The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-07
TESTING FLAME OF FIRE.
Rev. j.. Wesley Hill Takes For His
Subject "For Whom Shall
Vote2"
The Prince OF Peace and the
Prince OF Darkness, the
Candidates.
Scene OF . Great Eicotioneering Confess
uenturies Ago and the Trial
by Fire.

ST. PsurG church was croWueu again Aa5'
night and the aisles were filled with chairs
and the entrances were blocked. Rev. Mr..
Hill said, in part: Centuries ago. the sum
NIT of Carmel was the scene of q great cleo
tioneering contest between two candidates
Bssl WAS nominated by the idolotrous
priests, jehovah by Elijah, the e~lectioneer-
ing agent of Reformation. Each party haa
a platform, one built out Of ignorance, su.
psrstition and immortality, stained with tue
tears and blood Of idol worship, the other
founded upon truth and righteousness, It's
altar cleaning with the vestal fire of purity
and peacs, When this contest was called,
the Bael party was in power and as a result
of free trade'' in sin and a high tariff
levied upon righteousness the furnace fires
of fidelity were extinguished. the wheels OF
nth ceased to whirl, the factories of faith
and manufactures of morality were 'shut
down." a great anime lowered over the
land. the cry Of ''hard times" went up from
the people and the shadows of dis
tress encircled the royal palace. 30
when Elijah called for that mass
mestiug' on the brow of Carmel
and ''opened the campaign" with the ring
ing challenge, "If the Lord be God, follow
him; if Bael, then follow him." the con-
~stituents of both parties shouted back, 'ls
is wellv' and the whole country was stirred
and the multitudes rallied to witness that
~religio- political contest and electioneer for
their favorite candidates. That was no
.still campaign;'' Elijah. though in the
minority, was on the aggressive, because
he was ON the ride of truth; the truth ia
1-.-r ,or~oaaiyn. puN M he prnnOS6J That
affairs be erected. and that the candidate
who answered by fire in response to the
prayer of the people be elected by acolama-
ton. What u test! And the advantage
was all on the side of Bael, for he wac She
god of fire. and all of his politicians
laughed in their sleeves and winked signi6-
cantly; fraud showed its deformed face.
But never mind. truth is mighty and will
prevail;'' if 'er u she to earth it will arise
again"
/ wonder which of the political parties
could stand the test of fire to-day, could
climb the elevation of public vision. bind
its principles TO the altar of patriotism and
pray for the God of nations to pour a tor
rent flash of fire upon it to test it's hon
essy, its sterling qualities and allegiance
30 GQo ETubUk lEet TlEos HlEc LAG
the Baelitss. And my prayer to God to-
night is for FIRE to burn political knavery
into ash es. melt the letters OF political
bondsmen. purify the precincts of political
corruption, and with its white flame burn
out the political poison that is petmeating
the veins OF the government, preylng upon
the vitals of virtue and sending its cur
rents of death TO the nations heart. In
other words, let the party triumph thas can
stand in the sunlight, she principles pre-
dominate that can survive the O. ucible and
the candidate be elected who can stand the
testing fame of fEe. Now | wish to call
your attention to q mightier contest than
the one to which we have referred,
one of a spiritual character which
has been raging from Eden down
to this momenb between two great
darkness; one led on by the prince of peace,
the othsr marching beneath the black ban
ner of the ~"prince of the power of the air.
Now. in the political world three great
questions decide the vote of every honest,
intelligent and patriotic citizen, VIZ:
what has the party represented by this
candidate done for my country, what is it
doing for my country. and il continued in
power what will it do for the country? Any
man governed by motives beneath the good
of country. who sets business or religion
before the flag, or casts his vote in any
OLl6T Name Euan buhb u HI Au6TlCAn G1tl- |
zen is a disgrace to citizenship aud a traitor
to the government which, in allegiance, he
is bound to protect with his ballot OK defend
with his blood. 1t it ID right to ask these
questions in the political world. they we'll
may be introduced into this spiritual con-
test.
What have these two spiritual candidates
done for humanity, what are they doing for
humanity. what do they propose to do in
the future? Let us for a few minutes ex-
anime these candidates. First look at the
leader of the side of sin, Who Roeth about
like a roaring lion" What did he do for
man in the beginning, in the time of his
innocency, when his face kindled with
heavenly sunshine, his soul reflected the
image of his Creator, and he was mantied
with purity! he plunged him head long
into the abb So of sin, while he'll celebrated
with carnival, heaven waRd aped with sack
cloth and angels looked Through wells of
tears. He drinks in mans d~isappoint |
meuts, tattens on has N and the
dying shrieka ana deep death eroans of the
lost, are bis sweetest music. He 10 the in
spiration OF the gamble the prop of the |
counterfeit, the father of the liar, the |
friend of the d yunka d and the life blood of
the libeftine. This il what satan, who
~solicits your vote and hopes TO ruin your
soul is doing for the human race.
now place hefo. o you the other candi-
date-who Is he? Calvary's conuuerinp
prince. He has passed the most sweepinU
reform bill IN the worlds history, the bill
of the worlds emancipation, the glorious
bill of atom ment Befo . a bill can re-
celve the signature of the resident of the
United ; tates 1t must pass through certain
stages, ard go this bill passed the zame way,
through the stage of opposition, through
the stage of agony and through the stage
OF DEATH
Bus who will unde take to pass this bill?
fl!enca IS called in heaven and the ones-
tlon rlngs TO tne four corners OF the coles.
tIaI land, who Will 20 and redeem man?"
HAth. ] heal a voice ringing over the bill
tols # etc nitv, saying: "Lo! | come az it
is writ. II in the volume of thy book, TO do
thy wIil!' Look! ! Rse him presenting
himself uefo t the bar of infinite Justice, |
and he CLUTCHES the sword drawn to st Ike
US down and he eXclailas, II will undertake.
the passing ot this bill. l will put away
thus crowu and wear Il crown of thorus that
man may VICAR "a crown of glory! | will ut
down this sCepter and hold a mock reed
that man may wave the vietof's palm.
will unrobe my person and put on n mock
robe that man may be ROBBED in immor-
tAlityi | will hunger that he NAV be fed on
the breah OF life! / will thirst that he NAV
drink OF the wat,r of life! ! will become
homeless that ne may dwell in a dazzling
mansion! | will weep that nv father NAV
with the hand of love wipe his tears await
l will hang upon the Cross that he NAV ait
upon the throne! / will die tina! he NAV
llyt
Now | huve put Iris candidate before you.
an ! ask you has he any claim upon YOU?
Has lie any light to you? Ought you to
follow aud to serve him? How long halt
DIV . -