The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-07-15
1.-THE KING IS COMING"
Theme Of Strong Sermon Preached by
Rev. CIV. NOrthrOp Sunday Evening
City Officials Severely Censured
for not Enforcing the Laws.

| City Officials Severely CenSured
for not Enforcing the Laws.
Sunday evening Rev. @. V. Northrop
of the Baptist church, preached from the
text, prepare the way of the Lord, make
his paths straight. Mark l:3.
After stating that "the preachers work
is much the same from age to age" the
preacher very forcibly reviewed the pre-
paration demanded by John the Baptist
for the coming of the Christ, and then
noted the preparation demanded today.
"The preparati demanded today" said
the speaker, sis of two kinds; that done
IN us and that done through us. Personal
regeneration is the first step in all real
preparation for the kingdom" After
speaking of the need of each man so liv-
ing that eff all men lived as he does, the
Kingdom would be fully come" the me-
cessity of preparation in the way of re-
forms in social customs, laws and institu
tions was tersely and lucidly spoken Of
Chief among other hindrances to the
coming of the kingdom was mentioned
the liquor traffic, and in this connection
the speaker censured in no uncertain
manner the officials for not enforcing the
laws on July 4th. He said:
am reminded of the act of our city
last spring." he said, "when our present
mayor was elected to fill that office. |
am reminded that he stood on a certain
occasion in the presence OF God and the
common council OF Owosso and solemnly
took the oath OF Office to support the con-
stitution of the United States, and State
OF Michigan, and to faithfully, honestly
and impartially discharge the duties OF
that Office. 1t was also part OF that
oath to see that all ordinances, bylaws
and resolutions OF the council are faith
fully obeyed and enforced. To further
assist our mayor we gave him the priv
ilege OF selecting his own marshal, on
the approval of the city council, whose
duties shall be to enforce in the city OF
Owosso all the laws of the state and the
ordinances of the city. 1t is further or
dained that all saloons shall be closed
on the day commonly called the Sabbath
and on all legal holidays of the nation;
that it shall be the duty of the city mar
shall, to visit and carefully examine all
places where Intoxicating liquors are
sold, and see that not only the front or
street entrance is kept closed and also
that no infringement of this ordinance is
made by means of back doors, side
doors, or alley entrances. And should
any person or persons be found violat-
ing the provision OF this ordinance in
any manner whatever, it shall be the
duty of the marshal to immediately az
rest such offender and bring them to
trial. This oath Of Office has been vio-
lated time and again by your present
mayor and city marshal.
Last Monday, the 4th OF July, on q
legal holiday OF ournation, every saloon
in this city was open, not only side
doors but front doors, and with the
sanction OF the mayor and marshal.
They both stood on the side OF the sa-
loon Notwithstanding the earnest pro-
test OF several citizens of your city. We
reminded the marshal of his oath of
office but to no avail. He disregarded
his oath and refused to close the saloons
because he had no instructions from the
mayor.
Further than this, the mayor prom
Used your speaker in the presence of Pas
tor Cromer, OF the Congregational church
on Friday preceding the Fourth that he
would see TO it that all saloons would
be closed on the Fourth. He further
pledged himself Monday morning in the
presence of witnesses when his attention
was called to the open saloons, that he
would see to it at once and that the sa
looms would be closed after dinner. All
these promises, together with his oath
of Office, he has broken. Now what are
we to say to these things? Are we to
close our eyes against them? 1t is bad
enough to have an open saloon six days
in the week, without having the Lords
day and national holidays disgraced.
And | declare here tonight that any man
who so lightly and indifferently disre-
CARDS his oath of office is unworthy of
the place he tries to fill. | have no I'M
kind word or wish toward these men,
but do demand, as a citizen of Owosso,
that these men, sworn officers of the
law, repent and tring forth fruits meet
for repentance, discharge their duties, or
be impeached, according to the laws of