The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-30

voice of the people is the voice of God.
And now listen, if you people sit quietly
down and let these people open up their
damnable dens again, l say you ought to
be robbed and the city damned.
The DEVILS fattening hogs! Amt that
good name for EN-, Bascom," he asked
quizzcally, turning to Rev. Bascom An
thony.
Now, hear me! Even to-day I declare
that 1 will render double unto thee Do
you know that l used to hear preachers
say that you could read it in the Bible
that if a man forsook home and friends
and everything to follow the Lord, he'd
have a hundred-fold more than before
and l used to think there must be some
mistake about it; but tonight l tell you
L believe it as honestly as l believe any
thing in the universe. l know it because
Twenty-Five years ago l had wrecked my
life in this world and the one to come
before l became converted and started out
on the new life.
Il left one home in Gainesville and
I've found 1000 better ones, in every state
in the union. / left one mother, kind
and good, and God has given me thous-
ands of them in every state of the Union.
And, listen! God don't come to Savan-
nah to bankrupt people. When l began
preaching [ had a wife, a child, bob
tailed pony and $S that was my stock in
trade; and for six years l preached for
less than $500, and l worked a farm to
pay my honest debts, and God stood by
me until l developed manhood. And my
enemies tried to drive me out, and they
tried to SANDER me out, next to fiatter
me out, and, lastly, to buy me out, and
they offered me thousands of dollars, but,
Boys, hear me- I'm as true to God to-
night as / ever was" This statement
was greeted with applause, and fervent
"Amens' could be heard from all parts
81 the audience, then Mr.. Jones contin-
ued And 1 never knew man that stood
firm and true to God and his convictions
that didn't come out all right"
The evangelist administered a hot roast
to the city officials who have come under
his displeasure. You can be Mayor of
this town." he said, with its wholesale
liquor dealers, it's gambling houses. and
its saloons, or you can be the solicitor
general and let the gamblers Craze
around until you're ready and then bring
them up and milk them. You can do this
and get rich in twelve months, but don
want that kind of money, and 1 think it
would be but an act of decency and
downright honesty for your Mayor to
close out his liquor department or re-
sign, for to sell liquor and then to close
the saloons is too much like playing the
spider and saying to the saloon keeper,
won't you come into my parlor.
And, listen to me again. You know that
a word from the Mayor to the policemen
would close up the saloons and the gam
bling places and other dens, and if l was
a preacher in this town I'd make him run
it right or I'd back him up to stump
and cut his tail off here" Mr. Jones made
a significant gesture back of his ears
and the crowd cheered and laughed.
"Bascom!" and Mr.. Jones turned to Mr..
Anthony, we're going to back you up
with a crowd, old fellow, that will eua-
BILE you to do something"
Mr.. Jones told CT some of the stories of
misery and anguish that had been brought
to his notice since he had been in Savan-
| nah, and which, he said, were the result
| of liquor and the other evils he denoun-
ced. Then he went back at the Mayor.
| i've got nothing against the Mayor as a
| citizen and a gentleman" he said, che
| may be the incest man in town, but he's
no more mt to be Mayor than a pig is to
| preside over angels. Why don't you say
Amen to that Bascom," he said, address,
ing Mr. Anthony whose reply was lost
in the shout of laughter that went up
from all over the house.
his IGIIltuS mt VI d OULCuHldn WHO
sat in the back of a hail." said MIR.
Jones. mo, I don't mean the Thunder
bolt chap. This fellow heard people us
ing Amen, and asked what it meant.
1t was explained TO him and he contin-
ued to listen to the speaker until a SEN
timent was expressed that he wanted TO
| indorse, but in his excitement he forgot
amen, but managed to get out 'Shust
der same town here That's what we
want in this crowd.
Nov. listen to me! The devil's got fat
| tening hogs in this town, but don't You
be led astray for judgment is coming to
them, and among the lowest in hell are
| the people that were richest and that
wore purple and fine linen here.
And listen to me again! Whenever
YOU see the DEVILS crowd fourishing you
may be sure the people are being hurt.
DO right: right not only is might, but will
| pay in the end.
''We're going to see better times i'm this
town The DEVILS gangs not going to
make so much money, and the wives ana
| children of this town are going to be bet
ter fed and going TO get better clothes.
And now. il 1 can divert money from
| these dens and help the wives and chill
dret1 of this town, am | an enemy to so
| cietv. and ought 1 be drummed out of
society?
He answered this question for himself
| nv saving laconically, Huh! Drum moth
! ing. I told you when l came TO this town
! that / have the drums and I'm going to
keen EN-: I won't let them out; l al
ways keep possession of the drums.
II want every good thing in this town
To prosper and ! want to bankrupt every
bad thing, and / want IL to be done by
the 25th Of December.
you colored peoplei These dens have
made thousands of dollars from you and
you'u be a fool II you go back to the pol
lev and the saloon. Not only will you be
a rascal and a sinner, but you'l be fool
Won black devil you" Praise God for
dat was the fervent ejaculation that was
hoard from the negro section, high above
the laughter of the rest. Mr.. Jones con-
tinued. 1T pray God you colored people
may put TO blush your past lives, and
that voull get crown OF glory. You II
do Il n YOU live right. II you don't, your
be in hell a frying before your body gets
cold That's right You're always
rinhtr' came a shrill feminine voice again
from the negro section.
Mr.. Jones related the story OF young
man who had been hampered la his reli-
glous life because forced to work for a
groeery house that dealt in whisky. Wen
use sand at my house" said Mr.. Jones,
before we'd buy from a place that sells
Bauor. You've got decent grocers here,
no continued, addressing the crowd. land
vou ought to walk Ave miles for things
rather than buy them from cattle that
sell liquor. Now" he said. some OF you