The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-15
SERMON TO VOTERS
MINISTER'S TOOK ACTION LOOKING
TOWARD COMyNS~ ELECTIONS.
BELIEVE TIME HAS COME.
TO URGE UPON PEOPLE THEIR OBJ
LEGATIONS TO THE PUBLIC.

This Substance of Resolution Intro
duced at Meeting of Minister'S As
sociatiOn by Rev. Baseom Anthony
Jordan Introduced Resolution In
dOrsinE Free Library and REFORM
atory-This Also Unanimously
Adopted-WOrk on Tabernacle for
May Meetings begun Yesterday.
At a meeting of the Ministers Asso-
citation. held in the study of Rev. Ed
F. Cook yesterday morning, Rev. Bas-
com Anthony introduced, and the asso-
citation unanimously Endorsed, a res
olution that will be far reaching in its
effects inasmach as it commits the
members of the association to the task
of bringing before the people of their
congregations their duty to register.
Another resolution, introduced by
Rev. DR.. ]. d. Jordan, and also pass
ed unanimously, refers to the plans
for a public library and for a reform
atory, both of which it indorses.
The first resolution is as follows
while we believe in the wisdom of
permanent separation between
church and state, and have no desire
to see them reunited, still we believe
it not only right but duty we owe
to our fellows to take an intelligent
interest in matters pertaining to the
state. In becoming ministers of the
gospel we do not cease to be citizens.
AS guardians and instructors in public
morals it may at times become our
duty to urge upon our people the inn
portance of recognizing and discharg-
ing their obligations to the public. We
believe such a time has come
Must Arouse the People.
For a long while past some of us
have had occasion to call public atten-
ton to, many evils that exist in our
city These evils can be suppressed
but they will not be till the citizen
ship of this community arouses itself
and demands it.
Hundreds of our most law-abiding
citizens habitually fail to vote, while
the ward heelers daily register the
names of those who are least worthy
of the right of franchise, and who are
most plastic in the hands of the ma
nipulators on the day of election
"A study of the registration books
will doubtless show that all those in
our community who live by violation
of law, and those who fatten by shell
tering them have already put them
selves in position to vote for the inter
ests of their nefarious traffic.
There are enough clean and honest
men in our city to control it if they
will only arouse themselves and dis
charge their duties as citizens. We
therefore urge upon all our people the
pressing necessity for registering their
names as qualified voters that they
may be in position to vote for every
candidate whose character is a pledge
for his conduct, and to vote against
every man who is unclean and I'M
worthy.
"In our judgment this is the only
possible means of relief. Votes and
nothing but clean, honest and unpur-
chasa BILE votes, will meet the demand.
Will IndOrse NO Candidates.
I'VE do not indorse any candidates,
nor back any faction, but we do urge
upon every good citizen the import
ance of discharging his civic duties
according to the dictates of an en-
lightened conscience. And we further
beseech you to remember that your
vote is not your own to be neglected
if you see fit, but it is committed to
y
of the women and children of our COM
monwealth. The law denies to them
voice in these matter, and appoints
you as their representatives Let no
failure of the past dishearten you, let
no press of duties cause you to neglect
this high trust.
IF you are indebted for taxes and
thereby fail to register, remember that
is the price of your vote, and your
silence bought at such a price may
be as harmful as the most venal vote
on the market"
For Library and RefOrmatory.
The other resolution referring to the
proposed free library and a county re-
formatory was as follows:
Whereas, there is a general interest
manifested and definite steps being
taken to provide for Savannah a free
public library, and for Chatham county
reformatory for juvenile criminals.
Resolved. That we, the members of
the Ministerial Association, do most
heartily indorse both of these ideas,
and shall rejoice to see these much
needed institutions established"
At this meeting, also, the commit
tees having in charge the arrange
ments of the tabernacle in which Mr.
Crittenden will begin a series of revival
services May l, reported that their
plans We're working smoothly; that
work on the tabernacle had been be-
gun yesterday and that it will be