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COMMISSIONS WILL STAND.
MAYOR MELDHKI CONCEDES THE
DEFEAT OF THE HE PE VL BILLS.
Senatorial Courtesy and Political
Alliances Too Strom; to Rr Over
come, He Snjs—Commission Hills
of Small Importance, He Thinks,
Beside the Greater Question ot the
Government of Snvnnnnli by l.ea
lslntion by Way of Atlnnta-Sena
tor Geiger Mould Not Argue These
Questions With lliin. But Told Him
to Go Before the Committee.
Representatives Meldrim, Dunean and
McDonough spent yesterday In the city.
Mayor Meldrim and Dr. Duncan re
turned to Atlanta last night. Mayor ,
Meldrim, when seen at his home, discuss- |
ed the commission question and other ;
matters now before the assembly freely.
When asked as to the probable action of ;
the Senate upon the commission repeal t
bills, he said:
“I do not think it at all probable that
we will be able to overcome the so-called
senatorial courtesy. A number of gentle
men have made promises to Senator Gei
ger, which puts their support out of the
question, so far as we are concerned. I
have never entertained any great hopes
of being able to overcome this thing of
senatorial courtesy. The interposition of
Senator Clay and Judge Gober had con
siderable effect. Judge Gober doubtless
smarting from his recent defeat for the
vacancy on the supreme court bench, and
Clay doing the bidding of others. The
senators seemed to be reluctant to dis
cuss the question. Stnator Geiger even
would not discuss the question with me,
but simply requested that I would argue
the matter before the committee.
“The question of commissions or no com
missions is of no great importance,” con
tinued Mayor Meldrim, “assuming the
personnel of the commissions to be sat
isfactory. The question whether Savan
nah should control her own affairs or
whether they should be controlled by leg
islation from Atlanta is one of vital im
portance. Savannah occupies, In this re
spect, the same position as many other
cities throughout the country. One of the
great problems of municipal government
Is to determine how a city can be gov
erned without constant legislative inter
ference. St. Louis had this problem to set
tle recently, and settled it in favor of
local self-government. As matters stand
to-fiay, I am charged with the preserva
tion of the good order of the city, and
yet I cannot order the arrest of a man on
the streets who may be grossly violating
a law of the state or an ordinance of the
city. In case of a riot on the wharves,
for instance, I would have authority to
order out the military, but I would have
no authority to order out the police force.
There is a bill now pending in the legis
lature giving the power to the mayor to
command the police force, but it is coupled
with the deprivation of the right of the
chief to recommend appointments to the
force
"In a word,’’ said Mayor Meldrim.
“Where an administration is charged with
the responsibility of government it ought
to be clothed with the power of execution.
The tru*l idea of municipal government, in
my opinion, is that the mayor and alder
men should be held directly responsible to
the people, and that the mayor should
have the right to appoint, subject to con
firmation by council, the heads of the sev
eral departments, and he should hold the
heads of these departments to a strict re
sponsibilty for the discharge of their du
ties. He should be given the right to re
move them. These heads of departments
should have the power to ap
point and to remove their sub
ordinates, but the subordinates should
be under civil service rules and should
riot be removable except for cause. Heads
of departments should report to the mayor
daily or weekly, as the case might be, so
that the head of the city government
should at all times be in touch with, and
have full knowledge of every department.
This view, while it is the view' of the best
thinkers on the subject, will probably nev
er be generally adopted for the reason that
Its purpose is for the general good and does
not seek to promote the interests of spoils
men. I had hoped to have embodied by
an amendment to the city charter this idea
into our corporate life, but where every
effort looking to better city government is
fought by politicians and placemen from
every section of the state I have deemed
It fruitless to undertake it. I had hoped
to have discussed these views with Sena
tor Geiger, but when I approached him on
the subject of municipal government, he
simply threw up his hands, said that I was
a lawyer, and that he could these
questions with me, and Tagged that
I would argue them before the committee.
'The great vice in the commission idea,’’
continued Mayor Meldrim, "is that there
is no assurance that the commissions will
work in harmony with the mayor and al
dermen, and where there is that want of
harmony no economic and progressive city
government can exist. But whether the
commissions are to be continued or dis
continued Is of little importance as com
pared with the outrage of the city being
placed at the mercy of alien politicians
from al! over the state, who, banded to
gether their own interests, feel bound to
support one or the other Irrespective of
the rights involved.
