The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-25
NEED LEADER OF
SINGLE PURPOSE
THE MULTITUDE NO GUIDE.
TO PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
SAID REV. 4. NJ. WILLIAMS.

God Is Higher Than Public senti-
ment, Though Modern Tendency
Is to Make the viii of the Multi
tude supreme+-This Tendency
shown in Attitude Assumed By
ThunderbOlt Management in Con-
ferring with Ministerial Com
mittee, Declared DIR. williams.
From the subject, (Which Shall Rule.
! God or Public Sentiment" Rev. DIR.
A. NJ. Williams, pastor of Trinity
Methodist Church, last night discus
sed a subject which has been promi-
nently brought before the public re-
! Gently. The text was taken from
Exodus, 1872: Thou shalt not follow
a multitude to do evil"
| THAT the question, is there any
evil?" is pertinent is shown in the pre-
valence of moral scepticism," said DR..
| Williams. 1.-The foundation principles
of morality are called in question,
doubted, and set aside. We have to
face an effort to overthrow the ethical
system through which society exists.
! Every form of iniquity has its apollo
| gists and advocates. There has not
been a blow at fundamental righteous
ness that so-called religious teachers
have not been enlisted in its applause.
sabbath Question Shifted.
The Sabbath question has so shift
ed that we may well ask as to whether
we have any friends that support it.
The family has been undermined by
irreverence among children, laxity in
family government promoted by lati-
tudinarian humor on discipline. Di-
vorce has multiplied. Dishonesty in
| slightly disguised form has become
the gateway to social preferment. Vio-
lence is condoned and the thoughtful
observer has frequently to ask. Is
! there any eVil?'
Evil" continued DR.. Williams, lis
| that which does harm to the human.
BY the human 1 mean all, and not the
individual alone Evil as such does
exist. Dishonesty whether in high
way robbery or stock gambling is
evil. Godlessness is evil, Righteousness
is evil.
The ThunderbOIt Affair.
Some recent deliverances would
make public sentiment-the multitudes
of our Textile criterion of evil.
"A company of ministers visit the
/
| pany and call attention to a palpable
violation of law. Politely they ac-
| knowledge the facts, audaciously de-
| clare their intention to continue to
defy the law of God and of the state,
and confidently assert that the multi
tude is above God and the state and
| will vindicate them.
| Il do not know whether to call this
demagoguery or dollargoguery, wheth-
er the multitude leads these men, or
the love of the dollar. The fact re-
mains, however that they follow the
multitude to do evil.
Call the attention of the authorities
to Sunday liquor selling, to the policy
lottery, to the gambling hell, and the
excuse is the multitude. These money
grabbers. officeholders, and ease
seekers have constituted themselves a
new revision commission. They have
erased Thou shalt not follow the null
titude to do evil and written in If
the multitude wants it it is right.
Must Raise the Masses.
History teaches that all progress
has been made by the few reaching
hight UP the hill of advance, holding
it, and bringing the masses to that
elevation. The strenuous efforts of the
martyrs, the heroes, the leaders of the
past to bring the race to higher plains
of living, are discounted by opportun-
lists. Reaction has. set in, and all the
work of the past is to be abandoned
while the race become degraded.
"A study of the multitude produces
doubt as to the correctness of these
theories. Multitudes are more often
lead than leaders. Some selfish in
terest strikes a chord of inclination in
the popular mind, breaches an extern
uated doctrine, assumes leadership
gathers in the spoils and then holds
the multitude between itself and criti-
cism. True patriotism seeks the right
and strives to lead the multitude
therein.
Must Serve God.
Following the multitude to do evil
never lifted any people in the scale
of moral living. The only way is to
serve God.
God is the all wise. just, and good
one. He alone knows what is best
for man. He has revealed that wis
dom in the ten commandments, and
in the sermon on the mount. In Scrip
tural text and Biblical example he
has given full commentary on the law
and its application. Study that. Fol-
low that and not the multitude
IAN incident in the history of Israel
illustrates this point. While Moses
is on the mountain learning the will
of God, Aaron yields to the multitude
and moulds the golden calf, then leads
the people to it's worship.
History repeats itself. We have
many Weakened, yielding Christians,
like the old Jewish priest goden-calf
worshippers, allowing their charge to
drift into ruin. We need men of sim
gle purpose, frm-hearted, to seek the
will of God in the mountain silence"