Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-04-07
How Church was Cured of Fremont.


The Hartford Times relates the follow.
ing
A congregational Church in neighbor.
ing State got so enlisted in the Pre-.
sidential contest, for Fremont and Jessie,
that little attention was given TO religious
questions. The minister was constantly
preaching, praying and exhorting upon
political issues, and the deacons and lay.
men followed suit OF the prayer and con.
ference meetings. Finally, worthy old
farmer, one of the best and staunchest
members of the church, and firm and
undertaking democrat, was called upon
TO offer prayer.
20 Lord, (said he, uphold the Demo.
cratic party which has received thy pro-
tecting support ever since the great JEFF.
fersonian struggle. Continue 10 bless that
party which has, under thy protection and
providence brought great blessings upon
this republic. If it be thy pleasure, and
believe it will be, o carry that party thro'
this struggle to a complete triumph Bless
James Buchanan the tried and honored
statesman, and guide him safely to the
presidential chair. Bless John c. Breck.
enridge, the young and jealous democrat,
and open to him the path of duty as we'll
as that which leads straight to the vice
presidency. Give them victory. o, bless
the opponents OF democracy personally,
but utterly destroy their fanatical and in.
furious schemes, if il be thy will to do so.
and | verify believe it is Be on the side
Of the democracy, o Lord as thou
hast been for the last ffty-six years,
and on the 4th of March next, we shall
witness the Inauguration ofPennsylvania's
favorite son, and the people Of this coun-
try will settle down in their peaceful pur-
suits, instead of warning wickedly, section
against section, interest against interest,
and man against his brother. And o,
| beseech thee, especially free Christian
churches from the political strife and Bit
terness which are rending them assunder,
destroying their usefulness, and turning
them unhappily into mere political asso-
Citations. Let us hear something of thy
word and mercy on the Sabbath. We
/ have already been piled 10 fullness with
| political fan ntticism, and our minister has
become a stump orator against the good
party which thy wisdom has upheld SO
long and has so repeatedly guided to vic.
1 tory, and sustained in the establishment
Of sound measures. o turn his mind
from these things, and direct his atten-
/ tention to his legitimate religious duties,
or turn him over into the hands of the
federal or abolition party, and let them
take care of him, and provide us with
true minister of the gospel. At any rate
the present state of things cannot last. II
politics are to rule, shall claim one hall
of the time in behalf of the Democratic
party, so that there may be fair discussion
within these walls. Amen"
This was a stumper. 1t was the first
prayer ever publicly offered in that church
for the success 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 silence for half an
hour, and the meeting then adjourned
And thus ended the political preaching
in that church. From that time forward
the minister attended to his gospel du.
ties, and left all political questions to be
settled by the people outside of tho
church. Again the society prospered, and
there was better feeling among its mem.
bers-more Christian charity--more bro.
therly love. The old mans PRAYER was
answered in NOSE respects than one.