"To illustrate the arguments which were
used against us, a senator from one ot the
northern districts said that he was in
formed by a Savannah commissioner that
the present city government was made up
of Irish and negroes. The A. P. A. business
has been worked for all it is worth. The
populists are appealed to on the ground
that we failed to support the populist nom
inee for senator from this district and the
democrats arc instructed to vote against
us because we refused to go into a pri
mary. Even the arrests of certain persons
charged witli gambling has been ascribed
to us, when, in fact, I requested Mayor
Collier to give me specific information on
that subject. Yesterday he was kind
enough to call on me at my seat in the
House and to state that the information
on which the arrests were made was not
reeeivecj from auy of our people; that the
detectives had spotters at the hotel and
that the information was obtained in this
way. All these influences added to sena
torial courtesy, will probably result in the
defeat of the commission repeal hills."
Mayor Meldrim said that he felt posi
tive that the matter was as stated by
Mayor Collier, and that no member of the
Liberal faction had be* n responsib'e in any
way for the arrest of the five Citizens. No
member of the Liberal delegation present
In Atlanta, lie said, would have been guil
ty of such a despicable act.
Mayor Meldrim was asked about the bill
to Increase the jurisdiction of the re
corder's court, which is now before the
legislature.
"The bill has taken the regular course,”
he said. “I have not had time to give it
special attention, but intend to do so. i
received a letter from Judge Norwood
some time since opposing the bill on the
ground rhat if it become a law it would
affect the business of the city court. r
shall investigate this feature. From what
I know of the purposes ot the bill, how
ever, I am inclined to favor it, and if I
find, upon further Investigation, that it
Is on the right line, I shall favor it, re
gardless of whom It may affect.”
THE BRICSSOX HERE.
I’rncllce Trip For tin' Vavnl Militia
to Take Place This Afternoon.
j The torpedo flotilla was increased yester
; day by the addition of a fourth member,
' the Ericsson, which remained at Port
Royal for some repairs when the other
boats of the fleet came over to Savannah.
| The Ericsson made the trip outside yes
[ terday morning, and found a heavy sea,
l e vidently the result of a pretty good gale
the night before. She arrived at the dock
and tied Just outside the Cushing, about
2:30 o'clock in the afternoon. After Lieut.
Usher had reported to Lieut. Commander
Kimball, he took the Ericsson down to
Taggart’s coal yard to coal up. The Erics
son will remain here with the other boats
of the flotilla until Wednesday, when it is
prdbable they will all proceed south.
The officers of the Ericsson are: Lieut.
N. K. Usher, United States navy, com
manding; Ensign L. A. Bostwick, United
States navy, executive officer; Past As
sistant Engineer O. W. Koester, United
States navy, flotilla engineer. Comple
ment. three officers, twenty petty officers,
seamen and firemen. Length, 119 feet 7
inches; Ijeam. 15 feet 6 inches; displace
ment, 120 tons; draft, 5 feet 7 inches. Arm
ament. three 18-inch tubes for 14-foot
Whitehead torpedoes, and three 1-pounder
Hotchkiss rapid fire guns. Two boilers.
Four cylinder quadruple expansion en
gines, I.RfO-horse power. Trial speed, 24
knots. Built by the lowa Tron Works, Du
buque, la. Cost 8113,500. Commissioned in
February, 1897.
The Foote is expected here to-morrow or
on Y\ ednesday, and the Winslow will join
the fleet further along on the cruise.
The officers and men on the torpedo boats
passed a quiet Sunday for the greater part
of the day, but in the afternoon there was
a swarm of people on the wharf all eager
to inspect the little craft, and ail of them
were given an opportunity for so doing,
Lieut. H. S. Folding of the Second di
vision of Savannah's naval militia said he
exacted his division and that of Lieut.
Broughton,' the Third, would muster fully
sixty m<n to-day for the trip down the
river. Lieut. Golding went around per
sonally Saturday and saw a great many
employers of men who are members in
the naval militia, and many them prom
ised to let their men off for the afternoon.
He considers that at least fifty and possi
bly sixty arc certain to be on hand.
The members of the naval militia will
meet at 12 o’clock noon to-day at their ar
mory in their blue uniforms. If there is
as good a turnout as is expected the Du
pont, (he Porter and the Cushing will be
detailed to take them down, and a place
will be selected by each boat for torpedo
practice. If the conditions permit the
men will be given a full practical demon
stration of the workings of n torpedo and
will be Shown how they are aimed and
fired from the tubes. The members of
the naval militia are all anxious to take
advantage of the opportunity, and their
employ* is in most instances will no doubt
be willing to let them off on this occasion.
FORERINNERS OF CONFERENCE,
Ilishop Key nnd Lending Ministers
to Arrive To-ilay.
The forerunners of those who are to be
in attendance at the meeting of the South
Georgia conference, which assembles
Wednesday morning at Wesley Monumen
tal church, will begin to arrive to-day.
Among these |ill be Bishop Joseph S.
Key, who comes down to-night from Ten
nessee, where he has been attending a
conference.
The majority of those who will arrive
to-day are members of the home missions
board and the missionaries themselves of
the conference territory. There are about
twenty-five members of the board and
some forty-eight of the missionaries.
