Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-06-26


TBfshop Morris ON Political Clergyman.
Bishop Morris. of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, at the recent session of the
| Name Conferences delivered an address TO
1.-THE members, in the course of which he
tsaid ::
Isdeem It not unimportant or out oil
place to address afew words. to you. my
brethren, upon subject whichi is attract
ing considerable attention AZ the present
Itime, namely :--as 10 howsfar a minister
of the gospel ought to take part in the
politics Of the day, When minister
goes into his pulpit, he finds his congre,
cation composed of men of different poll
teal views; of men jealousy and consci-
lentiously attached TO different political
parties and If he publicly becomes the
paftizan of one side or the other, there
Twill Of necessity spring up a GOODNESS to>
wards him to diminish his influence. j
lfeel convinced from what I have obsery-
Ted, that the only result that can be ex.
pected from minister taking part IN the
political contests and discussions OF the
day will be to engender strife and hard
feeling in his congreg ation. rs
But some may ask whether we are not
tcitizens like other men, and have not du-
ties to perform as such Most certainly
we are, and trust have not proved re-
creant to the obligations resting upon me
as citizen, although have not. for the
forty years that l have been in the min
listry, ever entered political meeting, or
spent above FIVE minutes at any one cleo
Eticn. 1 have always made il point to
/ go to the polls at the most quiet time OF
4 the day, when there was likely to be the
least excitement-to deposit my ballot in
an transformations manner, and return
home. have never seen the time when
I thought | was called upon as q citizen
to do more than this. | know not hew it
may be with others, but / have always
found enough TO do in the duties of my
calling. l am willing % let the pot
sheras strive with the potsherds," but pre-
| fer for myself to attend to the duties de-
volying upon me as a minister of Christ.
VI recolect an anecdote Of Methodist
brother who was stationed to preach the
gospel to the people in /" Fountain Head
FCircuit,"' near the Hermitage Of the late
President Jackson, in the exciting politi-
cal times Of his second election. Party
zeal was just then at its height, and each
party wanted every one to be on,its side.
They sought out the newly arrived min
lister, and eagerly inquired Of him whose
side he was on =" 1 am on the side OF
the Lordand the Fountain Head Circuit. ("
was the reply. Which of the candidates
do you intend to vote for ? ~ trust that
I shall be found on my knees, praying to
| e.. al, al
up. building of Zion in Fountain Head
Circuit" However they might question
the devoted minister he would wisely an.
swer that he meant to do his duty faith.
fully as minister Of Christ in "Fountain
Head Circuit" In conclusion, let me
say, my brethren, go ye and do like wise.
Gov. Wise's Speech at jamestown.
After the GRAFTON aud poem at the
jamestown celebration. Gov. Wise was
loudly called for and responded in the
following happy and characteristic re.
marks, which have just found their way
into print:
My Friends and Fellow Citisens !:
can add nothing to what has been
said. am not prepared with speech,
and there is no apology for one after
what has been heard. Your story has
been we'll " said" and we'll "sung." Your
state can still boast. as this day proves
that she has yet left to her sage (Mr.
/ Tyler and poet. Mr.. Hope have
heard it said to men :-"Shuke OF the
the dust from thy feet. for the ground on
which you stand is holy" and this place
is sacred but say to you we will not
shake its dust off our feet, for the place
wherein we stand is our Homedustl We
will cling to this soil, and this soil to us
forever
Our State, believe, is the only State
which has had her three capitals. Here
is the spot where was her first. and hers
was the first Of all the States. Here the
Old world FIRST met the new. Here the
White man first met the Red, for settle.
ment and colonization. Here the White
man first welded the axe to cut the FIRST
tree, for the 6rst log cabin. The first log.
cabin was built for the first village. Here
the first village rose for the FIRST State
Capitol. Here was the first capitol of our
Empire Of States-here was the very
foundation of nation of free men which
have stretched its dominion and It's mills
ions to the shores of another ocean! Go
to the Pacific now, to measure this pro.
gression and power of great people
Virginians! the Fountains Head of this
mighty river of Life and Liberty is ours.
ours 10 keep. ours to guard. And like
the "blue-eyed boy" at the Fountain of
old. think i see the winged white horse in
r a