The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-01
A SINGLE TAX sERMox.

ylvania Preacher Addresses the
Peoples Party by Proxy.
Several hundred persons ...amh,aa
ne trees In the university grounds
D. aiternoon to hear sermon by
e' y. N. Morse. of New Wilmington,
10, On "A Lesson From the Lilies; .They
son NOT. Neither do They Spin.'" The
u $40. announcing the meeting called 1t
Tue regular Sunday meeting under the
auspices OF the Reform Association. and
closed with this statement:
rms sermon has special reference tn the Iaho,
pE.oo"' ana has caused much sensation in the
ein states Aspecial invitation is extended
to ministers Of the Gospel. ladies' and in fac, n
true Christians. Let the poor and Iowlv coma
ou' under the trees as they did in Christ's time
No"s unto me all ye who are weary and heavy
isaen' ana viii give you rest"
as soon as the crowd began to gather il
was evident that it was People's party
crowd and that the Reform Associa.
'ion was new name for that political
cave OF Adullam. All the old reliables OF
the corncob currency party were on hand
ana whlied away the period of waiting in
discussing the peoples wrongs and the
sins OF the old parties. J. P. Ennis circu.
lated around with great activity and
seemed to be the master of ceremonies.
lie called on Walter Walker, of Houghton.
and his sons and daughters, assisted by
Mrs. Samuel Wood and Mrs. Mohr, to
sing, and they gave "Labor's BY and By"
from "The Alliance Songster.~ Then
Addison Smith offered prayer and Mr..
Ennis took his innings.
ltnow developed that Mr.. Morse, who
had been announced as the drawing card,
was not present. being probably still en-
gagged in holding forth at New Whining
ton. His sensational sermon was read
from Farmers Alliance paper called
The New Forum" by Mr. Ennis, who also
had bundles of the papers for disposal
among his audience
The sermon began with description of
the happy condition of society if it were as
Christ would have it and then drew a
lugubrious, over-drawn picture of society
as 1t was in Christ's time-marriage feasts
and funerals, poverty and wealth, palaces
for the few, novels for the many, debtors
dragged off to prison by creditors and so
on. Said he: 1.-THE same social condi-
tions prevail today, and the gospel mani
tests no power to change them" Then
he gave an equally mournful description of
society as it is and continued:
Trust in God, says the preacher, sand all
will come out right; read your Bible, pray,
sing, ask blessing at the table; take no
anxious thought for the morrow, but scramble,
haggle, shove with the rest, and be sure and lay
up something for rainy day." And that is
called religionl The absurdity of It'll The blind
are leading the blind and all are struggling in
the ditch.
The contrast between the poverty of the
many and the overproduction talked of
was discussed, the political economists
and the ''religion-makers" were scored,
and then the troubles of mankind were
attributed to the existing land system.
He illustrated his theory, which seems to
be the single tax, by comparing present
conditions with what they would be
among the lilies or among the ducks in a
pond if similar laws prevailed. A return
to nature was his cry. These notions.
interlarded with denunciations OF
Christianity as now interpreted, were the
pith of the sermon.
After Mr.. Ennis had finished reading
this deliverance the choir sang CANCEL
Footsteps on the Floor" Mr.. Smith
offered another prayer and the Service"
closed with another song from "The
Alliance Songster," entitled "The Future
America" which seems to be parody on
America"