The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-04
JUDAS A POLITICAL HELLER.
Politics and COvetOusness Led Isca-
riot 10 Betray His Master.

Judas Iscariot, or the Danger of Poll
tics and Covetousness," was the subject
Of a strong and interesting sermon preach
ed last night at the First Baptist Church
by Rev. J. d. Jordan.
Judas Iscariot is to be condemned of all
men, ne said, because In addition to being
a deserter of his Lord, he was a traitor.
He cited Benedict Arnold as another ex-
ample of the deserter and traitor. lie
spoke of the character of Judas Iscariot,
and then of the several supposed causes
which led him TO betray Christ for thirty
pieces of silver.
Some have supposed that envy of the
other disciples led Judas to betray his
master Others thought il revenge for The
reoUke which Christ gave him on the
night of the last supper Others sti4i
thought II disappointment, or fear, while
stlll others attributed a more charitable
motive to Judas, on the idea that he did
II, thinking Christ would free himself
from his enemies, put them to shame and
then establish his kingdom over an peo-
PIE. After a careful study of the matter,
Rev. Mr.. Jordan SAID he did not think
that any Of these motives was responsible
for the act of Judas.
He was pursuaded ne said, that the evil
lay in two thoughts, the thought Of poll
ties and the thought of cOvetousness.
Judas was possessed Of both.
Judas was a political heller The Jews
were divided then into TWO parties, the
Pharlsees and Sadducees. The current
IDEA was that Jesus came to establish =
new party, third party, and that he
would gather many followers around him
ana become king Of the earth. Judas
was imbued with this idea, and hoped to
be an officer under the new administra-
ton. He saw after a While that he would
not be, then wanted to cut loose from
the new party, and in order to curry IA
vor with the old ones sold out his leader
A great deal of the same kind of thing
IS seen in the present day, he said. Men
take up neW issues which they find are
not fruitful of results, and then they
want 70 turn back and get a foothold
with other rarti s. There IS no church on
earth, he said, which can trace any such
thing as the true apostolic succession, but
as James and John and other
apostles have successors in right
eousness, SO he believed that Judas
has his successors in the political heelers
of today. Judas hung himself and got out
of his country's way. The political heel
ers Of to-day, however have not con-
science enough to DO the same thing, but
they hang on and on and will continue to
do so
Judas he said was also a shrewd bust
ness man. He handled the money and he
became covetous. He was a thief and an
embezzler. 1t is a dangerous thing, he
said, to let the idea of cOVetousness grow
on one. How many young men to-day de-
velop into embezzlers and thieves by care
lessness of themselves In handling money.
Judas saw that things were not going
his way, so he decided 70 sell out, and he
did sell out for money. Rev. Mr.. Jor-
dan drew several interesting lessons from
4 rfg,r, oh, Il
members who do not observe the trust
placed in them and live Christians lives
are betrayers of Christ as well as was
Judas