Among those who will get in will also be
applicants for admission into the confer
ence. These applicants will be examined
by the board that is in existence for that
purpose. It is expected that about forty
five of all these classes will get in during
the day.
The reception committee has classified
tw> time of arrival of those expected,
and will meet all of them at the trains
nnd conduct them to the places at which
they are to be entertained.
Among the prominent men of the church
who will attend the conference are Dr.
David Morton of Louisville, who is the
secretary of the church extension society.
It is expected that Dr. Morton will ad
dress the conference on Friday night. He
will arrive that morning. Dr. Henry Clay
Morrison, secretary of missions, will also
be present during the latter part of the
week, remaining over for Sunday, when
he will be heard in one of the churches
of the city. Dr. J. D. Hammond, presi
dent of Wesleyan College, at Macon, and
Dr. Warren A. Candler, president of Em
ory College, are also expected.
The pulpits of the Methodist, Baptist,
Presbyterian and Lutheran churches of
the city will be opened next Sunday to
the visiting members of the conference.
The preachers will be assigned lo the
several churches by one of the confer
ence committees.
LOADED IN NINE DAYS.
Quick Record of (lie Steamship EHere
in <int Castle.
The Britsh steamship Egremont Castle
sailed yesterday morning at daybreak for
Bremen with a cargo of 8,000 bales of cot
ton. The Egremont Castle arrived at Sa
vannah, Wednesday, Nov. 17, and begun
loading the following day. She completed
loading Friday, Nov. 27, taking on a com
plete cargo in nine days, no work being
done on Thanksgiving day. This is be
lieved to he the record for the quickest
time in loading a steamship of this size.
Steamers of the size of the Egremont Cas
tle usually remain in port for two or three
weeks. The vessel was consigned to W.
W. Wilson.
HUN DOWN V LITTLE tiIHL.
Negro Bicyclist Recklessly Hun Over
Her.
Little Nettie, the daughter of Mrs. M. E.
Cavanaugh, No. 519 Broughton street,
east, was knocked down nnd severely
bruised by a negro bicyclist at Broughton
and Houston streets, about 5:30 o'clock
yesterday afternoon.
Tho child was crossing the street when
struck by the bicyclist. Assistant Fore
man Tnylor of engine company No. 1 saw
the affair. He promptly arrested the bi
cyclist, and sent him to the barracks. Dr.
R. S. Kenan was summoned to attend the
little slri. The negro bicyclist gave his
name at the barracks as William 'Mills.
Deatli of Donald Bishop.
Information was received by the Morn
ins News yesterday of the death at his
home in Rutherglen, Scotland, on Nov, 12.
of Donald McF. Bishop, aged 47 years.
The deceased was a resident of Savannah
about nine years ago, and married a niece
of Mr. Thomas Ballantyn*. He was em
ployed as a carpenter in the Central rail
road shops for three years, and was also
for some time with the firm of I * n
Smith.
For Sick llt-ndncln-
Take Hor*fnr<l'* Acid l’liospliiit *-.
j It removes the cause by stimulating the
j action of the stomach, promoting digestion
I and quieting the nerves.—-ad.
THE MORNING NEWS: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1897.
HE DOESN'T* EXPECT MUCH
COL. LESTER'S VIEWS OF THE RE
PI III.It AN CONGRESS.
AY ill Recognise Cnlmn Belligerents
'I liougli. If Mr. Reed Will Allow It.
Mill Prohnbly Complete the Ha
waiian Grab, Too—No Financial
Legislation Likely—The Sltnatlon
Is Just ns the Republicans Wnnt
It, Congressman Lester Says—He
moral of the Tax on State Hank
Note* Would Soon Straighten Mat
ters.
Congress will convene for the December
term next Monday. Hon. Rufus E. Les
ter, who has been in Savannah for the
last two months, will leave for Washing
ton Friday to be present at the opening
of the session.
Col. Lester is much improved, nnd is, in
fact, in better health than he has been at
any time since his attack of over a year
ago. When seen yesterday by a Morn
ing News reporter he said he expected
very little of the present congress, though
as n rule the sessions beginning in De
cember are usually long ones. As to Cuba,
however, he thinks congress may take
the bit in its mouth and do something,
though he expects nothing from President
McKinley on this score.
"Congress will do something about
Cuba if it gets a chance,” he said. “If
Mr. Reed will allow it, the House will do
it pretty quick. It will recognize the bel
ligerency of the insurgents first. What
would follow is hard to say, but there
would doubtless be developments. Every
humanitarian wishes to see an end
brought to the horrible state of affairs
now existing in Cuba. The people of the
United States have demanded for some
time that their government take some
steps in the matter, but the government
has avoided doing anything of the kind."
