Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-03-07
CLEAN THE STABLES
DR.. A. E. CRAIG DELIVERS LAST
ADDRESS IN "oTTUMWA
II GATES OF. HE'LL SERIES.

Scan the Aueean Stables Be
!. cIeansed7" Subject - Large Audi
enee Hears Eloquent Pastor at First
Methodist Episcopal Church.
"Can the Augean Stables Be
Cleansed?" formed the topic of the
sermon delivered last evening at the
First Methodist Episcopal church by
the pastor, DR.. A. e. Craig. The SER
mon was the sixth and last in the
"Ottumwa's Gates OF He'll" series de-
livered on the Sunday evenings of the
past six weeks by DR.. Craig.
A splendid audience filled the big
auditorium to overlooking and the at
tendance was perhaps larger than at
any previous one of the addresses.
DR. Craig's address was as follows:
1.-THE trees went forth on time to
anoint king over them; and they
over us. But the olive said unto them,
should leave my fairness, wherewith
by me they honor God and man and
go to be promoted over the trees?
And the trees said unto the figtree,
come thou and reign over us. But the
fig tree said unto them, should for.
sake my sweetness, and my good fruit,
and go to be promoted over the trees?
Then said the trees unto the vine,
come thou and reign over us. And the
vine said unto them, should leave my
wine which cheereth God and man,
and go to be promoted over the trees?
Then said all the trees unto the BRAN.
BILE, come thou and reign over us. And
the BRAN BILE said unto the trees, If in
truth We anoint me king over you, then
come and put your trust in my shadow,
and If not let fire come out of the
bramble and devour the cedars OF Leb.
anon. Judges TX, 8-15.
Among the stories that come to US
out Of the cloudland of the early class
les. is the inspiring story Of the twelve
labors of Hercules, the hero of the
Greeks. Among these labors was that
of cleansing the stables of Augeias, the
son Of Helios. Augeias had, consist.
emily with his being a descendant of
the sun-god, immense wealth of herds.
The task Of Hercules was to clear out
all his stalls In one day without help.
This he did by making an opening in
the wall and turning the stream Me.
MOS through them.
Purging Streams Of Public Opinion.
Il we are ever to see the Augean
stables Of civic corruption and filth
cleaned out it can only be accom-
plished by making an opening into the
walls Of our city and turning through
them the purging streams of public
opinion as expressed in the will of an
aroused people at the ballot box. Il
will be a Herculean task to accom-
plish this, but believe it can be done
The city is the sore spot in oul
American civilization. James Bryce
that eminent Englishman who has
written so appreciatively of things
American, is compelled to admit that
the American city is the one weak
place in our system of democracy, ant
that If ever our system of representa-
tive government breaks down it viii
be at this point. A recent writer has
issued a work entitled "The Shame O.
the Cities" in which he lays wide opeI
the fragrant corruption that prevails II
all our great American cities. The pic
ture Is a most gruesome one, and mus
compel thoughtful citizens to pause
and ask whittier is this thing to q
Are we to continue on our downward
course till all shame is gone and WI
endorse unblushingly the most out
rageous conditions
I think there are tokens of a new
era. Citizens are becoming aroused
to the immensely of the evil and thu
imminence of the peril. From all d1
rections we hear Of an awakening o
the civic conscience, and that is Ger
tainly all that is needed to reclaim on
fair cities from the grip of vice ant
restore them to their place of homo
and purity.
Certain Guiding Principles.
/ am to endeavor to outline for gu
citizens certain guiding principles tina
may be of value in their determine
effort to reclaim our own beloved cit,
from the grip of corrupt conditions
Let me say at the beginning that l d
not intend to undertake the instrue
ton of politicians on the intricacies 0
political manipulation. There ar
many here that are vastly bette
yersed in these things than | am, an
II would De pTeSumpllSu vi Ivy pal
to assume to direct in matters OF thi
kind, to say nothing about the lack
propriety on the part Of Christia
minister in mingling in such affairs
But I do insist that 1t is not only m
right, but it is my duty as publ
teacher to do what can to instruct j
the underlying principles of moralit
and righteousness which must ente
as vital part into such movement
shall content myself then with layin
down certain fundamental facts touci
ing this important subject.
Let me strongly urge that If such
movement is successfully led, ther
must be man to lead it. The theor
Of modern governm ent, especially
cities is to concentrate much power
the hands of the mayor, and the
make him responsible for conditions
That is the situation with us. TT
mayor Of our city has in his hands tt
appointment of the chief of police ar
practically dictates the moral polio
of the administration. So say v
,,,ue+ have a man for the place III