Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-03-10
Methodist Pastor Denounces
Lawnessness With
Great Vigor.
PRAISES L. & o. LEAGUE
Declares Public Sentiment
Is Aroused And People
Will Fight For Peace.

Probably no city in Kentucky is
blessedwith more faithful, devoted
and courageous ministry than Hop.
kinsville. Almost without exception
the pastors of the city have preach
ed sermon after sermon to mould
public opinion against the prevailing
lawlessness and bring about re-
spect for law and order. Most of
them have preached special sermons,
fearlessly denouncing all forms of
lawlessness and pleading for return
to peace and quietude. A sermon of
this kind was preached Sunday night
by Rev Geo. H. Means, pastor of the
Methodist church, whose subject
was The Lawful and the Lawless.
1t was heard by large congregation
in spite of the inclement weather.
The body of the discourse was devot-
ed to the lawful, being a strong
plea for right, business between man
and man and for the application of
the golden rule. Toward the close
he took up the depredations of night
riders and told of the destruction of
seven warehouses, of the whipping
of Sc men and the shooting up of a
number of cities and towns. "They
have done all this" he vehemently
declared land played the devil gen.
orally, in utter contempt Of law and
christianity. He saidthe night riders
had not confined their outrages to
their enemies, but had made warfare
on the innocent, on those who knew
nothing of their grievances, real or
imaginary. He told how they shot
into his own house. forcing him to
lie down on the floor TO escape their
bullets, and that when he was almost a
stranger in the town. He said such
crimes as this were putting into mo-
ton forces reused by public senti-
ment that viii destroy this wave of
anarchy that is disgracing the State
of kentucky. The people will not
submit to a reign of crime and ter
ror. A courageous Governor will
try his best to stop it.
If he fails martial law, will surely
he invoked and the guilty will be ar
rested by Federal soldiers, condemn
ed and shot. He described the hor-
rors of martial law and said he had |
seen many a man tried and executed I
whom he believed was innocent. |
Martial law is awful, but it brings
complete and lasting peace.
The night riders are fortunate in
not becoming victims of retaliation.
This is one of dangers they must
face if they continue their career of
crime. Then no mans property |
would be safe. He closed by up
holding the good work of the Law
and Order League, and spoke of the
complete transformation in public
opinion within the last sixty days.
A thousand members were banded
together and applications pouring
in. Other towns were catching the
spirit of the brave people of Hop
kinsville. Versailles, Mt. Sterling,
New Castle and other cities have
formed leagues. The people of
Hopkinsville are no longer afraid to
talk. The sympathizers with law
lessness are out numbered ten to
one and hundreds of determined and
brave men are armed and equipped
to fight for their homes, and see
that no mob ever again catches the
city mapping. They will protect the
city with their lives and let the
world know that at least one city in
Kentucky is now and forever on the
side of law and order.
DIR. Means discourse was strong,
vigorous and outspoken. Such
brave pulpit speakers as he, are
needed in present crisis. Kentucky
would be fortunate if it had such
grand old man" in every pulpit in
the State.