"The republicans will annex Hawaii, of
course,” said Col. Lester. “It is an out
rage, but they have determined upon it.
Mr. Cleveland took the right stand in the
mutter, hut his courage failed him or
something happened, and he backed down.
Hawaii should be let alone. We have no
business there and never did have. It Is
a dangerous step for the country to take.
The population of the United States is
scruffy enough as it is without taking In
Hawaii ivlth its mongrel population.”
Col. Lester does not expect anything
from this congress in the way of currency
or financial legislation. “Why should they
do anything,” he said. "The republicans
have things just about where they want
them now. They don’t need to do any
thing. The republicans will pretend, of
course, to endeavor to effect some legisla
tion on these lines, and then they will pre
tend to the country that the wicked dem
ocrats wouldn't let them do anything.
What can they do? The more they meddle
with the situation, the worse they will
make it. If congress would repeal the ten
per cent, tax on state banks, and leave
the states free to act, the situation would
work itself out, but the republicans will
hardly do that.”
There are several bankruptcy bills be
fore the house, and there may be some
legislation on this line. Col. Lester con
siders this very doubtful, however. "I
don't see the country is suffering for the
lack of u bankruptcy law,” he said. ‘‘My
experience with bankruptcy laws is that
we had to repeal them to get rid of them.
There is no general demand for such a
law that I am aware of.”
Cos!. Lester will not return home for the
Christmas holidays, but will remain in
Washington. Consequently it may be some,
time before his friends here will see him
again, after his departure Friday.
KILLED BY AN ACCIDENTAL SHOT.
Ernest Kobhc-'s Terrible Death From
a Gunshot Wound.
Ernest Kobbe, a young white boy, died
at the St. Joseph's Infirmary yesterday
forenoon from the effects of a gunshot
wound in the stomach.
Kobbe, who lives in Dittmersville, went
out hunting with a neighbor named Dover.
When they reached the Bliss place, on
the White Bluff road, about six miles
from the city, Dover got out of the wagon
in which the two were riding, and went
into the Bliss house, leaving Kobbe sitting
in the wagon.
Kobbe had his gun between his knees.
Whether it was accidentally discharged,
causing the horse to run away, or whether
the running or kicking of the horse caused
the gun to be discharged, is not known.
The horse ran a short distance down the
road and threw Kobbe out. Mr. Dover
hud been in the house but a short while
when a negro boy came in and said that
the horse had kicked the white boy out
of the wagon. He went out to where.
Kobbe was lying. Kobbe said that the
horse had kicked him, not seeming to real
ize that he had been shot. His clothing
was burning, however, where he had been
shot, the entire load having entered his
abdomen. The poor fellow was in such
agony that be begged to be killed. He was
taken in a wagon and brought to the St.
Joseph's infirmary, but died within twen
ty minutes after arriving there.
Coroner Goette was notified of the acci
dent and made an investigation. Being
convinced that the facts were as stated, he
did not consider it necessary to hold an
Inquest. Kobbe would have been 18 years
old Thursday. The fqneral will take place
to-day.
MRS ROM (HI) RESIGNS.
A New Assistant Librarian May Be
Chosen by tlie Historical Society.
Mrs. Ellen R. Howard, assistant libra
rian of the Georgia Historical Society, who
has held that position for a number of
years, has tendered her resignation to the
library committee of the board which will
hold a meeting to-night for the purpose of
deciding what action shall be taken with
regard to it.
It is understood that there is a difference
qf opinion among the members of the com
mittee with regard to what course to pur
sue, It is not known whether action will
be postponed, whether anew assistant li
brarian will be elected, or whether some
change in the management of the library
w ill be made.
There are some twenty or twenty-five ap
plicants for the position of librarian, it is
understood, and the committee will no
doubt have some difficulty in arriving at
a choice. Since Mrs, Howard's absence
Miss Maud Heyward has been acting as
assistant librarian In which capacity she
has shown much efficiency.
A Big Regular Army.
Tho mightiest host of this sort Is the
army of Invalids whose bowels, livers and
stomachs have been regulated by Hostet
ter’s Stomach Bitters. A regular habit of
body is brought about through using the
Bitters, not by violently agitating and
griping the intestines, hut by reinforcing
their energy and causing a flow of the bile
into its proper channel, Malaria, la grippe,
dyspepsia, and a tendency to inactivity of
the kidneys, are conquered by the Bitters,
■—ad.
REVIEWED THE YEtR'S WORK.
NVesley and Seventh Street Chnrche*
Receive Psators' Report*.
Two of the Methodist churches, Wesley
Monumental and Seventh street, had the
reports for the conferen e year submitted
yesterday by the pastors.
