The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-20
BROUGHT OUT BACKSLIDERS.
CROWDS ATTENDED CHURCH TO
SEE THE PRESIDENT.

Heard an Old Fashioned ENhOrtR-
ton From Presiding Elder j. o..
Branch-Prayed for the President,
But Did Not Mention Him in the
SermOn-It Is Positively Asserted
There VIII BE No Politics in the
Trip to Jel<yI.
Townsville, Ga, March 19.-President
Mckinley went to church to-day at the
Methodist Church of brownsville. The
service was the event of the day to the
village and country folks. and the large
weather-stained church was filled to the
very doors.
The people of South Georgia are pious
prospect that the President would attend
their church brought forth the regular at
tendants, and all the backsliders of the
congregation as we'll
The Presidents carriage drove up in
front of the church just before services
began. and Mr. Mckinley, Vice President
Hobart and Mrs. Hobart, who were the
only ones to attend, were shown to pew
well TO the front of the body of the
church. They were seated before many
of the congregation knew of their pres
ence, but thereafter were observed as
closely as decency at service would per-
nit
Mrs. Mckinley did not attend, the
weather to-day having turned raw and
cold, making it prudent for her to remain
indoors.
Rev. j. o. Branch DiscOursed.
Presiding Elder J. o. Branch conducted
services. He is well along in years and
in appearance much resembles Bishop
Hurst. In his prayer he implored God
to bless the President of the United States,
give him wisdom for the conduct of his
office, and prayed that increasing pros
perity may be our heritage under his ad-
ministration.
His sermon was entirely doctrinal, and
free from even the remotest illusions to
the President or politics. He chose for
his text the seventh verse of the seventh
chapter of Matthews, Every good tree
bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt
tree bringeth forth evil fruit"
The theme of his sermon was that every
individual continuously has an influence
for good or evil on all persons. 1t was a
good, old-fashioned, orthodox Methodist
exhortation, closing with a warm denun-
citation of dram-drinkng, the Voluptuous
waltz the gambling progressive eucher
party and the piety-destroying theater.'
The President listened attentively
throughout the rather long sermon and
attempted to join in the congregational
singing. He looked fairly well, but was
decidedly pale. The Vice President show
ed that he had not yet fully recovered
from the grip. The house party enjoyed
drive in the afternoon and then, owing
to the cool northwest wind spent the time
in doors chatting. Dinner was served at
o clock.
The Trip to Jekyl.
Preparations have been made to leave
here in special car over the Plant Sys-
tenn at 10 O'Clock tomorrow morning for
Jekyl Island. Brunswick will be reached
about o'clock and a boat taken for the
paradise built near the town by the mil
lionaire club owners. Here the party viii
remain till Wednesday, free from any
scrutiny, save by the club members and
their guests, a practical quarantine being
observed at all times to prevent the curl
Gus from landing.
Politics, it is repeated most positively,
has nothing to do with the trip, and no
political conferences, it is explicitly assert
ed, will be held there The probability
that Speaker Reed and the President will
meet is, of course, admitted and the pos
sibility is that a result of it may be better
relations between them though neither be
party to any attempt to bring them to-
gether.
The exact personnel of the party is still
undecided. Those certain to go are the
President and Mrs. Mckinley; Senator
Hanna, Assistant Secretary Cortelyou, and
DIR. Rixey of the navy, the family ply
sician Vice President and Mrs. Hobart
will not go unless the former feels better
in the morning. Mrs. Hanna will stay
here. Judge and Mrs Day have made up
their minds not to go and will proceed