Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-08-16

mug u / NC ITOulDlliOHIsto nuu tilelT
innings to-day; other politicians will
have theirs next Sunday. The former
had the freedom of the campgrounds
and talked politics from early in the
morning until late In the evening; the
latter will have to stay on the back
avenues and the time allotted to them
will be brief. Political work was sus-
pended at 1880 O'Clock to.night;religious
work will be resumed tomorrow morn
ing.
Under the guise of "great temper
ance rally" there was held to-day a
political meeting or, properly speaking,
a series of political meetings in the in
terest Of the Prohibition party which
will make the present encampmcnt
famous. The out-of-place affair was
the greatest burlesque imaginable and
in the extreme. One of the
most Objectionable features was the
singing Of the Beveridges. 1t was alb
surd and would have been better appre-
ciated by a tnird.rate concert hall
audience than by campmeeting gath
ering. The crowd guyet the vocalists
by demanding three Iepetitions of each
song but the songsters were 'too dense
to tumble"
Tonight the majority of the camp
populace is bowling mad and the trus-
tees are in II rage. These officials de-
clare that the courtesy which they eX-
tended the temperance people has been
violated i'll the most ilagrant manner.
1t is also asserted that the good accom-
plished the first two days of the en-
campment is nothing in comparison
with the harm done to-day and that it
will take at least three days to get the
campers back to the spiritual condition
they were in yesterday. AT meeting
held tonight the trustees adopted the
following:
WHEREAS, The sacred tabernacle and
altars of the Brandywine Summit camp
have been desecrated by being made the
forum BY which designing political aspir-
ants, taking advantage Of the sacred prlyi-
lege granted them in advancing their
individual interests, and
WHEREAS, We believe that this will re-
suit in serioas injury to The spiritual well
fare of the camp, it is hereby
Resolyed, That We have the utmost conf
dence IN our beloved church, her members
and ministry, and we commend those who
refuse to prostitute their high and sacred
calling for partisan purposes, and it is
further
HeSolycd, That our minister in charge
will not allow himself or his associated
brethren to again lend themselves as tools
in the hands Of designing parties whose
efforts are invincible 70 the spiritual well
fare III the catlse of Christ oil this camp
ground.
Frank A. Mitchell presented the pre-.
amble and resolutions and his motion to
adopt them was seconded by Samuel II.
Baynard. Only one trustee voted
against their adoption. All the trustees
except two were present.
The Beveridges had the impudence to
ask two preachers to peddle books con
tanning Prohibition campaign songs,
which request was complied with. The
trustees also discussed this matter and
resolved that no books shall be sold ex-
cept at the book store.
The Rev. Alfred Smith, d. D., pre-.
siding elder of Easton district Of Will
mingion Conference, preached the morn.
ing sermon. His text was Daniel III
49,; "But if not. be it known to thee, q
king, that we will not serve thy gods
nor worship the golden image which
thou hast set up" He said in part:
brothers, | say 10 you here to-day
that it is one of the most solemn con.
victions Of my soul that there is no serf.
dom on this green earth like that which
binds men to political parties. Men who
profess to be Christians will actually
turn their backs upon God and the
church sooner than they will break with
their political parties. They will allow
their party to trample upon their most
sacred convictions, do and say things
that they know to be wrong, and vel
when election day comes, and the sigma
is given to bow down, they, with the
multitude, bow down with the mos
servile obedience and worship Tie image
that goddess politicians have set up. The
most solemn utterances of the church
and of the word of God are spurneG
and set aside when fealty to their party
is at stake.
"As all illustration take the member:
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Al
the last session of the General Confer
ence the church said through tha
General Conference I'VE do record oul
deliberate judgment that no politica
party has right to expect nor ought il
to receive the support of Christian mel
so long rs it stands committed to the
license policy or refuses to put itself or
record in an attitude of open hostility tt
the saloon.
"As declaration of principles was
this right? Yes, a thousand times yes
1t is in harmony with the word of God
and also with evangelistic Christianity
Then, why is it that u larger per cent o
the male members OF the Methods
Episcopal Church still continue to sup
port political parties that not only refuse
to put themselves on record against thu
saloon, but are openly committed to th,
license policy? Certainly intelligent
honest men, will not for one momen
claim that either the Democratic o
Republican party has met the require
ment laid down by the General Con
ference.
"rhere is not leader of either of tn,
old parties in this country to-day tina
you could induce by any means t,
antagonize the saloon in such way al
to mean anything. The fact is both old
parties are upon their knees to the run
god.
"If you vote for license party yol
are the friend of the saloon. But hol,
says one. Some of our bishops do this
And my own pastor does it. And mos
of the Sunday school superintendent
do it. repeat and with thousand -folt
emphasis. 1t makes no difference. TIL,
man who votes for political part,
whose policy is to license the saloon i
not Prohibitionist but is the friend ant
supporter of the saloon.
''if voting for license parties is you
method for destroying the saloon ant
Notwithstanding your method the in
fcrnal business grows with every pass
lug day when, my brothers, in tn
name OF reason, do you ever expect I
see it destroyed2