It Is usually the custom of the pastors to
prepare these reports lo he submitted to
their congregations on the Sunday imme
diately preceding the meeting of the con
ference. Owing to the fact of some ad
ditions to the reports being necessary be
fore they will be complete, those of Trin
ity and Grace churches were not submit
ted. They will be completed to-day or to
morrow and submitted directly to the con
ference.
Rev. A. M. Williams made his report to
a large congregation at Wesley Monu
mental for the morning service. The report
indicated that there are now 573 members
upon the roll of the church, the largest
number it has ever known. Of these mem
bers, thirty-two were added through their
profession of faith, and seventy-two
through certificates from other churches.
The total of members received during the
year was thus 104. During the year there
were twenty-seven infants and fourteen
adults baptized.
The Sunday school was shown to be in
a nourishing condition. There are thirteen
officers of the school, twenty-eight teach
ers and 350 pupils. Jn the Epworth League
there is a membership of sixty-eight.
The financial report showed that there
was $45 raised for the bishop fund, $lB5
for the conference claimants, $lB5 for do
mestic missions, $460 for foreign missions,
SiOO for education, SBS for church exten
sion, $25 for the general conference, $515
for the trustees’ expenses, $44.80 for the
American Bible Society, $112.15 for the par
sonage aid, $168.50 for the Woman's Mis
sionary Society, $365.05 for the Hattie Car
son Society, $12.40 for the Missionary So
ciety, $21.44 for the Epworth League, $41.95
for the Epworth Aid society, $200.05 for the
Orphans’ home, $3,00 for the current ex
penses, including the presiding elder’s, the
pastor’s and others' s<iiari*s, sllO for Sun
day schools, SSOO for miscellaneous ex
penses, making a total of $6,200.
At the Seventh Street church, the report
was read by the pastor, Rev. B. F. Mor
gan at the night servi?*;. It showed that
there have been forty-six memtars receiv
ed into the church during the conference
year, while seventy-five were lost through
their removal or death. This leaves a de
cided net decrease, but the church labored
under many disadvantages during the
greater part of the year. It w r as in January
that the old location on West Broad street
of Marvin church was given up. The con
gregation then began to worship in a store
building at the corner of Whitaker and
Second streets. There w T ere many causes
that conspired to handicap the efforts of
the pastor, and leading members, until the
present house of worship was completed
and occupied on Oct. 10. From that time
the fnembership has grown constantly,
nearly all of the forty-six new members
having been since that time.
was shown that the Sunday school is
in a very flourishing condition, and tha'
the membership is 150. The amount con
tribute during the year by the members
was sl,/). it was shown that an Epworth
League of fifty members Is in good work
ing order. ■ While the financial report has
not yet been made up, it is said that the
church wilt be able to discharge all of its
obligations and appear before the confer
ence free from debt.
The services at which the reports were
submitted, was very interesting to the
large number that attended. A short ad
dress was delivered by the pastor, who
gave an account of the histofy of the
church, showing the difficulties with which
it has had to deal. His history of the
manner In which these di'fficulUes have
been overcome and the church established
upon its now secure footing was heard
with pride by the congregation.
Mr. L. L. Carswell gave a talk upon t.ie
progrrssiveness of the members of the
church, showing how it W'as through thoir
energy that what has been done was ac
complished. He drew a brilliant picture
of the future of the church, when it is
liushed forward by the same spirits that
have been such a help to it in the past.
A talk on the Sunday school and Ep
worth League was given by Mr. J. L.
Christian, who was followed by Mr. j.
Rowlands, who spoke upon the “Church's
Greatest Need.” pointing out that this is
perfect harmony and unity.
MISSIONARY CHILDREN MEET.
Trinity Society Celebrates Its Anni
versary.
The missionary anniversary celebration
at Trinity church by the Sunday school
last night was largely attended. Those
present gave every evidence of having
enjoyed the programme that had been ar
ranged.
A number of hymns were sung, the con
gregation joining. The song of the in
fant class was also enjoyed. A number
of those in the audience, upon the call of
Mr. Varnedoe, the superintendent, read
passages from the New Testament upon
missionary work. These readings were
followed by a recitation, "The Boy With
the Loaves,” which was nicely rendered
by Master Talmage Winn. A few statis
tics regarding the missions of the Meth
odist church abroad were given by mem
bers of the school.
A brief' address Was made by the pas
tor, Rev, J. H. Scruggs, who related a
story of one of the church's lady mission
aries in China. The recital appealed to
the children, as it was about a child, and
they enjoyed it greatly. Mr. Scruggs then
asked the scholars of the school to make
earnest efforts during the course of the
ensuing year to save something to be de
voted to the cause of missions. He ad
vised the children to do all they can to
make their lives noble and good. Turning
to the boys, he asked them what they de
sired to grow up to tie. "Men,” they an
swered, and for this Mr. Scruggs com
mended them, telling them something of
what the name signifies in its noblest
sense. Then, turning to the little girls,
he asked them what they wanted to grew
up to be. They demurred for a bit, but one
of them finally mustered up sufficient cour
age to say that she wanted to grow up to
be “a lady.”
