The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-25
GETTING SHEKELS
SUBJECT OF SERMON PREACHED
BY REV. BAsCoM ANTHONY.
POOR RICHARDS ALMANAC.
GOV. GAMBLER CRITICIZED FOR
STATEMENT IMPUTED TO HIM
ABOUT 1T.


Says It's "A Good Thing for Some
body He Doesn't Want to Preach
on the Strect-QuOted Jefferson
Davis' Estimate of Poor Richards
Almanac Because Gov. Gambler Is
reported to Have Placed 1t High
err Than Bible or shakespeare.
A decidedly interesting sermon, dealing
partly with local topics, was preached
by Rev. Bascom Anthony at Trinity
Church last night. The speaker took
as his text, jeremiah xvii:2, He that
getteth riches and not by right shall
leave them in the midst of his days,
and at his end shall be a FOOL
1--WE have the same old evils in the
world to-day that there were in Jere-
miahs time" said Mr.. Anthony.
"Wickedness is no new thing. Some
times L get bit disheartened when
read the Old Testament and see that
the prophets tried to stop the very
things the preachers are trying to stop
to-day And yet, inasmuch as human
nature is the same and as the tempta-
tions are the same, the work of the
preachers and of righteous people must
continue to be the same until some
time, though God knows when, the
things of the world shall become as
they should be.
The Same Old Things.
To-day there is the same old covet-
BUSINESS; this making of money the
chief end of existence, that there was
in Jeremiah's time. This greed for
gain did not characterize the South,
however, until after the war; but it
has grown upon our people. 1 read a
day or two ago that at a great Sun
day-school convention one of the
speakers asked, What is the best thing
in the world?' and Immediately 500
tiny voices answered, Money
And similar sentiments are coming
from the lips of the big men of the
country; at least the men who are Dig
in some things, and also the men who
hold prominent positions. John wv
Gates has been quoted as saying that
a1E man who tries to be right all the
time will always be busted, and that
he himself tries to be right about fifty
one times out of the hundred. And
this sentiment has been printed gener-
ally in the papers as though it were
epigrammatic or something to be COM
mended.
Word for Gov. Gambler.
Again 1 have seen it stated, and the
statement has not been denied so far
as know, that our Governor has said
the three really great books are the
Bible, Shakespeare and Poor Rich
ards Almanac. and the greatest of the
three, though 7 doubt that he said it,
is Poor Richards Almanac 1 doubt
hot
but 1 am persuaded that he did ex-
press a high opinion of Franklin'sr
book
Il have never read Poor Richards
Almanac, but 1 remember to have read
of conversation that jefferson Da-
Wis once had with a physician that
shows in what estimation he held the
book. The talk, which was held with
a physician of the Northern army,
turned on which part of the country
had produced the greatest men. The
physician claimed that the North had
and being asked to name who he con-
sldered the greatest of them, unhesita-
tingly named Benjamin Franklin.
Didn't Sit Well on Davis.
Naturally this did not sit well on
the stomach of an old and true South
erner like Mr.. Davis. He became in
dlsnant and said Why Franklin never
said truly great, wise, or philan-
throplc thing, and never made state
ment that tended to the general ele-
walton of the people; he never said a
thing that did not commend the gath
ering of the shekels and it was the
following of his maxims that has made
the Yankees a nation of hucksters'
! believe the view of Mr.. Davis was
about right Early to bed and early
to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy
and wise and 'Woeful waste makes
woeful want These are his maxims;
the last may not be his but it expresses
his sentiments. Others may esteem
that book highly. but I don't. 1 do
believe in frugality and economy, but
people who love only shekels are
doomed to be damned and deserve to
be-"
Further in the course of his sermon
Mr.. Anthony told his congregation
that it was all a mistake to believe
mat money was absolutely necessary
10 happiness, and said also that
1t was travesty on belief in the just
ness of GODS law to believe that to
make money and get along" one had
to be tricky; that in making a living
the rascal Jared better than the honest
man.
Music Hall Morals.
Then he got to local matters. why"
NE asked, ARE certain vaudeville shows
allowed to be run? They debauch young
men; who are their chief patrons, and
they subserve no good, yet they are al
IoWed to continue business. They are
alIoWed for the revenue they bring in.
ana because of this they are allowed
10 put band on the sidewalk and the
street may be blockaded and nothing
is done, but let two or three poor wo-
men come along, They have the love
OF God in their hearts, they visit the
outcast in the slums and their only
ueSlre is to do good yet if their SER
wees blockade the streets they. are
toid that they must get out.
one lot are Gods followers and the
other the DEVILS, but one doesn't pay
money and the other does It's
IHonstrous good thing for some people
mat l don't want to preach on the
streets. Thepe'd be a lawsuit that
would last forever. 1 have never
wanted to preach on the streets, but
nave come mighty near wanting to
since l heard about this case" Mr..
Ahthony commended the work that is
uohe by the Salvation Army and told
lhe congregation to treat its members