The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-27
A ONE MAN
CRUSADE
Bv M QUAD
Copyright. 1919. by Associated lit
erary Press = =

and a political ring in the town
He found one-half too many saloons
for town of its population
He found the sheriff of the county
and his deputies and the constable IN
cahoots with the tough element
The justice Of the peace Was the
keeper of q saloon and passed drinks
over the bar. and he protected his own
sort when it came to legal troubles
why don't you do something ne
asked of merchant Of the town who
was a representative of the better eie-
ment
"And get boycctted and driven into
bankruptcy"' was asked in return
els it as bad as that?"'
1.-THE gang has us by the neck and
has Us scared We have no leader"
{ A few weeks later, when ready tn
take up his ministerial duties. Mr. Ste
vens asked to be sent to Newbern-
"But we have a minister there" WAS
replied
) "But he has lost nearly all of bis con-
gregation."
"Yes, the reports from that parish
are not at all cheering, and | believe
Brother Baker would welcome a trans
fer You know it's one Of the hardest
towns in the state"
81 have spent four days there"
1.-THE cause Of religion IS reported AS
very lukewarm."
81 didn't know that there was any
there at ALL" smiled the minister.
'fWell. yon'n he appointed to the
place. 1 hope you may stir things np."
The Rev Mr.. Stevens arrived. Fe
started out with a sermon that jolted
and Jared He spared neither Chris
tan nor sinner. While he criticised
the former for lack of backbone. be
plainly told the latter that the crisis
had come. The crisis meant decency
and reform without any shame about
It After the sermon he fingered to
talk with members of his congregation.
He found them looking forward with
great timidity. II he tarted a crusade
he must not exDect any active help from
them They were thoroughly cowed.
This is to be one man crusade"
he answered them. II did not expert
your aid. and so I'm not disappointed"
Monday morning the crusade open
, ed Mr. Stevens visited the sheriff.
and. without any beating around the
bush. he said:
"Sherif. / am the new minister"
"YesY'
81 am going for yorr crowd tooth
and toe nail"
asked
Because it ia. There are violations
Of the law every hour of the day. and
yop stand by without Interference
You drink in every saloon. and yorl
comrade with every !awbreaker. It's
the same with your deputies and the
constahles. It's got TO stop. Yon have
got TO do yonr sworn duty"
Another reformer struck the town.
eh?'' was the insulting reply.
The sheriff went from saloon TO sa-
loon and laughed at the reformer and
said there should be no interference
from him Within two weeks he was
removed and another man named by
the minister was in his shoes. The
citizens of Newborn were stunned. It
seemed Incredible.
The Rev. Mt Stevens visited the JUS
tee i'm his saloon and sold:
Its for you TO enforce the law, and
here yon are among the lawbreakers,
The others are depending upon yon to
dismiss any complaint made against
them. What course are you going 70
takeT'
. ''None of yonr husineSSr'
The next day the minister complain
ed of nine saloons which had violated
the law. Each one Of them was dis
missed Inside Of twenty days the old
justice was out and new one In
There were ordinances against SIM
day sports They had not been en-
forced in i've years They came TO
the front now No more baseball or
horse racing
BEAT the meddler up!" was whisner-
ed. and shake purse was made up
to reward n scrapper for doing it,
He started out with great ardor to
make two minute job of it, but it
lasted only half that time. The min
lister knocked him out with jab on
the jaw and then had him arrested and
fined for diSorderly conduct
Then a public meeting was called at
a hall. and the minister did some tall
talking He put heart into the decent
citizens so strongly that they came
out boldly To his support, and the OPP
position saw that their cause was lost
One thing Tore The Rev Sr. Ste
vens Srom his pulpit raked the citi-
gems of Newbern as they had never
beard a minister talk before They
owed duty TO God and to man They
must show up at church, whether they
were Christians or not The Sunday
school must be reSurrected There
must be church work Religion and
politics must mix until every office ~
the county was filed By decent man
The devil had had possession OF New
bern long enough. Now he must De
Knocked down and dragged out