The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1913-07-04
Attacks Theory That Things
Which are Bad are Financially
Necessary-Ohedience to Law
is the Evolution of Progress.
Augusta Minister in Strong
Sermon Scores Evil-dOers.
augusta Chronicle)

iSfH2CIanSS OnlOu W 1HSIlCuCe
crusade in Augusta, and as a result
of their petition to him, Rev. S. P.
Wiggins, pastor of ST. John Meth
odist church, asked that question in
his sermon yesterday on the topic of
"a Clean City,"
Asking the question, MAY not the
preacher speak as wisely as the ply
sician," DR.. Virgins, almost at the
outset of his remarks, declared that,
among the things generally accept
ed as making city unclean morally
are drunkenness, RIGHTEOUSNESS and
gambling" He declared, too, that
when an effort is made to eradicate
these evils /. there are those who
claim that, in large city, these
things are necessary" But this DR..
Virgins disputes.
The petition sent by the w. c. T.
u, and which it is understood goes
to every church in the city, asked
that the pastor put the question of
temperance crusade to a vote in the
congregation of the several churches.
The question voted on is whether or
not the churches will ask the mayor
and city council to enforce the pro-
hibition law. When Dr. Virgins
submitted the matter to a vote at
st. Johns church yesterday the re-
suit was unanimously in the affirm
ative.
DR.. Virgins Sermon.
Revelation begins with man in a
garden; it closes with man in a city.
1t even gives us description of that
city-a holy city, clean, pure, safe,
beautiful. 1t is no accident that the
scriptures record man going up from
a garden to city. 1t is the philoso-
ply Of history. 1t is in obedience TO
the law of evolutionary progress 1t
is the purpose and plan of God.
Therefore is it not of the highest
wisdom that we study to make our
cities, especially our own beloved
city, to approach unto the pattern
that God has given us-a beautiful,
righteous, a clean city? We be-
lieve in and look for the sanitary
city-a city free from contagion,
from infectious diseases and disor-
ders. Science speaks and we obey.
Shall we not as fully believe in and
as hopefully look for a righteous
city-free from moral contagion,
from evil and wicked forces and con-
ditions? May not religion speak as
authoritatively as science? May not
the preacher speak as wisely as the
physician? If the physician speaks
by the wisdom of service, the preach
er speaks by the wisdom of the
Word of God.
Among the things generally ac-
cepted as making a city unclean NOR
ally are drunkenness, RIGHTEOUSNESS
and gambling. But when an effort
is made to eradicate these evils and
have clean city, there are those
who claim that in large city these
things are necessary Now why
necessary in the city any more than
in the individual? If they are wrong
for the city. The foundation of char
acter for the individual is the truth
of God, and the only sane and per-
manent foundation for the character
of the city must be likewise the truth
of God, for city is but collection
of individuals.
But why necessary to have NOR
al contagion and uncleanliness any
more than physical contagion and un-
cleanliness We are passing and en-
forcing the strongest possible laws,
yes, even statewide laws, for sani-
tation against infectious diseases
and conditions. And we are told that
this is constructive and eminently
practical legislation But drunken
ness, licentiousness, ands gambling,
make city unclean morally. Then
why not laws, even state wide laws |
(if you please) that will seek to re-
move the sources and places of in
fection for this moral uncleanliness
be constructive and eminently prac-
tical legislation which will protect |
and improve the people, and effect |
more productive citizenship
Outlaw the Bad Things.
1--WE the thoroughly convinced that
unsanitary conditions are no longer |
necessary and so we outlaw them,
But even more emphatically true is it
that unclean. moral conditions and
sources of infection are no longer
necessary then why not outlaw
them? But you explain, they are
necessary because some want them.
All, 1T is then not necessity but de-