Smyrna times., 1892-10-26
How to Vote-The Third Party.

The Peninsula Methodist, publishes
the circular letter of Presiding Elder
Smith, addressed to the preachers of
his charge, advising them to set apart
some preaching service, in each one of
their churches, for the presentation of
temperance truths, and to plant them
selves on the position taken by the
General Conference last May, namely A.:
That, no political party has a right to
expect, nor ought 1t to receive the suDDOrt
OF Christian men, so long as it stands com
mltted to the license policy or refuses to
put itself on record IN an attitude of utter
hostility to the saloon.
This is not politics. This is a declaration
of great principle, and if one party is
hurt by 1t and another helped, amen; so let
IT Oe: 1t Is our duty to say what ought to
be said, and leave the result with God.
This has been done effectually where
the Presiding Elder and the pastor
have occupied the pulpit two
hours the same day. No one cues
tiOns Rev. Mr.. Smiths sincerity. He
feels his position is right, and so does
everyone else who has the best inter
ests of society at heart, but differ with
him somewhat as to time and place.
The editor of the Methodist. (wbo does
not take the weak view that every
idea advanced from the desk. must he
accepted and endorsed, or YOU are slur-
ring the pulpit criticises the position
thus taken, and as the TIMES has been
brought under castigation for a brief
reference to such use of the pulpit two
or three weeks ago, we give the salient
points OF the editor Of a religious paper
who feels that a man in IA paper is as
responsible for his views as a man in a
pulpit. He says:
IN another column we print circu.
lar letter from the Presiding Elder of
Easton District, to the pastors under
MS charge, requesting them to "set
apart some preaching service in each
of their churches" " for presenting his
views on the pending election. AS a
private citizen, Brother Smith has the
same right to ventilate his views and
electloneer for his party candidates. as
any other citizen, but it is question
II he is not Interfering with the rights
oi some one else, when be undertakes |
such work, in his character as an off.
clal of the church, and seeks to have a
preaching service set apart in every |
Tor promoting the success Of |
his own political party. We think he
mas made a grave mistake, in thus |
Introducing party politics into church |
services, especially, as is evidently in. |
ENDED, on the Sabbath day. He saws.
indeed, this Is not politics :" and vet
le Immediately proceeds to speak of
he vital connection between the
ballot box and the saloon" \
II Methodist minister has a right
o use his official position to determine
he vote Of his brethren, the Roman
catholic priest has an equal right to do
he same.
As necessary result, the strife of
'ariy politics will be introduced into
'ur churches, and antagonisms will
eParate brethren where spiritual fra
ernlty and unity ought to prevail
\
We may be unduly optimistic. but
We have 40 little admiration for both
t the great political parties. Thew
re not perfect by large measure, but
he wonderful prosperity of the coun-
ry under their alternate administrs-
ION, Is proof that neither of them is
ne prime agency of Satan, but. as the
criptnres teach u.s.. as 1.-The powers
nat be, are ordained of God" The
)ng and honorable record of the Wbi0
nd Democratic parties, from the
of the Republic, and the
nlque history of the Republican
arty, for the last forty years, in which
the hands of Providence, it trans
'rmed four millions of human chat
els into citzen-freemen, and secured
ne suppression of the Shareholders
soellion, which involved our national
fe and unity-this glorious past in.
ests these parties with imperisbable
snOwn. 4
AS to the Prohibition party, we are
sady to accord it its full measure of |
'edlt for any practical good it has ]
'complished in the way of agitation |
IN any other way. toward the sd. Z
ancement of true temperance reform ]
I'D more than that, if any voter hon. ]
itly believes he can advance that \
form, and still meet his other oblioa. =
Ons as a citizen of the United States !
voting for the candidates of thai $
lrty, 1t Is not only his right, but his 4
lty, TO cast his ballot for its candi. "
ltes. 4,