The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-15
BENwooD, April 10, 1874

bENWoODJ april 10 1914.
Editors Of the IntellIgeneer.
l sec in your issue OF the 18th inst, an
article from ]. II, McblechGn, where he
expresses his disapprobation of the "Wo.
mans Crusade" especially praying on the
streets, and 10 support this view quotes
Matthew 9th and 9Th.
Now, / ask, are we to accept this IN ia
literal Specification If 90, every man
and woman that ever prayed publicly
Is hypocrite, this is the logical conclu.
sion.
Whedon, in his Commentary, informs
US that the word "hypOerite," Is literally
"plGy actors"
These [play actorsl anciently not only
acted part, but wore masks.
Enter into thy closet" sc. I take this
to mean the door Of the soul, as much as
to say, dismiss from your mind all worldly
affairs bring in the wanderings OF the
mind, and center them upon the object Of
your worship. We can have our souls
stayed upon Christ, while kneeling on the
streets. Daniel kneeled down by his open
window and his prayers prevailed with
God. 1t Is the door Of the heart that
Christ means, (the door that opens to the
world. It matters not how close the
closet door may DO shut, II the door Of the
heart Is open our prayers will avail US
nothing. II the passages in the Bible
that touches on prayer were destroyed
but the above quoted, ii would destroy
all our, congregations, because every indi.
yidual who was known to pray outside Of
his closet would be branded as a hypo.
critic. "For the hypocrites love 10 pray
standing in the synagogues," in other
words, love to pray in religious assemblies
or churches. 30, II we were seut up to
this passage alone, we could appropriate.
ly say Of every minister who stands up
to pray in his congregation, "He is doing
this 10 be seen oil men," n
l think every intelligent reader will sec
at a glance that this passage is no argu-
ment against women praying on the
streets. Christ did not always confne
himself to bis closet when he prayed
Mr.. McMechen Is made 10 feel sad
when the ladies will allow their own BIZ
bic, which they love, and by which they
profess 10 be guided, to be quoted by the
saloon keepers with such telling effect. Did
not Satan quote scripture when he tempt.
ed Christ our SaviorP But he didn't sue
coed very well. We never hear the So.
loon keepers quote, "Woe unto him that
giveth his neighbor drink"
l do not admire or approve OF cSnserv-
ahVeism. 1tmeans 10 preserve applying
this TO the temperance movement. ] ask
what have the temperance people to pre-
server Temperance organizations have
Jailed; legislation failed to check the
burning tide. Intempersnce has been In.
creasing all over the land, and yet the
cry OF conservativeism is heard. We
hear men say, create a healthy public
sentiment on the subject OF intemper-
ance." To this, l say, amen. But how
is this to be doneS Surely not by con.
servativeism.
It seems TO me the Church needs radi.
cal men and women. Christ and his apos.
ties were radical; all the great reiormers
were radical-Luther, Wesley and 9th.
ers. 7 have conversed with men who
could not endorse the crusade, and yet
have found none who had anything better
TO propose. l.. L. STEWART.