New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-02
GARFIELD'S FIRST OFFICE.

CUMsTANCEs CONNECTED WITH Ills FIRST NoMi
NATION TO POLITICAL OFFICE.
To The Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: notice that the questions, was General
Garfield preacheri Did he abandon the ministry Tor
potcsl are being discussed in correction with his
DEATH Ihave yet these queries properly an
swered To them properly, one must understand
the views OF our ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Disciples. we 40
not believe that since the death Of the last one who mad
received miraculous powers, by the imposition Oh INC
hands OF an Apostle there has been any direct or super
natural influence OF the Holy Spirit We believe that the
Scriptures clearly teach that all such influence mas
ceased and that all the power that the Holy fr no"
exerts for the conversion and sanctIcaton OF men Is
rcsdent in the truth that IL recorded In the scriptures
He now influences men in the only way In which one
mind exert moral influence on anolher' ny Ine
mower of truth OF course do not believe in any d.
rect or supernatural call TO the ministry our preachers
take no special orders and make special VOWS. We
are strictly in church government, ana
practise the most absolute congregational lnnepeh
dcnce Our congregations have each corps oI ocoi7
called elders selected by the congregation that the con
gregation thinks have the qualifications enumerated
by Paul in his letters Timothy and Titus These elders
are divided into classes bishops ovcrseers ot the
congregation and ieacons or servants to ;he congraga-
ton Some of the preaching in cougr niions - done
by overseers who have the ability 90 Lruct the con-
grcgation and the disposition to do sO a' the c W
prepare for the duty Sometimes they are paid Tor Suc
preaching sometimes they not. We nave s"c''
meetings in which all members, male and female" that
feel inclined take part in eNhortation, teachng rea
ing, explaining and enforcing the teachings OF tue
Scriptures. II is often the that one or more
members a congregation develop and display
ability TO instruct the church or 10 preach Some-
times such specially urged by the elders or cohSre
CATION 10 speak and time become regular preachers
In this way teachers lawyers doctors and others become
preachers among ia. Sometimes man cducate' MN
self with the intention of becoming preacher. our
preachers come from these Sometimes they de-
vote their time and energies preaching, and are sup
ported entirely by the churches for which they preach
sometimes they teach practise law medicine, or fol-
low some other calling and preach they have oppor
unity or do good requested by churches to
do Some of the latter class paid for such
work. some are All these are preachers
among us Those who devote their entire
time and energies 10 preaching, and are supported
by the churches for whom they labor regarded as
prominently preachers hut have no special rank or
authority. The writer knows hundreds that have been
lawycrs doctors teachers etc. all their lives that
regarded ~ preachers fully those who devote their
entire energies preaching. and aru supported Tor H.
and that stand on exact equality with them,
1t win this that ministry is composed
OF overseers who preach aud members who preach ~
the call OF Congregations and OF those who desire 70
preach and get hearing from congregations Chhr-
acter. qualifications. desire the part OF eonsrega-
tons 10 hear them desire their part to preach
provided they can get hearers, constitute call
preach just men are called TO teach or
practise medicine But few preachers are ordained
though the practice the increase among u.s. In or
dination the candidate makes vows promises The
writer was for twenty years, teacher by PROBES
sion and follow ed his profession constantly aud regu
larly Yet 10y the urging Of churches he preached near
~ every Lords Day. Much Of the time hc averaged
three per week and preached regularly for
churches and paid for such service. He has always
been regarded ~ regular and full preacher, though
never ordained There hundreds OF similar cases in
ministry.
james \. Garfield Joined church when youth lie
soon displayed in social meetings an ability that lead
our churches in his vicinity Ia invite him To speak for
thqm occasionally Sometimes he was paid for such Ia
Dor This led him seek such opportunities To preach
that he might add 10 his means In hs struggle Tor an
education II also cultivated his gifts IN the nobcst nf
calliuC- and ouab ell him to do good When ia Williams
College. he preached regularly FOR church. aud ire
ducntly for Others on his return ONO from COLLEGE
ne accepted profcssorshp IA western Reserve Lclec
tic Seminary. now Hiram College; and wa soon made
principal. He In the school i've years During this
time he preached regularly. rarely missing u Lords
Day. He averaged moro than two sermons per vice.,
during all these years He preached re-'.inry part Of
the time some half Of the time. sometimes one
fourth for churche. In solon Chagrn Falls, Hiram and
other places lie paid for such services, and was
regarded los Disciples OF the WescIn Reserve one
~ their regular preachers much any man Ia Ono
He held protractcd meetings, baptized persons, per
formed the marriage ceremony, nad charge OF congnh
tons and preached regularly any man In our
ranks. Some whc know thcs. fact. seem inclined 10
cquvocate and conceal them FOR fear he be charged
with abandoning the ministry tH- politics.
On the other hand, II oqul' RE that he never in
tended To make preaching ns . work. Neither did he
intend to follow teaching. Still he for years rcgu
lar professional teacher mncn 80 any one In ohio
He was a. fully regular preacher The earnest desire
of the people aud churchc his dcsre 10 do good
livelihood these noble calling- and TO cultivate his
powers them led him Ia preach for rs he taught
for years During this time know by his statements 10
me that he was reading Law an intending I" enter tht
profession his lie work. with thoughts uf political life
In the winter of 1889 he ENGAGED In public discus
sion Chugrn Falls with william Denton, noted lee
turrr geology and defender Of the athri-uc
theories Of matortaistlc evolution and develop. |
be novice In such matrrs, and his opponent was
much older, and regarded expert, there some
trcpdation among his f!rrs 10 tue result. lie
m debate Tn4.c of IA VINO knew h,g industrnu-ly
be had prepared for the debate understood the ~
bis signal Successes His success ~ all 1ub4cqucnt nortS
can he orconucd for by his liked rule never to .penk ON
a subject tin he had thoroughly mastered II. Hence he
Numbered ana always went to the centre Of his
theme.
There are facts connected with his first nomination 10
office that explain HE entrance into political NE. Port
years" the Democrat. often Carried the election by
small majores state Senator was to be elected IN
1909, an " OIL year In inc HcpuhHchh convention |
held IN Ravcnnn. In August Of that year. prominent
Republican SJtd Ia the Convention GrHtlcmcn,
name man, whose standing, character, ability aud IN
dustry VIII carry the county. II s President Garfield OF
the Hiram School" My recollection II that he uom
mated by exclamation; Inc nomination Tell ON the |
Disciple Churches Of the Reserve like a clap !
Of thunder out OF clear sky. 10 raised |
great excitement lie did not accept the nomination
for several He was nominated on Tuesday. and
Friday following the Cuyahoga County annual meet
ing Of the Disciple Churches began In Scion, and con
tinucd til the ensuing Monday The writer lived
m SOiOn and attended the meeting Almost the sole
topic OF yersaOn was the nomination VI Brother
Garfield" rs he was called large majority were ear
In their opposition tO his abandoning the ministry
politics, for 80 they regarded acceptance OF the
nomination. Some very loud aud In their
condemnation.
Garfield preaching for the chu In Scion and
attended the meeting. He did not 20 SOlOn ill
Inn In