Smyrna times., 1903-05-06
PASTOR COLLINS SERMON ON BRIBERY
Held the Attention of a Large Congregation
Sunday Morning at Asbury Nj. e. Church.


sermon on the opening of the Della
ware State Temperance Alliance cam
palgn, Pastor Collins, last Sunday
morning, held the attention of a large
congregation on sermon against brib-
cry. His text was taken from the fifth |
chapter of Amos and 10Th verse Gas |
II man did flee from lion and bear
met him; or went into the house and |
leaned his hand on the wall, and
serpent bit him." The speaker de-
scrlbed the conditions prevailing In
Israel during the time of the prophet,
when because of political intrigue the
rulers of Israel deemed it wise to bribe
Ben-Hadab, king of Syria, to stand
with them in order to ward off the
danger threatened them from Egypt.
1t was time when bribery ran riot.
As the prophet Micah declared, ruler
priest and prophet, all were dominated
by bribes and gave their services for
reward Amos declares that by thus
depending upon bribes to keep them
Israel was laying up more certain ruin
for itself; for the friends that were
thus bought with bribes would prove
the ruin of the nation. Their condi-
ton was pitiable, as a man fleeing from
lion egypt; but still they had some
chance of escaping the lion, because
the lion is e sly beast, but a coward.
Yet while fleeing from the lion they
were running directly into the Jaws of
bear (Syrial, and the bear would
rend the prey IsraeD without mercy.
Worse still, while Israel was thus en-
deavoring to keep out of danger by
bribing enemies to fight one another
1t was by the very act of bribery
bringing an insiduous poison into the
body polite more dangerous than
Egypt or Syria-as though man flee
ing from both lion and bear hastened
to his home for safety, and there in the
sanctity of the home circle leaned
against the wall to rest himself, when
10! serpent stings him. What are
dangers from lion or bear compared to
this serpent's sting Every artery
seems forcing jets of poisoned flame
coursing through the body; the mad
dening flow grows hot and hotter still.
Brain reels; heart throbs with electric
force and frequency; eyes grow dim;
convulsive shudder, and-death comes
to remove the foolish one who be-
lieved bribes would be cure for po-
litical oppression and corruption. The
prophecy of Amos was literally full
filled. When a little later Shalman-
ezer came, Israel could not raise bribes
enough to turn away his wrath; and
Israel fell to rise no more forever.
Did Not Dwell Much on Delaware.
From this Bible lesson the speaker
drew an analogy of present conditions
in different States of the Union, as
New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri,
Montana, and last of all, Delaware
He did not dwell at length upon details
OF Delaware politics because as he
said, ''Tou to whom 1 speak know
more of the details of the buying and
selling of votes than 1 can possibly
know" The subject was treated from
the biblical standpoint, the question
being asked, "What does the Bible
tell me concerning bribery ?" Several
passages of scripture were quoted
which proved: % The Bible condemns
the receiving of brlbes. (2) The Bible
J condemns the giving of bribes. g.
1 The Bible teaches that the effect oil
) bribes is disastrous (4) That the
t 'tents of bribery shall be destroyed. ,
The Bribe-Taker and the Brlbe- -Giver.
The speaker then read the resolu
tions adopted by Wilmington Annua
. Conference at its recent session in
EastOn to show what Methodist
preachers say concerning bribe-taking
and bribe-giving; and then read tn,
= section from the Constitution of Della
ware to show what even Delaware pol
itic1ans have to say concerning it, anC
to prove how strongly Delaware Law
condemns it. The question was thel
asked, eff bribery is so thorough,
condemned by the fundamental law o
II the State, and there is so much brib
y cry being accomplished, why are no
i our court calendars crowded wit
:, trials for violations of this law 2" Th
=, answer was because all the political pal
= ties in the position of the men who ar
= brought the adulterous woman to tn
- Master, when he said, ''Let him ths
:, is without sin cast the first stone
\ not stone was thrown. No politics
. party in Delaware, nor any faction c
q any party, dares to start crusad
- against bribery, because all are equal
0uiltv TT is rank hvDOorisv for an