Middletown transcript., 1894-08-11
RELIGIOUS POLITICIANS.
Prohibitionists who Make Politicai
Speeches at a Methodist Camp Meet
ing, are Silenced by the Action or

Prohibitfonists who Make Poltticai
Speeches at a Methodist Camp Meet
ing, are Silenced by the Action OF
the Association. Amenf
Wevery sincerely congratulate the trus-
tees of the Brandywine Summit Camp
Meeting Association in their prompt action
In expressing their condemnation OF the
political work attempted at the camp
meeting last Thursday. How they could
be silent while the politicians with their
candidates sat upon the platform and re-
hearsed the worn-out- platitudes OF the
party is, to a sober minded person, surpris-
ing. If it were political trick as is indi-
cated1in the preamble, taking advantage
of the sacred privilege granted them," we
hope the gentlemen Of the cloth were not
in any way responsible for the deception
practiced.
There are among the laymen many who
question the propriety of ministers assigned
to specific church work spending SO much
of their time in haranguing political
gatherings with senseiess talk not much
above the school boy calibre, the logic and
force of which would scarcely make an
impression upon the mind of the widest
enthusiast. We have often wondered why
these great apostles, if convinced that the
prohibition party is the only agency by
which the institutions of our land are to be
perpetuated and the country saved-do not
abandon the ministry and give themselves
exclusively to the work of their party, and
depend upon that work for their support,
and not seek in the church, official position
with liberal salary and then in public
and private denounce the men who pro-
vide a living for them, because of the un-
pardonable sin ofentertaining conscientious
convictions on political questions.
We believe the Methodist Church with
her large memberships sound on the pro-
hibition question, and these blatant takers |
had better call halt and recognize the |
fact that they do not possess all the brains |
of the church. The following from the |
Morning News gives the action taken by the !
Camp Meeting Association:
BRANDYwINE SUMMIT CAMP GROUNDS, Au-
gust 9.-The feeling against phases Of the
Prohibition exercises to-day eliminated
tonight in the passage OF preambles and
resolutions by the trustees of the Brandy
wine Summit Camp Meeting Association.
They met at 7.15 o'clock in the preachers
tent
Those present were: The Rev. John B.
Quigg, president; Thomas Johnson, John
w. Day, J. K. Handy, Ephraim Megargle,
Samuel III. Baynard, