The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-16
THE PROPER REMEDY
REV. A. NJ. WILLIAMS SAYS COURTS
ERR IN NOT
IMPRISoNING THE GAMBLERS.
HOW HE THINKS THE COURTS ARE
MESMERIZED.


Could be Openly Approached
with a nribe.
In his sermon on Moral Mesmerism
or the Occult Influence Operating
against the Efficient Administration of
some of our Laws" Rev. A. NJ. Will
liams had more to say last night on
the gambling evil in Savannah and
the manner in which he considers the
criminal laws are administered by the
courts. His sermon was interesting,
holding the attention of a large au-
dience from first to last.
In introducing his subject Mr. Will
liams said he wished it understood
that he was responsible for every
word he uttered from the pulpit, just
as any other man would be. He intimat-
ed that he was not hiding behind the
cloth" and said emphatically that he
did not like the term Cloth" as
applied to the ministry.
Il desire it understood that I speak
from the preachers point of view for
the good Of the people, but I speak
with the responsibility of a man. I do
not like the term cloth as applied to
the ministry. l wear the same clothes
in the pulpit that l wear on the streets
and make no special claim for any
favor as a preacher. I do not mean
that will fight any duels. 1 am OPP
posed on principle to the duel, and
then the law of Georgia forbids them.
1 stand for law enforcement, not law
breaking.
There is no law against self de-
Tense. The last time l was examined
for life insurance the doctor said
was built for a prize fighter. l am
not now in very good condition for
running. Moreover. l do not propose
to enter into any newspaper con-
troversies. If any body attacks me
through the newspapers and 1 do not
reply you are forewarned of my
rule.
Il have announced as my subject
Moral Mesmerism," said Mr.. Williams.
Last Sunday in a sermon relative to
the progress of Savannah for five
years l stated that gambling was prev
alent. that it's treatment in the courts
implied an understanding of some
kind, that there was sort of mes
merism, hypnotism or like infatuation
S-NClNlfNtu ~ lllE EdiilDlluB elGHleHI
over the courts. l used the term court
as a layman, meaning all the ma
chinery of arrest, trial and sentence,
not the technical use now applied to
the term.
Inspired by No One.
Some discussion has occurred dur
ing the week. This discussion Is re-
sponsible for this sermon. 1 want to
reaffirm my sermon and show what is
implied in the mesmerism of which
spoke. Before proceeding l want to
say now once for all that 1 am respon-
sible for my sermons on current 49,
sues. No man inspires them. l rare
~ ever discuss the advisabiity of
preaching on one of these subjects. My
wife has more to risk than anybody
else. 1 ask her if she is prepared for
the worst that may befall us, and in
thirty years she has never faltered
and never said no.
Bear with me while l declare that
in preaching / act from no personal
feeling or purpose. And here Mr..
Williams paused in his discourse to
have a window raised, as the air in
the room was becoming warm. 81 dis
cuss situations and conditions. If men
are elements of the situation it is not
my fault. L am making caps tonight.
1 propose to let the public do the fit
ting. If any man picks up a cap and
fits it, he is responsible, not 1. Neither
do speak for any political party, fac
lion or creed. In city politics l love
to commend. 1t gave me great pleas
ure the other night to commend the
Mayor for the prompt suppression of
a proposed Sunday baseball game.
Il believe that a preacher has a
solemn relation to public life as we'll
as private experience. In connection
with this question of gambling l be-
lieve every citizen has a solemn duty
TO perform My duty is not that of
detective. l present matters that
believe to be true. l am morally GER
tain they are. They could soon be es-
tablished on legal evidence.
Visited Policy shops.
1--WE have laws in our code against
gambling. Those laws are good. They
are freely openly widely violated in
this community. The prevalence of
the policy shops is alarming. Ina
short walk yesterday / located ten. A
friend and 1 went to one place where
We saw the tickets, the tables, the
stamp and ascertained what time the
drawing would take place. If we had
wanted to invest we could have done
so. When l said that I supposed
there were a hundred such places in
savannah, man standing near in
formed me that there were a thousand.
The negroes we met freely pointed
them out. At one place a lad had the
tickets for sale. White boys are pat
roniZing them. 1t is even alleged
that white women living on prominent
streets invest in them
The existence, holiness, pertinacity
of the evil shows that our laws are
not efficiently administered. There
may be several causes for this state
of things. The most apparent to me
is the manner in which the courts deal
with the subject. The imposition of
simple fine is considered a virtual Ii
cense. The continuance of this policy
indicates that there is not a real and
determined effort to suppress the evil
several prominent lawyers have ex-
pressed their opinion that if the Judges
would change their policy and send
these offenders to the Changing or to
jail the evil would be broken up. Now
suppose one of those gentlemen should
be appointed or elected judge. When
the first case comes before him, If he
should content himself with only i'm
posing lne what inference would l
be justified in drawing? Would 1 not
have the right to conclude that some
mesmerism, hypnotism or other in
1atuation had come upon him?
Mesmerism is an influence exercised
over the will of another in which the
operator dominates and controls the
action Of his subject. How then can
court become mesmerized? What
kind Of influence can so effect the mind
OF the court as to virtually license an
eWl like gambling?
Influence of Money.
zone Of these influences is money. I