Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-06-15
PCCITIcS1RAMETHOJlST PRAY
Err MEETING.
GOV. PALMER'S son RAISES A ROW
BY TRYING TO WORK IN A
LITTLE POLITICS.
From the Inter. Ocean.

From the Inter Ocean.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, June An
episode occurred in the prayermeet-
ing of tho First Methodist Church
last night which has set the gOssips
a-gabbing. and the prospects for
political ructiOn in religious circles
are good. John Mayo Palmer,
son of the Democratic candidate
tor Governor, was leading the meet
ing. In the course of his remarks
he undertook to ring in little pol
itics, and his words were received
by the brethren assembled like cold
water on hot stove. He read for
the evening lesson the second chap
ter of Paups Epistle to the Phillipy-
ians, and in commenting, said that
there was a great political contest
at hand, and it was every Chris
tian's duty to glrd up his loins and
put on the armor of Christ, to keep
out the communicating Influence of
the devil. If they would do this
their religion would not be endan-
gered. He proposed to take an ac-
tive part in the fight, but believed
his faith in Christ would keep his
record clean. Any Christian could
do this If he would.
During Brother Palmer's remarks
Father Chestnut, one of the patri-
archs of the church, showed signs
of great uneasiness, and at the con
clusiOn he jumped up to admOnlsh
the hot.blOoded young Democrat.
The patriarch said that in his early
days he started out to fight the po-
htical battles of "The Sons of Tenn
Derance,S and even in the cause OF
that righteous party he felt at the
close of the campaign that he had
belittled his religion. The safest
way for young men, like Mr.. Palm
er, was to let politics alone. How
ever, even though he was a cham
plon of prohibition, he voted the
Democratic ticket, but didn't min
gle in politics because it might
shake his faith.
This speech threw the congrega-
ton into quite a commOtiOn, and
Brother Henkle, with a view to
smoothing matters, said that though
in the opposite party from Mr..
Palmer, he believed that a man
could be Republican or Demo
crat several cries of DOR a Prohl-
bitionlSt" from the front seat and
be a Christian. He referred to the
action of the General Conference,
which urged the people to vote at
all elections, but to vote their prin-
ciples without party distinction.
Mr. Anthony, a flaming PrOhibi-
zionist, at this iuncture declared he
couldn't sit still any longer. The
only party in which a Christian
could work and not be cOntaminat-
ed was the Lords party, PrOhlbi-
ton "a succession of amensl. He
quoted Scripture to prove that all
other parties were wrong, and adj
vised Brother Palmer, if he had
hopes of heaven, to let politics
alone, and let his father run his
own fight.
Right here Deacon Lagrand, an
antiqusted horse doctor, headed the
advocate of the third party off in a
very abrupt manner. He thought
matters had gone far enough. For
his part the prayer meeting was not
the place to discuss politics. He
had so far heard a deal more of
politics than 7 eligion, and thought
it was high time it was stopped.
Mr.. Palmer here announced a
hymn, after which the meeting adj
jOurned. Last winter Gov. Palmer
attended a revival meeting at the
church, and on one occasion went
down to the altar and knelt for
prayer. Since then the MethOdists
have had great hopes of winning
him into their told, and many fear
that this pow.wow will drive the
notion out of his head.