The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-21
SERMON TO CITIZENS
AT EPwORTH METHODIST CHURCH
By REV. j. A. SMITH.
THE MINISTER A WATCHMAN.
WHO SHOULD LIFT UP HIS VOICE
AGAINST VICE IN ALL SHAPES.

Are Broken in Savannah-A Rap at
the UsurIOus Money Lender, and nj
the OHiciaI "WhO Chases n Boot
black Three Blocks for Trivial Of
Tense and in Doing So Passes
Three Policy shops"
In the Epworth Methodist Church
yesterday morning Rev. ]. A. Smith,
the pastor, delivered a decidedly inter-
esting sermon founded on the rules of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
but which served as vehicle for many
references to local conditions, several
of them of a political character. 1t is
obligatory upon every Methodist minis
ter to preach on these general rules at
least once a year. Mr.. Smith said:
81 have no apology to offer for using
this hour in the discussion of the gen.
eral rules of our church They have
come to us not as the result of hasty
conclusions, but of years of thought,
observations and prayer. Ever and
anon efforts are made in some quarters
to explain away, emasculate and make
them of no effect.
1.-The glory of Methodism has ever
been for advocacy of the cardinal doc
trines of the Bible, and her loyalty to a
| set of principles which have for their
end the upliftment of men socially,
morally and spiritually. These rules
have become a part of the constitu-
tional law of our church, based on
Bible truth.
I'm the first rule we are expected
to do no harm, by avoiding evil of
every kind especially that which is
most generally practiced.' Abstain
from all appearance of evil is the safe
guard against all evils. 1t causes a
sincere man to recognize his RESPONSE
bility to his brother by removing
everything at which he might stumble.
| If eating meat offend my brother, l
| will eat no more meat etc.
I'VE must avoid taking the name of
God in vain This is a sin for which
there is absolutely no excuse. l can
| see how there might be some excuse
for hasty, dmpulsive speech-even for
| theft-but for a man to attach Gods
name to fiippant speech, to ruffied feel
ings, expressed in words, there is sim
ply no ground for excuse.
| ANOlu he OF the Gay OF
the Lord, either by doing ordinary
work therein, or by buying or selling
There cannot possibly be any misun-
derstanding touching our attitude to-
wards the dissertation of the Sabbath
and yet there are not a few who plead
as an excuse for this fragrant sin ne
| cessity-as a result of a new order of
| things. The glitter of gold has blinded
the vision of thousands. To increase
their earnings they not only recklessly
break Gods law-but take advantage
OF the need of others to make them a
party to their crime. They are literal
ly thousands who have no Sabbath
Our railroad and steamboat systems
contribute largely to this unfortunate
state of affairs
I'VE are also exhorted to avoid
drunkenness, or drinking spirituous
liquors, unless in cases of necessity
On TINS question we have stood, and
will stand absolutely uncompromising.
There can be no quarter given 1t
must be fight to the finish. This
enemy of mankind to which the greater
part or crime, poverty, wretchedness
and death is directly traceable stands
in the light of Gods word absolutely
without excuse. To aid, abet, or coun-
tenance it in the slightest degree is but
to add strength to a crime upon which
tire CuIS6 Ol dOO
The giving or taking things on
usury' /. e., unlawful interest. When
the question is asked, Lord, who shall
abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall
dwell in Thy holy view?' The answer
from the skies is, He that putteth not
MS money to usury, nor taxeth reward
against the innocent
He is a dangerous citizen who will
take advantage of ones physical need
to increase his earnings by exorbitant
interest. When a poor, ignorant. needy
woman as last resort gives her child's
organ as security for few dollars.
and after paying in interest nearly the
original cost of the instrument dis
covers that she has never touched the
principal, it is high time to call
halt, and ask why such vampires are
allowed to exist in our community. In
suit is added to injury when we are
Informed that the husband made pos
sible this pitiful situation by giving to
the gambling hells that which rightful-
ly belonged to his wife and child
Again, we must avoid 'uncharitable
or Improbable conversation, particu-
larry sepaking evil of magistrates or of
ministers. We are expected to pray
for those who bear rule over us. Put
them in mind to\be subject to princi-
palities and powers to obey magis-
lidtSS, elC. InlS is a QuIy expected
at the hands of every American citi-
zen. In the execution of righteous laws
lies the peace. welfare and prosper
ity of the people. When the righte-
GUS are in authority the people rejoice:
but when the wicked beareth rule the
people mourn Prov. xxix:2
Religion is the mans life toward
God, and citizenship is the same mans
life toward the state. The greatest
need of the day is to bring civil life
under the influence of an enlightened
Christian conscience. 1t is the duty of
those who are placed over us in au-
thority to protect the rights and pro-
mote the welfare of its subjects If
they fail to do this, if it becomes ap-
parent that vice of every description is
allowed to exist, then to remain silent
and fail to cry out against it, is to
simply contribute to it's strength and
boldness. In the face. of these things
shall the pulpit keep silent; shall the
Waterman on the wall, for fear of be-
ing called a politician, fail to lift up
his voice and cry out?
IF so the very stones will cry out
The duty of the ministry is of the
most important nature, and connect
ed with the most awful responsibility
Usually those who are the quickest to
discount and speak evil of the man
of God because he speaks his convic-
lions are those whose lives will not
bear the closest scrutiny of the eye of
God. They talk of liberty, but their
liberty is opposed to the word of God.
to human comfort and social order.