The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-19
PREACHERS WILL
SUPPORT WYATT
Hot Sermons Preached Sunday
and More to Come.
Mr.. FUCKERS REFERENCE
IR. FUCKERS REFERENCE
8. .r,es Corruption and Fraud and Says
...rchy and Lynch Law Viii Prevail
!, Steps Are Not Taken-Rev.
Mr.. Cave CaIled-Notes.

Active steps will be taken by many
of the preachers of Richmond toward
rending assistance TO Police-Omcer Wy
att in the tight he is now waging against
the gambling dcns.
Within the next few days number
o: letters win be sent to Mr.. Wyatt by
prominent local ciergymen pledging
their support. and the same ministers,
or several of them will come out in
l.ubic print taking sides with the Off
ceI. This latter they will do in COM
nunicauons to the daily papers or
Otherwise. Moreover several Of them
are preparing TO let loose in pulpit ut
,orances and to adopt other means OF,
arousinE their congregations to action
This is particularly true of certain Zap
fist preachers who were heard this
morning to give vent to strong express
sions of opinion.
The religious papers. also, or some OF
them. Will wade In. DR.. r. II. Pitt. edi-
tor Of the Religious Herald. announced
this morning that he will shortly-prob-
ably in the forthcoming issue-come out
editorially. There will be nothing SEN
sauonal or rash, he said, but he would
take firm stand in favor Of reform in
certain departments of the city govern
ment
CORRUPTION AND FRAUD"
A perfect storm swept over two or
three OF the Richmond pulpits Sunday
when the whole municipal scandal was
aired in vigorous terms. Several of the
pastors took tho matter up and poured
hot shot in different directions.
The Rev. Joel I. Tucker, pastor Of the
East End Baptist Church. took the most
pronounced stand Of all. There were no
yelled references or illusions SO far as
he was concerned and he came straight
out dealing directly with local affairs
The sermon was preached at the night
service and was upon the subject:
Whatsoever Man Soweth That Shall
lie Also Reap" In the discussion of
this theme MIR. Tucker brought it to
Tear upon the situation here and then.
without further preamble, said:
Il do not believe that there Is IN all
Richmond or the country round single
citizen who. in observing recent events
has not come to the positive CONCLUSION
that there is corruption and 1lauo IN
the Police Department and in the City
Council.
II implore you 10 aid Mr.. Wyatt IN
throwing light on the dark shadows that
hang over our c.ty. IL there is not some
change in the city government we may
expect anarchy and lynch law to pre-
vail. for we have no confidence In those
who execute the laws.
Mr. Tucker. in fact, went even further
than this. and made some sweeping
statements which he later modified to
"A certain extent.
AT GRACE STREET.
AT the Grace-Street Baptist Church
Dr. r. j. Wilingham. secretary of the
Foreign Mission Board, also took up the
matter in the discussion Of the subject
for his morning sermon-'Joshua, the
EHaj f,n - a Curl
GUS coincidence is that Policeman Wyatt,
u member of Grace-Street. sat through
the service and heard the sermon,
though unknown to the speaker, who is
not acquainted with the officer.
DIR. Will:ngham. in bringing his sermon
to bear upon the local situation, made
an earnest appeal to the people to rise
up and stand for righteousness and
truth. He declared that instead Of
whining about the bad administration OF
the laws. they should come out and by
their ballots put worthy men in office.
II they allowed elections TO be controlled
by politicians who succeeded in running
in unprincipled men. men without fear
of God or man, then the people would
have nobody to blame but themselves.
The Christians OF the community should
take the government into their own
hands. elect good men. and then support
them and pray for them.
MR. WYATT THERE
At some little length DR.. Willingham
went on to speak of how erroneous 1T was
to be allied with the wrong and how
glorious to stand for the right He here
spoke OF Joshua and showed how God
had visited death and destruction upon
the unfaithful rulers, while Joshua, the
faithful and fearless. was conducted
through the gates Of Paradise.
At the conclusion of the service many
in the congregation pressed forward to
shake Dr. Wil!ingham by the hand, to
congratulate him, and to thank him for
his stirring words. It was then that he
learned of officer Wyatt's presence in
the church.
OTHER SERMONS.
One or two other ministers also took
UP the matter and made more OF less
direct reference to the local situation.
In a sermon at Epworth Methodist
Church on '.Covetousness," the Rev. w.
F. Davis spoke of the evil of gambling