The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-11-16
AMoSa THE CHURonEs.
RrlCr Chats with The Parsons OF the DIFF
feronL Denominations Concerning ahe
glnts OF Religion In wheeling.


,rIcr Chats with the Parsons OF the DIFF
feront Denominations Concerning ahe
State OF Religion In wheeling.
"a mans religion Is the chief fact with
eQard 10 him. A mans or . nation OF
nsn's." Thus wrote the grabbed philoso-
her and ssEe Of the nineteenth century,
'honas Carlyle. many years ago, when be.
inning his lecture on the "Hero as Dt-
ipity." "By his religion" continued
,srlyle, al do not mean the creed that a
nan processes, or the articles Of faith that
= viii sign, but that which he practically
eieyes and dos"
With these vigorous observations on the
INFECT that lies so deep and 90 near to
he heart Of mankind, running through
lie thoughts. inpressing him with their
Mighty significance, an INTELLIGEScER
eporter has been engaged in gathering
rhat light he could on the present state
II religious matters in the city OF Wheel
ny. The reporter has found 1t both
pleasant and eliiying to meet and con-
,erse with the clergymen. Without any
exception he has found them TO be gem
lemen OF warm sympatbies, kindly ma,
nres and earnestness OF purpose; and
hough their demeanor has been properly
lignified, they have been none the less
.pproschable, and in no case have they
lesitated to give what information they
could, The Clergymen OF Wheeling are
A great credit and honor to the city.
Anong them may be found as good aver
age talent rs eau be found anywhere:
AcITY OF CHURCHES.
There are thirty churches in the city.
Tho Methodist Episcopal ptedominates,
there being ten of that faith. There are
four Presbyterian; one United Presby!er'
ian: three Lutheran; one German Re-
two Independent German Protes-
tSnt; three Catholic; one Episcopal; one
Reformed; one Disciples; two
Baptist; and one Hebrew. These divided
among our population would give
an average OF one church to every l,0Sj
inhabitants. There are, however, only
occasional services held in two or three oil
them,
POLITICS VS.. RELIGION.
Ii is a fact well known among ministers
that exciting and protracled political cam
paigps have a tendency TO ALLEVIATE the
minds OF men, at least temporarily, from
religious interests. The ministers Of all
denominations in this city have especially
felt and deplored this stateiof affairs dur.
ing the canvass that has Just closed; al
though some OF them have expressed the
opinion that one may take his religion Into
his politics, but not his politics into bis
The two elements will not mix
both ways. The fiery wine OF politics II
put into the eveRly.teempred spiritual
bottle OF religion is likely TO burst 1t. "No
community" said
THE REV. c. r. MAsDES,
pastor Of the Fourth Street NJ. E. Church,
"can be absorbed in two things at the
same time. l think that politics, when
raging through the heat Of campaign
hss tendency to paralyze religious mat.
tiers. believe the churches OF this city"
continued Mr.. Masden, "are not more rad.
ical than those OF the Eastern cities; but
there is moro slugRishuess and indifter.
ence manifested. Our congregation is the
strongest one here; 1t numbers about
49O members now, aud we have had
$50 accessions' since l have been
here-little more than year. Our
average attendance is about 400.
The moral tone OF our church is as good
as any have ever had charge Of. AS for
the Fourth Street Church, It's success is
assured. We have no trouble about mon.
ey. We stand about on par with the
St. Matthew'S and the First and Second
Presbyterian churches; they are all made
up oil strong, Intelligent people. But what
We need in Wheeling isl free democrat
ic sort OF a church for the masses to attend.
We have no such place where those
who hare no regular place ofYorShip can
be drawn together. Rev. Barnitxs church
comes the nearest to it. regret to zee
the young men SO indifferent, and our
lawyers ere not generally spiritually
minded. We are trying to organize a
Bible class, and while We have great
many splendid young ladies who prompt
ly attend, we can't get the young men at
tracted. have spoken to thirty or forty
of them on the streets concerning the
matter. l would gladly endorse any
movement to secure q general religious
awakening. We need it here"
REv. DIR. CUNNINGHAM,
Of The First Presbyterian Church, said:
sour people are prosperius. Our benevo-
lent societies, finances, and every depart.
ment Is in excellent condition and moving
forward. consider the indications good
for winter Of renewed zeal in spiritual
work. We have had sixty.iour accessions
in the last year, and our present member
ship is about AS. came here over four
years ago, succeeding DR.. Fisher, who had
been here thirteen or fourteen years.
His predecessor, DR.. Weed, was here about
three years. Political excitement has a
hurtiul influence on the interests OF the
church. The parades are nearly always
held on Saturday nights, and they gener-
ally leave the mind 10 a poor condition
Tor the observance OF the holy duties OF
The Lords day. / can't tell which pollti-
cal party Is the strongest in our church.
They are pretty evenly divided. There is
10 be an official meeting Of pastors and
office bearers OF the Protestant churches
Of this city, on Monday evening, In the
First Presbyterian church. The meeting
Is to be exclusive. and is for prayer, con.
lesion aud humiliation. There is q gen.
eral feeling that We need awakening on
The subject OF religion in this city. l
want to see the fraternal spirit manifested.
We may accomplish much in union"
ST. MATTHEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Is one Of the most beautiful In architect.
ural design in the city. Rev. R. R. swope,
he rector, preached his second annivers-
ary sermon last Sunday. Rev. J. G. Arm
strong, OF Richmond, was his predecessor.
81. Matthew's was established about 1920,
and now has one OF the largest Of our
opgregat!ons-numbering about 400. ~
10 not think politics ought to interfere
with religion" remarked Rev. Swope to
he reporter, on Saturday evening. az
ook at the matter differently from most
people. / regard religion as life.
think It will 90 with man wherever he
,oes; be can take his religion into his pol
tics and not be injured thereby II he Is q