The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-18
ChrIa,ians m Politics.

The lecture room Of Plymouth Church
was full Friday evening at the weekly
prayer meeting. Mr.. Bsschsr Spoks Of
the duties of Christian men in connection
With politics. Next 10 the duty the
Christian owes to his Father in Heaven,
he said, Is that which he owes to his faith.
erland. Into the great political struggle
which it is the fortune Of this country to
undergo every four years IT is the duty
OF every Christian TO enter. HE man
Who thinks political action and work IN
Consistent with Christianity, and there
fore 10 beshunned, Is In error. God doe.
NOT thank him for such . shlfklng OF
duty. Bat after the Christian has enter
ed the contest he should not allow his feel
iugs TO outrun his self-controL de ahould
moi be sWept from his Christian bearings;
III seusbiiities not be drugged; he should
keep his individual conscience and person
atty. n do not Say,1 continued Mr..
Beecher, shat you must pray more and
canvass less; that you must read your
Bibles more and newspapers less Though
l think that would do no harmG but I do
say that there stands your political duty
before your face, and it Is yours to do.
God always takes care Of the man, NO
matter who he Is, who takes up and per-
forms the duty that comes In his way,
without regard to its cleanliness or pro-
priety. The FIRST hour Of the morning Is
the time to prepare for the days work.
II then you 20 70 prayer, Il that time you
battle upward, you will come down
cleansed again and strengthened for the
contest. A man who engages in the sharp
est Of these contest, and yet IL not swept
of his bearings, ripens much faster than
he who stands on one aide because they
are unehristian. It Is in the battle OF
life that We become veterans. II intelli.
gent and virtuous men don't take care OF
the country, ignorant and vicious man
will. Political work will be. done in
some way. The fact is, it Is the work Of
Christians"
The remainder OF the evening was oc-
cupied in an informal discussion OF the
opinions advanced by Mr.. Beecher. Mr..
Hill said that often, when urging Chris
tian men 10 political action, he was met
by the objection that it would iniure their
religions influence. He had no sympathy
with the sentiment, and wished that more
people were Of Mr.. Beecher's opinions.
Mr.. Mickey asked what was to be done
with Christians who affiliated with, and
So ppor,ed for office, corrupt and unpripci-
Piled men who, TO carry out party meas.
ures, would sink their principles. II
would leave them Alone" said Mr..
Beecher. at is Just possible, Brother
Mckay, that y man may be in the right
and yet differ with you" "No, NO, mo-"
from Mr.. Mckay. Mr.. shearman re-
marked that since the time when, long
ago, they used to discuss political &C
ton in that same room, there had been
q marked improvement In all branches
Of politics. Better men were nominated
for office, better principles govern
ed the managers Of elections, and the
whole tone Of administrative affairs was
purer. There was, however, no party
40 corrupt that there were not good men
in it,lnone so pure that vicious men did
not intrude. II there was any party
which might be said to be wanting in all
the good principles that insure safety
and morality to our country, and which
has a poor following, it was the Green
back party, and yet At the head OF l. was
one Of the most upright and intelligent
Of men. Nobody need be ashamed to go
to the polls with Carl schurz or with
David A., Wells. And yet in the same
parties with each were the worst OF men.
We must meet them everywhere and
overcome them.