The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-18
"LET US ALONE" is THE CRY.
WHEN a MINISTER INVADEs THE
DoMISIONs OF SATAN.

That Is What Rev. Arthur J. smith
said of the Attitude of Gamblers
Toward CIergymen when They
EndeayOF TO Correct EviIS-Be-
IieveS the Hypoerite. the Unbe-
Iieyer. the Demimonde. the saloon
keeper and the Thief, Gamblers
Being CIassed with the Last. Are
Possessed Of DemOns-Fear Makes
Them Cry Let Us Alone"
The congregation at the First Presbyte-
risn Church was largely composed Of men
last night They had come through the
rain TO hear what the pastor, Rev. Arthur
J. Smith. had to say about his tour Of
the gambling houses. Some Of them were
disappointed because Mr.. Smith did not
CRAFTY mat desire, but he did make some
sharp hits at The business in general.
He took for MS text Let Us Alone
found in Mark. IA The words were
first spoken by the demons who possessed
the poor fellow whom Jesus found in the
synagogue in Cspernaum. Sir. Smith
spoke Of other cases Of demoniacaI pos
session in the time Of Christ and the
Oriental countries. and especially in Asia,
where men and women. even in this day,
were found who manifested the same
symptoms seen in the tine Of Christ.
Mr. Smith said ne believed there were
men and women in Christian countries
who we're possessed with demons, though
the symptoms were different from those
seen ia Asia to-day or those seen in the
Orient in the time OF Christ. He said he
believed the hypocrite. the unbeliever. the
demimonde. the ealoon keeper. the thief
(ne said a gambler is a thieO. the unscru-
pulous politicians were possessed with de-
II the symptoms were pure. righteous
and holy life. he said, it would indicate
that they were God-possessed men and
women, but because they not only trans
gress the law Of the land and of God,
it was proof to him that they were con-
trolled by Satan.
Mr. Smith said: There was consterna-
ton among the demons in the internal re-
gions when Christ began His work. 1t
was made apparent In HIS interview with
the demons In the synagogues. They crieG
out, Let US alone! What have you TO
do with them2 1t is almost the same
cry that IS heard to-day when a Christian
minister invades Satan's dominion.
Three reasons may be given why these
demons told Christ TO let them alone They
said it was none Of His bus ness il thsy
did possess and destroy the man. Men
who have sold themselves, body, soul and
spirit, 10 Satan say to the minister, Let
US alone: we are not interfering with you;
mind your own business. You stick to the
Gospel, and let IA alone
The minister is called Of God TO care
for 4 a hferfa - a. -sA.-
spiritually and morally. It is his business.
Young men are being robbed Of their
money. their purity and their manhood.
These demon possessed men are making
thieves and debauchees out of our boys
and young men,"
Mr. Smith told story of one poor fellow
VINO came TO Savannah six months ago
from the North. He came of a good fam
lily, was Industrious and thrifty. He
made the acquaintance of some of the fast
young men Of the town, who took him TO
one Of the gambling houses. He soon lost
I all he had, about 800 1t was not long
before he stole from his employer. When
detected, he made a clean breast of It,
The merchant let him off. The man did
not have the heart to go home, and Is
now on his way 10 join Otis.
Another reason" Mr. Smith continued,
why they told Christ to let them alone
was because Of their bitter hatred to him
much to-day as ever. The ministers of
| Christ, who endeavor fearlessly to do their
duty are generally hated and sometimes
suffer because of this hatred
Mr.. Smith referred TO the time when
| Postmaster General Wanamaker was en-
deavoring to drive the Louisiana lottery
from the mails, saying that the hatred of
Christ was so great that Mr. Wanamaker
did not know but an attempt would be
made to assassinate him. This he told 10
another clergyman and Mr.. Smith at his
home in Jenkentown, Philadelphia
Mr.. Smith said the last reason why they
asked Christ 10 let them alone was be-
cause of fear. They knew Christ and mis-
power. This is why demons in men today
ask 10 be let alone. II is because they
know the power of the church of Christ
They harden If once the church is thor
ouPhly aroused and asserts by influence
they will be cast OUT
Mr. Smith said in closing that he had
no personal feeling against any man in
Savannah. II is the devil he is lighting
and If men viii sell themselves to the devil
they may feel the force of the attack in
the end.