The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-06
WE MAY BECOME
MONKEY NATION
DANGER OF RETRoeREsSIoN
THROUGH LOVE OF AMUSEMENT,
SAYS REV. A. NJ. WILLIAMS.


cesses-Cars Loaded with What
We Ought to Think of as Human
Souls But which Remind Us of
Gibbering Apes-The saloon, the
Hog EXcess-The Fox Excess-Re-
tail Merchants Made Effort 10
Force LawIess Merchants to Live
Up to the Laws.
From the subject Sabbath Excesses,"
Rev. A. M. Williams, pastor of Trim
ity Methodist Church, last night
preached a sermon in which he
made a strong plea for reasonable
observance Of the Sabbath.
The text was taken from Mark ii:27-
%: And he said unto them, the Sab
bath was made for man, and not man
for the Sabbath therefore, the Son of
Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.
THE institution of the Sabbath was
a provision for mans best good" said
DR.. Williams. 1T is an institution
of God to promote the higher nature.
Its purpose is nians perfection. Gods
commandment prescribing a Sabbath
is his declaration that that man has
a higher nature that needs protection
and development.
The ends to be secured are moral
culture, social perfection, and physical
rest. Mans welfare being the end of
this commandment, exact rules of OBJ
servance become a personal question.
No exact method of keeping the Sab
bath can be prescribed. Conditions
change with location, with civiliza ton,
with occupation. The essential thing
is the recognition of the institution and
the faithful effort to utilize it's oppor-
tunites for the perfection of ones char
| acter.
while exact observance must always
be the subject of personal considera-
ton, the nature of community life de-
mands the employment of certain gem
eral principles. 1t is as a result of
this principle that particular day is
set apart, that certain observances
are demanded, and that it becomes
necessary for governments to legisIate
on the subject"
Abuse of Sabbath Day.
DR.. Williams then began the discus
sion of the Sababth abuses, beginning
with what he termed the PharaSaical
abuses, caused by narrowness of mind
and insight. The popular abuses were
then discussed, and in speaking of
them he said:
First, is what l will call the mon
key excess The disposition to devote
the day to mere amusement is grow
ing. God desires us to laugh and en-
courage cheerfulness, but there is dan
ger of carrying this side of character
too far in this age. 1 very much fear
we will become a nation of monkeys
Instead of being evolved from balloons,
we are likely to be reduced to the order
of monkeys.
THE greatest efforts are being put
forth to provide Sunday frolics for the
people. You see the cars crowded with
loads of what ought to impress you as
being human souls, but what really ap-
pear as gtbbering monkeys. / do not
ask you to sit still all day, but l do
plead for enough time to think on the
seriousness of life and the Importance
of character building.
Hog Excess and OK Excess.
Next is the hog excess. The open
saloon, reaping its harvest of Satur-
days pay, is sad custom of our fair
city. Our police, 1 have no doubt,
point out to the country visitors more
barrooms by the hundred than they
ever make cases for the Recorder.
Il have just returned from visit
to an interior town. A gentleman
living there, while on a recent visit
to Savannah, tried a policeman. Just
TO see what ne WOulQ 90 he asked MIN
where he could get a drink. The Off
Ger of the law gave him detailed di-
rections how to reach the back door.
A curse of the day is the open Sunday
saloon.
Next is the OK excess, the constant
employment of labor on the Sabbath.
The army of Sunday workers is enor-
nous. There should be "a systematic,
steady, resistance of the number of men
employed on the Sabbath. Greed is
steadily increasing the number of men
taken away from church, from home
from rest.
Selling on Sunday.
Another excess is the fox excess,
the stealthy dealer pushing his wares.
The saloon is established and has fas-
| tened it's parasitic tooth on the sacred
day. The fruit stands are passed by
as a matter of course, and now comes
the dry goods, shoes, and notions
houses. Last fail l walked West Broad
street, a part of Bryan, and part of
Congress, and counted twenty-nine
open doors.
The Retail Merchants Association
has been aroused by the liberality
shown these people by the authorities.
The larger merchants pay their taxes
and keep the laws, and simple Justice
entities them to protection from law
less competitors.
/ | Iney complain TO the authorities
and are asked for proof. They pay
policemen to do the work, but the au-
thorities have the effrontery to demand
that they should make the cases. They
take the Mayor at his word, however,
and employ detectives. These go to the
courts What is their return? A re-
fusal to indict on the ground that it is
spy evidence.
Il read the oath of grand juror and
see nothing therein that says spy
evidence excuses from indicting. The
question is, Is there sufficient proof to
convict, considering one side of the
question alone?' But may be some of
the jury felt little guilty. 1t is barely
possible back doors of Broughton street
are kept open as well, only for accom-
mediation, of course. 1t will raise sus-
picion when straight forward evidence
is given when the speciousness of spy
is the only excuse given for failure"
$3.50 savannah to Washington and
Return, All Rail.
Southern Railway offers above round
trim all rail rate from Savannah 70