The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-07
BEEKMAy HILL METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CksURGH.

the Rev. William VI. Boplc.
This church, In Fiftieth street. near Second ave-
nue. was well filed last evening, 1t having been an
nounced that the pastor, Rev. W. II. Boole, would
preach q discourse on municipal corruption. lie
did so, pasing his remarks upon the text, Proverbs
xxx, 2-'When the righteous are IL authority the
| people rejoice. but when the wicked beaycth rule
! the people mourn" The present condition OF city
affairs, he said furnishes partial illustration OF
| this text Our righteous rulers have been few and
| short-livcd He designed to speak honestly on the
duty of Christian citizens in our present necessity,
the origin and design of governments and the re-
sponsibny OF citizens in relation 10 our city gov
| erDment. We have now reached crisis in our city
! and State, and we must decide whether
| SMALL GANG OF SMALL MEN,
| not up even TO the average capacity OF men,
| shall continue to rule our c ity and State
| as they are doing by corrupt boards and heads
| OF departments, or whether the respectable citi-
! zens and voters shall break their power and make
the city praise among the cities OF the earth. In
one OF daily papers accusations OF common
frauds have been LAID to the charge OF the highest
officials and 1t has been publicly declared that ten
millions OF dollars have been taken from us by those
whom we have trusted The reputation OF that
journal and all persons connected with it are at
stake IN the proof or disproof Of these charges,
and he (Booe) believed they had common sense
enough to stop before they had given them
broadcast to she world. had they not
good proof Of their truthulness, And the charges
nave been partially sustained by the accused failing
TO make any satisfactory reply TO or reputation of
them. Their only answer has been one impugning
the motives of their accusers which Is none Of
concern. Whether he be an honest man or pro-
fessed rogue who had these figures 1t was his duty
to snow them to the public and he tBoole) praised
the man who had done this. We have seen, too In
the late past that our public officials are unable or
are unwilling to defend citizens against
A PALrRY FACTION, RELIGIOUS MOB,
but were ready to lay down and did lay down their
authority al the feet OF this mob. They were not
able to defend few honorable men-honorable not
because they were millonnaires, but because they
were working men and citizens OF this metropolis.
Nurseries of crime are winked at by our
city officials. and though their where.
abouts have been exposed by another jour.
nal the police force which should prevent are
| paid for hiding and shielding those nurseries OF
crime. The SABBATH Liquor law is also openly vo-
lated IN our midst Next to prohiot1ry liquor
| many blessing from wives. mothers, daughters
and sisters upon our city for It, But under the rule
have endured it patiently not indeed,
as Christians but , we have endured nan IT.;
business. The consequence Is that you cannot find
another similar government on the face OF Gods
1oOtstoOl. Have We then, as Christians. nothing TO
do with thisY Have we no interest in IT. Is there
no responsibility resting upon us-or only one which
we can throw OF at our option and clear our own
HUMAN GOVERNMENTS ARE OF GOD
The powers tnat be ordained OF Cod powers,
not the men. The power Is in the Ofce not In the
man; and il we eject him from Office the power still
with which he is clothed Is OF God Let him see TO
it, therefore. That he uses rightly TheJewsh nigh
sometimes bought and sola are our public Offices;
| but nevertheless God honored the Office and COM
| muned even with the bad men VINO filed II. The
|
ers thereof welded for God. Christ in His earthly
ministry. acknowle1eed the power and the divine
| origin OF temporal governments. Rulers should
| be Just, ruling IN the fear OF the Lord,
aud they should feel double T 1eMSIG
God and another toward their constituents.
1t Is not trining trust but a sacred one, when
| rests upon the man who ills a public place. And II
the Lord has ordained offices for the good OF men
Christians should realize tue power OF Office and
| with good men. IL is not enough for Us TO hold
hack and say at Is naqsht ,tls s5 nanght This Is
corrupt condition OF our city government and the
trouble and results OF the late riot nave come upon
Us AZ Judgments for the neglect OF duty by good
men. 1t may be that
UNDERNEATH Us sLUMBERs VOLCANO,
whose fires shall break through and envelop our
CITY, and ood Is seeking 10 awaken us to a realiza
ton OF our danger. II We are not yet awake II is
preston upon A burned child dreads the fire,
and we should be warned by these things. The de-
sign Of governments Is to secure the greatest good
| kings may wear crowns and sit upon
thrones Pariaments were not formed that traitors
| might make laws to restrict liberty. OihciaS are
not our ruieIs; they are our servants. TIE people
the rulers-especially In this country. And yet
men Office walk abroad dOmneerlngy and refuse
to settle accounts with their constituents and
their books against those who have a right to know
what they contain. They hoard up their NJ
gotten wealth that they may be able to ride
rough shod over those VINO have made them kings.
and the people meeKly bend their necks to
the yoke when they should long ago have put
their foot down firmly and SAID Thus far shalt chou
go, but no farther" officials are nothing more than
| n establishment.
people should look upon and 'reat them only AZ
such ana dictate to them instead OF being dictated
10 by then. AL men have Inalienable rights, three
| OF which are named In our Declaration OF
Indepenaence-life,, liberty. and the pursuis
protection OF these rights governments
are formed ofIices created ana men elected to MI
please ana no religious faction have right to op-
pose o. interfere with TINS right II heathenism
! comes among us and erects Jts temples 1t mas
right 10 do so, provided IL does not Interfere with
our rights. If Christianity can't stand neatnenism
m Its midst, then
cHRIsrIASiTY is VERY FLIMsy THING,
| While he looked upon heathenism In san Fran
| CISCO and saw the Chinese worship and ofler sacri-
ices 10 their gods ana heard people regret that 1t
! had come among US, he was glad that one church
al least was bold enough TO take mold aud grappie
I win IT, II the Christian Church cannot take
Christianity 20 down. Rulers should be
| honorable men, and ruler makers should
hold themselves Responsible for electiug men
70 Office aud make them honorable Let the risnt-
eous ana good exert their power TO make righteous
rulers. The voice and influence OF good men among
us nave not been heard or iet on these Things.
Reading from printed sheet before hun, Mr.. BOole
said mat these men had not been satisfied with SIX
days work and pay. out had run In their bills ior
| " ork on tho SABBATH. The honor Of the city -
al stake, and we don't know how deep these
| frauds are nor now far tney extend VINO can tel
II over issues Of stock have not been made II we
can't trust them IN thing we can't IN another.
There ~ no declensiOn of character In these men.
They are now what they were six, seven, ten years
! ago There rs nothing out OF proportion IN their
character. Referring 10 some OF them giving money
10 build churches, he SAID ne would re slen
any sum from 81 10 1000 coming from such men,
He had not so much interest IN the cause OF CHRIST
! al 10 be willing 10
| ACCEPT AID FROM THE DEVIL
to carry IL forward. Mr. Boole then read list or
| Roman Cathollc city officials, and then pointed
out some OF the duties OF Christian men
in This emergency-namcly. TO take their pollll-
| cal rights ana use them reiigi0usiy IN tbe icar
of Coz TO ignore all party lines and work cheer.