This answer did not chime in with per
fect accord with the views of the pastor
upon perfect womanhood. He wanted the
girls to become noble, useful and conse
crated women, and so told the children.
Mr. Scruggs rather amused ills hearers in
telling of his admiration and respect for
a noble woman. He said he would rather
be one woman than ninety-nine ladies.
The treasurer's report showed that there
has been $167.72 subscribed to the cause
of missions by the school during the past
year. The amounts that each class sub
scribed during that time was given, one
of the sums being as much as S2O. The
treasurer was followed by tho superin
tendent, who asked all the scholars to be
present next Sunday afternoon, wht’n the
grand Sunday school rally of all the Meth
odist churches in the city will be held at
Trinity. He also added his voice to that
of the pastor In asking the members of
tfie school to do everything possible to
add to the mission fund.
A story was told of the efforts of little
Miss Sabra Fulford, a member of the
school, who wanted to do all she could for
the cause. This Utile girl owns u very
industrious hen. It seemed as If the bird
was filled with sense of what was ex
pected of her and of the illtie girl's anxie
ty to raise a nice sum for the heathen of
foreign lands,' for tlie eggs went a long
way towards getting up the $2.40 which
she handed In ns her contribution. A num
ber of the children signified their inten
tion of trying hard to give more liberaiiy
to the missions this year.
FEAR THEIR RECTOR MAY GO.
ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION DIS
CUSSES PARISH AFFAIRS.
The Possibility of Rev. Chris. H.
Strong Leaving the Parish Neces
sitates Closer Attention to Iliisi
ness Matters on the Part of the
Congregation—Some of the .Mem
bers Hncl Paid Too Little Atten
tion to Their Financial Obliga
tions— Plans Adopted For Remedy
ing ttie Difficulty.
There was a business meeting at St.
John's church after the morning service
yesterday. The announcement that there
would bfe a parish meeting resulted in a
large number of the parishioners remain
ing. Its chief public interest is due to
the question of Rev. Charles 11. Strong
remaining in Savannah, which was in
volved.
The parish meeting was referred to by
Mr. Strong just before his sermon. He
said that, while some had Imagined he
would speak of the business of the church,
such would not be the case, one of the
precepts of the church being to keep the
temporal and spiritual as far removed
from each other as possible. In making
arrangements for the coming year, how
ever, he asked that he be not considered,
as he desired that these arrangements
be as free from complications as possi
ble.
Rev. Mr. Strong preached an exception
ally interesting sermon on the subject of
refined sin, in which he showed what a
difference there seemed to be in the es
timation of culpability as between persons
of high and low estate. The robber who
steals a few dollars is considered lower
than the church man who makes away
with trust funds. The Lord, he said,
knows nothing of any such distinctions.
He referred to the Pharisees, who thought
they could not sin as other men; and
to the woman who was to be stoned for
having sinned, when Christ called upon
the man without sin to cast the first stone.
Respectable sin, he argued, is more dan
gerous than any other. Scarcely a man
reads an account of a life of vileness,
of a murderer without a shudder, but the
respectable sinner dies, a long obituary In
terms of praise is written, and a hun
dred young men follow the example. The
results of respectable ein are in the end
worse, if anything, than those sins of
the other class.
There was a full attendance at
the parish meeting. Mr. S. F. Hamilton
was made chairman and Capt. W. W.
Williamson secretary. A paper was read
from the vestry presenting the conditions
of the parish, and calling a Mention for
cibly to its financial condition. It was
shown that the parish had fallen consider
ably behind, and had met its obligations
by discounting the notes of the vestry,
which were made bankable by tho per
sonal indorsement of the members of that
body. The members of the vestry did this
willingly, hut the trouble is that it makes
some members of the parish too depend
ent on this method of settling the indebt
edness, and a large number of pew-hold
ers have fallen behind in their payments
to the church. It was shown that if all of
the amounts due the church are paid, the
church could just about pay all it owes.
There are about 300 families, or 1,200 indi
viduals, In the parish, it was stated, who
do not contribute, but who receive the at
tention of the rector and of the church.
Unless something is done, it was stated,
there is danger of St. John's church los
ing Rev. Mr. Strong, who has been Its
rector for many years. No church has a
more able or devoted rector, It was said,
and he has always the welfare of the
members of the church, and the best inter,
ests of the city nearest his heart. If it
had not been for his devotion to his
church, he would long ago have been call
ed to some other parish. The fact that
he has already received two calls from
churches which offer him twice the salary
paid by Si. John's, was mentioned. It
was stated he docs not desire to go be
cause this is his home, nnd he wants to
remain here. If the congregation wished
to retain its beloved rector, however, its
members must show their faith by their
works.
