The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-23
CAN SAVE EVEN POLITICIANS.
NEED NOT QUIT POLITICS TO Sc
CURE ETERNAL BLISS.

ed and Inscriptions Politician
May Turn From His Ways and be
COnverted-An Example That sa-
vannah Politicians Should Emu
late.
Even Savannah politician may be saw
ed While the road may be hard for him
to travel, in the quitting of the methods
that are not calculated to stand the light
of day or the application of Christian
principles, still there is hope for him. All
that he has got to do to be saved is to
follow the example of Zaccheus, that un-
scrupulous and successful politician of the
time of Christ, and, seeing the error of
his way, recognizing the enormity of the
wrongs he has committed, accept Christ
as his Savior and example. He need not
quit politics to do this. All that he reed
to do is to put his Christianity into his
politics.
Rev. ]. D. Jordan of the First Baptist
Church preached last night on the Con
version Of Politician" The conversion
of Zaccheus furnished the text. DR.. Jor-
dan preluded his remarks on Zaccheus by
eve are on the eve of an election" said
he. "On next Tuesday the voters Of Savan-
nah will choose mayor and aldermen. 1
shall not presume here TO say who are the
best men among the candidates for those
offices. although il is my earnest prayer
that the best men, whoever they may be,
will be elected. l am not here to speak IN
behalf Of any candidate l do not think It
Is right 10 use the pulpit as a vantage
ground for political discussion ana work.
But at the same time l desire to express
my opinion chat the minister has as much
right to his political opinion and to the ex-
preston of il as any other man. l know
there is a tendency among saloon-keepers,
gamblers and ward-heelers, and perhaps
others, to say whenever a clergyman oX-
presses himself politically that ministers
amt got no business interfering in poll
ucs; they should stick 10 preaching the
gospel" For one 1 maintain that the min
lister has as much right in politics as the
saloon keeper or the ward-heeler. his IN
fiuence 49, certainly not apt to be quite so
injurious to politics as theirs.
ut is all a mistake for preacher TO
conclude that his garment is too holy and
, his calling too sacred for him 10 eXer-
else the privilege of the ballot box. 1t is
all mistake for good men to stand OH
and hold up their hands in holy horror
at corruption and at seeing political af-
fairs going to wrack and ruin. The
preacher, and all men actuated by reigt-
GUS principles, should be in at the inita-
live in politics. They should see to il
that good men are nominated for public
Office ard then see to it that they are
excited. Their fault IS that they wait I'M
ill it is too late, until men are before
them whom they do not consider proper
men when it is too late TO get better.
We BapGsts have swung to one extreme
in this matter We are the only one of
the old denominations that has stood alb
solutely aloof from any approach to a
union of church and state. While others
have sought to unite them we have con-
tended for their absolute divorce. But
we may go too far in the other direc-
ton We should certainly make an hon
est, fair handed fight to put the best men
always in office"
Coming to the text, DR.. Jordan said that
some people have an idea that a politi-
clan cannot be converted. Zaccheus was
a politician and he was converted. He
was a man of full age, a well rounded,
strong man, Some strong men have come
to the conclusion that religion Is a good
thing for women, children and the weak
or inirm. But the greater the strength,
whether it be political, social moral or
financial, the greater the responsibility to
oneself, to the community, and to God
Zaccheus was a strong man. He was a
well developed, shrewd and successful
man. He was curious to see Christ. Jesus
was the popular hero Of the hour, the
most notable character of the day. His
reputation had spread far and wide and
PEOPLE fOcked from all directions to see
and hear him. zaccheus yielded only to
a natural curiosity when he ran ahead of
the crowd and climbed a tree, that he
might look down and see this wonderful
man.
Zaccheus was a man who needed rellg-
ion. He was a man of family and of
home. Such man is one who needs re-
ligion exceedingly much, that he may be
comforted and helped in his struggles and
trials and set before his family an ex-
ample of a religious life. Zacoheus was
rich Religion is intended for, and need
ed by the rich, as well as by the poor
Poor people sometimes get the idea that
they have a monopoly of religion; that
Christ came into the world especially to
save them. An infdel once expressed this
feeling by saying that a poor man with a
crust thanked God, while a rich man at
a banquet congratulated himself. But this
is a mistake. Zaccheus was rich, but
he needed conversion.
Zaccheus was a politician. one of the
ieeUlDg puDuca0S OF cOlieCNOlS OF taxes
He was wicked politician, and by many
was a loathed, despised politician. He
paid so much for the privilege of collecting
the taxes and then ground the taxes out
of the people. He was rich through the ex-
tortion and misuse of office. He was not
bad because he was politician, but he was
a bad politician. An politicians are not
necessarily bad, but they are liable 10 be-
This man was converted. A politician
has TO be saved just like any one else
There is no different road for the politi-
clan from that laid down for other sin
ners. This politician was not saved bv
baptism. Jesus did not order him to be
baptized, he did not direct him to memoir
lie the catechism, or call for the having
on of hands in confirmation. He was con-
vertod by repenting of his wrong-doings
and turning away from them; he was CON
verted by taking Jesus into his home ana
heart. That is the way people are To he
converted whether they be politicians or
otherWlse Haccheus made haste 10 repent
and did il gladly. He set the right exam
pie for the politicians who have followed
after him and for all others If not saved
hoy CHI