Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1908-12-11
Americas, Ga, Dec. 18th, 1905.
THE FAIR NAME OF A FAIR CITY

If they are correctly quoted the
present crop of Savannah ministers are
the hardest knockers Savannah has.
Here, for instance. is Rev. DR. Pick
ard, OF the Baptist church. quoted
as urging his brethren throughout the
state to pray for Savannah that it
may be saved from the sad fate of
certain ancient cities of Biblical fame
If DR.. Pickard is not grossly misrep-
resented-and we are hopeful and be-
Iieve that he is-he states that Saw
annah is under the control of foreig-
ners who have no regard for Chris
tianity or morality The evangelical
ministers of the city, he is said to
have declared, would be assassinated
if it were not for fear of the detec-
tives.
The Savannah newspapers complain
that that city is misrepresented by
the papers throughout Georgia. They
are quite savage at times in denounc-
ing newspapers for their sarcastic
filings at the lack of regard for law
in Savannah. But the truth of the
matter is that public sentiment
throughout the state in this regard
has largely been manufactured by
the ministers of Savannah. For some
years past the pulpit in that city has
lead the people in other parts of the
state to look upon Savannah as being
a very much worse city than it is now
or ever has been. The newspaper:
there should turn their batteries OF
the local clergy and not on the news
papers that have taken the cue from
the sermons preached in Savannah
frequently their main source Z in
formation as to its morals.
Savannah wears its "wickedness
on its face 1t is not a whitened Sc
pulchre, fair without and rottel
within. In other words Savannah i
not a hypoeritical city. 1t is no
one of the 'Holier-than thou" sor
that breaches again the failings of it
neighbors while practicing far NOR
grieyous sins itself. Savannah like
its beer and doesn't care whethe
the whole world knows it. Publ
sentiment there sees no frightfu
crime in a man taking drink
regards the prohibition law as
mockery and piece of demagogy, a
uncalIed for invasion of personal Ii
berty, and goes on its own way with
out regard to it. 1t refuses to wea
long and sanctimonious face, t
put on sack cloth and ashes, to tea
its hair and rend its garments
simulated piety. It believes lif
was meant to be an existence as fu'
of pleasure, of brightness, of sur
shine, of joy as possible, and havin
unusual opportunities to make lif
such it proposes to embrace them t
the fullest extent possible consisten
with reasonable standards. 1t is
joyous community, where good Wi
prevails, where men have somethin
more important to do than to be al
ways prying into other pee
pies private affairs or chasin
the almighty dollar, where generou
hearts respond promptly and liberal
~ to every call of charity. wher
every worthy cause enlists its work
ers and supporters by the thou
sands, where the sweeter and bette
side of life is not neglected for nam
mon and unrighteousness Regard
less as to what ministers may sa
about it it is a high toned, cultured
existence-enjoying community. 1t is
pity that it should be so PERSISTENT
nbeled, so recklessly DETAINED, sim
ply because it takes its drink with
out disguise and without an affee
tation of false shame.