There followed considerable discussion
among prominent members of the church
as to the best plan to be pursued. Some
wanted to appoint a committee to device
a plan of collecting pew rents, and seeing
to it that delinquents satisfy their obliga
tions to the church. Others thought some
immediate action should be and that
the members of the parish should express
themselves what they were willing to do
outside of their annual pew rent. Cards
were passed around upon which many
members wrote amounts they were willing
to give for 1898. Quite an amount was
realized from this source. In addition to
this it was decided that a committee of five
be appointed from the congregation to
work with the vestry in securing prompt
payment of pew rents, and also in secur
ing delinquent pew rents. The vestry was
instructed to take notes for pew rents,
payable nt stated periods wherever it was
found necessary.
The important feature was, of course,
the intimation of the possibility of Rev.
Mr. Strong's leaving the parish. This, it
appears, lie has no desire to do, and the
members of the parish are enthusiastic in
their desire to retain him. The presenta
tion of the conditions under which the par
ish is laboring, it Is believed, will have a
beneficial effect, and, it is hoped, through
the promptness of the members of the
congregation the church debt may soon
be wiped out.
BELIEF IN CHRIST.
Rex. Chn. H. Strong's Fourth Ser
mon on the Apostles’ Creed.
Rev. Charles H. Strong preached the
fourth of his series of sermons on the sub
ject of the Apostles’ Creed, at St. John's
church last night.
He spoke particularly of belief in Jesus
Christ as stated in the creed, and said
that every man and every woman could
find in Christ a perfect ideal. Christ was
what God intended the Ideal of man should
he. He spoke of Christ's absolute good
ness, and said he was unable to give a
definition of goodness that would be ap
propriate to the Savior. It was more than
an absolute passive goodness, because
Christ went about doing good. It was a
goodness wide enough and strong enough,
he said, to cover all ideals. None of
Christ's worst enemies ever said he was a
bad man.
Mr. Strong compared the views of all
creeds, showing wherein arises the sati
faetlon of the true believer In Christ, be
cause in that belief there is nothing of
asceticism, no gloomy retrospect and no
heartrending prospect. There Is only one
sin and that is disobedience to the will of
God. In overcoming that man Is blessed
w hen he learns to overcome it through his
belief in Christ. He spoke of the pow'er
of Christ upon the lives of men In alt
ages, and how, through his love for man
and man's love for him, men were turned
from evil ways and made better and
stronger men.
&4KINO
POWDER
Absolutely Pure
THE CONVICT QUESTION.
Mayor Meldrim Favors Certain A’lews
on tlie Subject.
Mayor P. W. Meldrim has views upon
the convict question which would seem to
be worthy the attention of the legislature.
"In the first place,” said the mayor,
when spoken to on the subject, “the legis
lature should postpone all discussion of
this subject until it can dispose of the gen
eral and local legislation now before the
House, and make the convict question the
special order to be taken up at a specific
time when no other business shall be con
sidered. The endless discussion of the
subject, which has gone on before the leg
islature since the session begun, has ac
complished nothing and has simply re
sulted in interfering with and delaying
the other business before the House.
“The main things to be kept in view in
discussing this question, in my opinion,
are security and hard labor. It is abso
lutely essential to the thing itself that
whatever disposition is made of the con
victs that they should be secure and the
possibility of escape reduced to a mini
mum. Otherwise sentences will lose their
force. The next essential is that there
should be hard labor. Otherwise there is
no punishment. The intention is that
those who have been sentenced for
violation of the law should be placed at
hard labor. The state does not Intend to
maintain places of ease and retirement
for convicted felons. Mr, Hewlett Hall
of Coweta, chairman of the special com
mittee to which this matter was referred
at the last session, has made a special
study of this subject, and I would just
as soon see the whole matter left to him
to formulate a bill to be presented to the
legislature as to dispose of the subject in
any other way.
"There is a sentiment, which has devel
oped in the discussion of this subject, in
favor of dividing the convicts into three
classes, which impresses me favorably.
The idea is that the first class, or long
term convicts, those sentenced for ten
years or more, should be placed upon a
farm, preferably upon an island, where
the expense of guarding them would be
small, and there kept at work secluded
from the rest of the world. The second
class convicts, those sentenced for less
than ten years, would be placed under
this plan, af labor on the public roads or
public works of the counties of the Judi
cial districts in which they were convict
ed. These convicts could be worked in
conjunction with the misdemeanor con
victs of the county.
