking the
west and northwest could and would lie
secured.
Rev. Mr.. Strong said he did not like to
speak about the business of Savannah and
he would touch only briefly on its politics.
II don't care that for the two political
parties he said, making a gesture of
contempt but l do want to tell them that
they need charging"
The preachers of the city he said, should
not allow these rancorous feelings to hold
them back. There are just as good people
in one place as in the other. No matter
what political feelings come In between
men they should keep them in their proper
places and get rid of this everlasting
scramble for Office. He spoke of civil SER
vice, and how it had enlarged Brooklyn's
political system. When the white men so
oppose each other in politics as to go and
buy the negro vote, and that carries the
balance of power, it makes a blush of
shame come over my face to think that
such state of affairs can exist 1t should
be stopped by putting in office men who are
out of politics.
He said he knew the social life of the
city needed charging and men should be
brought closer together He called atten-
ton to the matter of open barrooms on
Sunday. One cause of loose morality, and
spoke also of young boys going out at
night and lettering around the street cor
ners. He did not know, he said, what these
boys did on the street corners but he was
satisfied they did not do what they would
do at home. He closed with an appeal in
behalf of<the extension of religious and
moral work. and influences which he said,
would build IN the city and make it
pleasant place to dwell in.