The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-31
DESIGN FOR NEW
MUNICIPAL FLAG.
Continued from Eighth Page.

Continued from Eighth Page.
strated by direct and circumstantial
evidence of the highest value. When
see my name on a voting list in an
election when / did not vote, when l
see the names of numbers of the most
reliable men in the community on that
list and they tell me they did not vote,
when / see alphabetical lists of vot-
ers in such numbers and repetit1ons
as to make any other theory than that
of copying the registration lists alb
surd, 1 am not basing my exposure on
any mere hearsay. Mountain out OF
mole Hill if your moral sense can pal
late such perfidy.
Every sane man knows l am not
entering the political field when / eX-
pose fraud and demand pure elections.
The detective who finds thief in
1ewelry store is no more a jeweler
than I am a politician when l discuss
mis- iniquity. 1t is a question OF pure
morality. 1t is simple honesty.
"a man who steals a vote is as much
a thief as a defauhing collector. Con-
stantly l denounce the latter why
should I be held up to the public as
an odious character when l expose the
former. The only difference is that
ballot stealing is much more serious
offense, the primary cause OF the fall
ure to execute law.
'TO Gag the Pulpit"
Another purpose is apparent in the
editor legislators attack on me. 1t is
an assault with intent to gag the pull
pit. BY making it unpleasant and un-
popular for preacher to be outspoken
against evil he seeks to deter the pull
pit and prejudice the press.
Doubtless he knows l am a goner.
AS soon undertake to stay the
incoming tide with soap bubbles as to
restrain me with such tactics In all
respects I am at infinite distance from
my Master, but 1 have learned with
him to tread the wine press alone
Newspapers, letters from worthy men,
hundreds of men in private conversa-
ton, have given me cordial indorse-
ment in this incident. However, when
] feel a call to duty with God and right
on my side 1 ask no man to share my
burden.
"Other ministers. better in every
way than l. whom / love with all the
intensity of NV heart, are more sensi-
tive. Such attacks would deeply wound
their spirit. These noble men may be
affected by such criticism. Modestly
I desire to appeal to them all over our
state. Earnestly, 1 desire to appeal
to God-fearing men and women in the
pew. Do not muzzle your pulpit.
a section that needed a courageous,
outspoken pulpit like the present one
in the South.
s"rrainIng Public Opinion"
There are many evils that will new
er be treated unless the pulpit takes
them up. Public opinion needs train
ing and a rousing. The only avenue
in which it can be reached in too many
cases, is the pulpit. I sincerely be-
lieve that if the pulpit allows such
TRADES as these to affect its attitude
the cause of civic righteousness in the
South Is gone. When you consider
these the devil will make assault on
other. bulwarks and moral ruin will be
inevitable.
.
The nerve is frequently taken out
OF the pulpit by the pew. That is not
the case at Trinity. They stood TO
basco" Anthony four years and if they
have mind to dismiss me on any such
grounds the faintest whisper has not
reached my ears.
I'm the church generally, however,
there is too much of that feeling. Some
delight in the dim mystic light the
Org that soothes to sweet repose, Only
two, kinds of repose are approved of
God: That of the grave when work is
nobly done: that of the hero moving
mlSntlly against wrong, comment IN
his hold on God and the right. An
other class are those who would sit,
emphasis on sit and sing themselves
awayato everlasting bliss
They Are SuppressiOnfsts.
Others are connected directly, or in
directly with iniquitous practices that
need exposure. They are neither inn
mersionists, Calvanists, Arminians, but
sunnrsssionists.
They reason. If the preacher gets
to telling too much, he will tell on me
some day. The church needs to mend
or end a great many of it's members.
AS they now live, move and talk, they
hinder rather than help righteousness.
"A thorough beating of carpet may
raise the dust, but it is the only way
to clean it. Some of our church car
pets are badly in need of a cleaning.
Try a few remarks on lawlessness, cor
ruption at the polls. election frauds
and see II your aisles don't clean out.
'Ye are the salt of the earth How
can you prove it unless you rub it in
Alasl If it has lost it's SAVIOR where
with shall it be salted.' If the pulpit
meets the demand of the day it must
take the salt in hand and not take too
much time in performing it. The
church must not muzzle the mouth of
him whom God has appointed to tell
the people their transgressions.