“If any county does not wish to undergo
the expense of maintaining its convicts it
should he permitted to transfer them to
any other county in the same circuit. The
convicts wiould be maintained by the coun
ties without expense to the state. In this
w'ay the more enterprising counties in the
various circuits could avail themselves of
the use of these convicts for improving
their highways, and for other public works
such as drainage.”
“The third class of convicts, under this
plan, would consist of the .women, the
aged, the infirm, the cripples, and those
under 16 years of age. The state owns a
farm near Miliedgeville, and it is pro
posed to care for these convicts there
whore they could maintain themselves In
connection with this branch, a reforma
tory could be established for the care and
reformation of youthful criminals i “
not know that this plan will be adopted
by that legislature, but I am satisfied that
unless a specific time is set apart solelv
for the discussion of this question that ail
wm Z°T the legislature o“thta line
will he fruitless, and that we will reach
the end of the session without having ae
?a°”t P raer.“ nythinK ln this
FEV\- GONE TO THE FIGHT.
Savannahs Political Delegation to
Atlanta. Small Last Night.
There was a good-sized crowd at the
Central depot last night to see (he At
lanta train pull out, but the departures
for the capital city were not so many as
they were a week ago. Representatives
Meldrim and Duncan returned to Atlanta
but Mr. McDonough remained over until
to-night. Mr. M. A. O'Byrne was the
only other prominent Liberal noted on the
train, and he h is business interests in At
lanta which de nand hie attention.
The Citizens i tid a delegation on board
however, consisting of Hon. Pope Bar’
row, Hon. Herman Myers. Mr. A N Ma
nucy and Mr. J. *t. Collins. Hon w w
Osborne and Mr. H. M. Lofton are in
Atlanta. These gentlemen will be on hand
to see that their '.friends in the Senate
do the job up brow.n. The defeat of the
repeal bills was pretty generally acknow
ledged by the Liboi* Is yesterday, other
wise there would have been quite a dele
gatlon from their side .
LOCAL PE'JtISONAL.
The Geisha company js stopping at the
Planters’ hotel.
Mr. G. L. Arthur of Moultrie spent v
terday tn the city.
Mr. W. T. Phelps of L'ade City FJa
was among the arrivals at the Planters'
hotel yesterday.
Among the guests registered at the
Screven yesterday was Mr. M. R Ballan
tine, who came up from Nell wood.
CITY BREVITIES.
A special meeting oY Ancient Landman*
Lodge No. 231, F. and A. M„ will he held
at Masonic temple this evex ing ■<, <
ferred* 1 Th 6 **' M ‘ d<??ree wf *i be con-
After serious illness, like typhoi 1 fever
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For Over Fifty Years
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup has been
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FLORIDA
AND THE
“THE LAND OF THE SKY.”
Asheville $ Hot Springs,
Aiken and Augusta.
The winter season at these well-known an t
wonderful resorts is now opening and l
many improvements in hotel facilities a
r a llroad service will draw a larger num el
and more enthusiastic pleasure and lie •-T
seekers than ever before. ‘ ‘ 1
The schedules and service or the
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
to each and all of them will be unequaied.
The New M il Flow lift]
will again be operated, commencing
about January 1, 1898.
WINTER TOURIST TICKETS
at low rates from and through Ohio Rupp
Gateways go on sale Oct. 15, 1897. From
other points Nov. 1, 1837.
SIDE TRIPS
are made a feature by the Southern Rail
way. Tourists and alt patrons of the
Southern Railway have rnosi careful at
tendon at the hands of its many repra
sentatives. who are fully informed on at
subjects Incident to travel.
Boys’ •
and Children's
Overcoats.
w If we can’t
a suit you in
R Variety,
Quality
r and Price
S no one else can.
It s going
\
Y'ou cannot expect it to do otherwise
these cold and freezing mornings. Wa
can still offer fine grade of Hard and Soft
Coal at current prices, with full weight
and quick delivery.
T. F. JOHNSON & CO.,
FOOT OF WHITAKER STREET.
Telephone 566.
COAL.
BOND, US BUM & GS.
Best lowest prices.
All orders well screened aud
promptly filled.
’Phone 507.
WOOD.
PUT YOUR
CARDENS
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GARDEN
TILL
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11 111 w
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DEALER IN
Paints, Oils, ami Glass, Sash, Door3,
Blinds and Builders' Supplies, Plain and
Decorative Wull Paper, Foreign and Do
mestic Cements. Lime, Plaster ana Hair.
Sole agents for Asbestine Cold Water
Paint.
20 Congress street, west and 19 St. Julian
street, west.
*J. 1). WEED & CO.*
Agents Hoyt’s Leather Belting.
RAINBOW SHEET PACKING,
and ECLIPSE SECTIONAL RAINBOW;
GASKETS.
BEST RUBBER BELTING.
PEERLESS PISTON PACKING.