The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-31
PREACHER SCORES
 CIVIC CORRUPT|ON Protests Against the Prevalence
 of Graft in Politics SERMON OF REV. MR. MOORE Refers to Charges Against a Police commissioner-A General Re-
 formation Is All That Will
 Save the Nation.
SERMON OF REV. MIR. MOORE

The Rev. Dr. A R. Moore, pastor Of the First Christian church, preached last night on the subject of "Civic Righteous ness" In the course of his remarks about the corruption existing in nation, state and city he referred to the charges re- gently preferred and investigated in which it was alleged that police commissioner had intimdated and interfered with po- Hoe officers in the discharge of their du- ties.
 Dr. Moore stated that public sentiment should demand that further action be taken in order to prevent the repetition of such an act as alleged in the charges of the Mayor The pastor spoke of the pre- valence of graft in the administration Of the affairs of the government and said that 1t was the result of an uncontroll- able desire on the part of many officials to get money.
 Taking as bis text the passage from Proverbs 14:S4; Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people," the pastor said:
 Nations are like individuals; they stand or fall according to their character. God recons with the nation as we'll as with the individual. He has chosen na- tions and cast off nations; he has set up thrones and overturned kingdoms.
 Tn all cases character has been the test. It is as essential to the nation as 1t is to the individual. Character is deter mined by national principles and national life. Righteousness exalts. while sin de- bases ard overthrows. No one knew this better than King Solomon and this saying of the wise man is fully sustained by his- tory.
 Israel an Example.
 "The exaltation of ancient Israel Is an illustrious example of this law. God rais- ed up this chosen people from an obscure family and made of them great nation. He gave them great power and great name in the world, and this continued as long as the divine law was obeyed and the people were true to It's precepts.
 "Germany has been made great na- ton. Her home life and her religion lie at the foundation of this greatness. ITedt DfltdlN tilJoSS tai bo iANSNcAii ff% ~ ligious matters and gives to the world some of the most gealous propogators of religion. America has followed England' s footsteps with greater religious freedom equal enthusiasm, but with less reverence for sacred things. God has made great nations of these countries, and world powers rank according to the degree with which the laws of Christianity are -obeyed and regarded.
 ..on the other hand sin is a reproach to any people Proud Babylon is but a heap of ruin, the habitat of owls. bats and jackals Ancient Rome fell because of it's own luxurious and corrupting wealth. A few years ago the king of Spain welded the seeptre over an empfre that belted the globe. Selfishness, greed and arrogant pride have led to repeated losses and humiliation.
 Money! Money is the cry of the age. Money we must and will have. That seems to be the well-ngh universal motto of the age The wicked earneth deceitful wages'-was anything ever truer than that? That means bribery much money black mall. rake off knock down. forgery. embezzlement. stealing anything but the hard earned money of earnest toll
 Take for instance the scandal of the agricultural department Trusted em- ployes received large sums of money in exchange for tips on forthcoming reports of crop conditions Graft has gone fur ther than that. A lieutenant governor of one of our states was mixed up in a shameful bribery case. and two United States senators have recently been con- victed of robbing the government of pub lie lands.
 Local Conditions.
 But let us come closer home A police commissioner whose sworn duty it is to uphold the majesty of the law has been charged by the honorable mayor with intimidating and interfering with police officers in the discharge of their duties. The license of the saloon where the a1- legged offense occurred has been revoked. But is that all that is to be done about the matter? There should be such an awakening of public sentiment as to render the recurrence of such an act inn possible.
 What is the meaning of the removal of the fairgrounds from the old location? Is it the purpose to get outside of the city limits so as to escape the city laws against pool selling and betting? Is it easier to evade the state laws than it Is to escape the city authorities? Where Is the sheriff and what will he do if the law against pool selling is violated?
 Tt has come to my ears that an organ ization is being perfected to go before the next legislature in an endeavor to secure the repeal of the laws against pool selling. What will the people do Their voice is sovereign Will they in- sist that righteousness shall prevail or will they submit to the rule of the sa- loon and gambling room?
 Tt is proposed to establish in Birming- ham red light district. the effect of which would be to legalize an illegal and