The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-02-19
HOW A CHURCH WAS CURED OF FIRE
hI0NTISM.

| a congregational Church IN neigbboring
State got 50 completely enlisted in the Presiden-
tial contest, Tor Fremont and Jessie, that little
attention was given TO religious questions. The
minister was constantly preaching, praying and
exhortlng upon political issues-and his dea-
cons and the laymen followed suit at the PRAYER
and conference meetings Finally a worthy
old farmer, one OF the staunchest and best MEM
befs OF the church, and 6rm undertaking
Democrat, was called upon TO offer prayer
- Lord, said he ,suphod the Democratic
party, which has recelved.thy protecting sup
poit ever since the great JeHersonan struggle.
Continue TO bless that party which has, under
thy protection and providence, brought great
blessings upon this Republic. fit betty pleas
ure, and believe il will be- o carry that party
through this Struggle to complete triumph.
Bless Jas. Buchanan, the tried and honest states
man, and guide him safely 10 the Presidential
chair. Bless John c. Breckenridge, TIE young
and jealous Democrat, aud open TO him the path
OF duty as well as that which I-ads Straight to
the pice Presidency. Give them victory. @,
bless the opponents of Democracy personally,
but utterly destroy their fanatical and Injurious
schemes, ltit be toy will to % il, as verify be-
lleVe II IS. Be On the side of tie Democracy,
Y Lord, asthou hast been for The past fifly-six
years, and on the 4th of March next we shall
witness the Inauguration ofPennsylvania's fayo-
rite son, and the people of this country will
once more settle downin their peaceful pursuits
instead Of warring wictedly, section against
section, interest against interest, aud man against
bis brother. And 0, | beseech thee, espeei-
ally free the Christian Churches from The poIitI-
cal strife and bitterness which are rending asun-
IpSt tbpfr nd
them unhappily into mere political associations.
Let US hear something of thy word and mercy
on the Sabbath. We have already been piled
to follBess with political fanatcisnl, and our
minister has become stump orator against the !
good old party which thou in thy wisdom hast
upheld SO long, and 50 repeatedly guided TO
victory, and sustained in the establishment of
good measures. 0, turn his mind from these
thIpgs, and direct his attention 10 his legitimate
religious duties, or tura him over directly into
the hands Of the Federal or Abolition party.
and let them fake care Of him, and provide US
with true minister of the Gospel. AT this
rate the present slate Of things cannot last fl
politics are 10 rule shall claim one halfthe
'tsar4 raa Af"r 'fTe Democratic party. SO that
A men ~ a,s5s4;esr, MI, -, ,y,es, ,,..ii.
This was stumper. K was the first prayer
ever publicly offered in that church for the Suc-
cess of the Democratic party and its nominees,
though hundreds of prayers and exhortations
had been made against that party. When the
old man had finished there was a silence for
halfan hour, and the meeting then adjourned.
And thus ended the political preaching in That
church. From that time forward, the minister
attended TO bis gospel duties, and left all polit-
cal questions 10 be settled by the people outside
Of the church Again the society prospered,
and there was better feeling among lis mem
bers-nore Christian charty-more brotherly
love- 1'hrold mans earnest prayer was an
swered in more respects than one.-Hartford
I ines