Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-10-11
SIOUX CITY, IOWA. SATURDAY, OCTOBER H. 1862.
A Democratic Prayer.

The abolitionists have been in the habit,
for years, Of making stump speeches in
their prayers 1t has not been long since
we heard q good brother Methodist pray
that the war might last until the negroes
we're freed. We couldn't help but think
that the man had better prayed that the
rebels might lay down their arms .. once
and the rebellion thus be ended. When
be prayed that the war might last until
the negroes were all freed. he simply
prayed that the rebels might keep up the
rebellion. That was all there was in bis
prayer. The Hartford Times says that
Congregational Church, in q neighboring
State, got so completely enlisted in one of
the Presidential contests, that little atten.
t,on WAS given to religious questions. The
minister was constantly preaching, pray.
ing and exorting upon political issues,
and bis deacons and laymeu followed suit
at the prayer and conference meetings.
Finally, worthy old farmer, one of the
staunchest and best members of the
church, and firm undertaking Democrat,
was called upon to offer . prayer:
"O Lord, said he, "upbold the Dem.
ocratic party, which has received thy sup
port ever since the great Jefersonisn
struggle. Continue to bless that party
which has, under thy protection and prov
idence, brought great blessings upon this
Republic. If it be thy pleasure, and l
believe it will be. Oh carry that party
through this struggle to complete tri-
umph. Oh, bless the opponents of De-
mocracy personally, but utterly destroy
their fanatical injurious schemes, if it be
thy will to do SO, as verify believe it is.
Be on the side Of Democracy, O Lord, as
thou has beeu, and in their peaceful pur.
suits, instead Of warning wickedly, man
against brother. And, oh, beseech thee,
especially to free the Christian churches
from the political strife and bitterness
which are rending them asunder, destroy
ing their usefulness and turning them un'
happily into mere political associations
let rs hear something Of thy word and
mercy on the Sabbath. We have already
been piled to fulness with political fanati.
cism, and our minister has become stump
orator against the good old party which
thou, in thy wisdom, has upheld so long,
and so repeatedly guided to victory, and
sustained, in the establishment Of sound
measures. Oh, turn his mind from those
things, and direct his attention to bis leg.
itimste duties, or turn him over directly
in the hands of the abolition party and
let them take care of him, and provide US
true minister Of the Gospel At any
rate, the present stata of things cannot
last. If politics are to rule, shall claim
one half the time in behalf Of the Demo-
cratic party, so that there m be fair
discussion within these walls. Amen"
This was 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 of half
an hour, and the meeting then adjourned
And thus ended the political preaching in
that church. From that time forward,
the minister attended the political preach
ing in that church. From that time for.
ward, the minister attended to his gospel
duties and left all political questions to be
settled by the people outside Of the church.
Again the society prospered and there was
q better feeling among its embers-more
christian charity, moro brotherly love-
The old mans earnest prayer was an
swered in more respects than one.-Quin.
cy Herald.