The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-08-04
Preaeherxin Paliticx.

CoLuMBus. Ohio July a4-The action Of the re-
cent convention held on the grounds of the Metho-
dist canpmeetng at Loyelsnd. where q religious
sembiage turned into political convention led
by the most radical of the advocates of temper
afee REFORM is meeting with severe criticism at the
hands OF the conservative temperance people. II ap
pears that the efUfts of few of the Methodist rler
" instrumental in bringing about the meeting.
and having things arranged to carry their point,
they invited the temperance men Of the State to
meet with them but when the convention had
sembled, those WHO opposed the nomination Of n
State ticket were cried down by the leading spirits
Of the convention and in the event of a couserva-
tive Temperance man obtaining recognition ~the cry
went mp. 1--WE will not hear him; he does enter
tain or iDdorse our views The great argument
used by those seeking no.oriety was: ave must
ehastise the Republican party. because its Legsla
ture did not pass such laws We demanded
There is ample evidence that the work of the
Loveiand convention will not strengthen the cause
of temperance in Ohio; the meeting more unru-
", If possible, than the recent Demoerasie
tion in this city, and those who opposed the ruling
spirits vigorously hooted down as were the
gentlemen who presented the names Of candidates
other than Mr. Dcokwalter, before the Democratic
The bigh-handed manner in which many OF the
Methodist clergy ruled, and their efforts to
nit their congregations TO the support of their par
ticrar views. are calculated seriously to inure the
harmony in the Church that has heretofore existed
and will. without donbt, create division that can
not be readily repaired. Already members of many
of the churches have shown their dsapproval Of the
acts Of their Pastors in their endeavors to merge
their Church into political faction under the guise
Of temperance, but virtually in the interest Of the
Democratic Party. These people do not claim that
they have any hopes of obtaining assistance through
Democratic aseendency nor do they themselves hope
to gain anything by supporting prohibition candi
date. Many are supporting the movement who have
failed to secure Office from the Republicans, but the
great may be regarded as rather seeking noto-
rety than the advancement of practical temperance
measures.
Many Of the o'ergy now at work avowedly to aid
the temperance cause, go far beyond the average
stump orator in their denuneiation Of the Republican
in md in, Sa
far has the Governor been misrepresented by num-
her of Methodist preachers, that the official
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Chnrch of Fostoria
felt called upon to issue the following, signed by
each member:
The undersigned citizens Of Fostoria and official
be of the Methodist Episcopal Church Central Ohio Con
ference deem this but act Of Justice due feoweit
the Hon Charles Foster Governor Of Ohio and
ez.n Of this pae and with whom we have been assoea
have labored for the building up Of the Methodist Episco
pal Church no, only IN this place but in all the surround
all and his upright character private citizen and
"a as trustee Of our church his ability as an officer and
his strictly practical temperance views manifested with
among us as nesh6or and citizen enitle him to
est confidence; speak from day association and
elng that injustice has been and i being done Gov Eos
ter We as his intimate associates do therefore resolve
IirThat all reports prejuiicia to his character as
practical temperance man are untrue no matter by whom
"Seeoad-That e view with unqualified condemnation
ministers this the State only because
is founded In bigotry intolerance and sfagrandizemen
but because doing the Church very serious
injury creating dissensons and wil where peace and
! prosperity heretofore prevailed.
"Third-That dsplore the tendency Of some of our
by rendering themselves useless ministers Of Church
,,ce or probibop % %s san % NO, look %i ndisnse aPou
the policy of connecting Church and State politically
# sna as ire sa xPans ss
the best interests Of tine Methodist Episcopal Church
"Fifk-n view Of these facts and many other we might
mention II We had time and space and while would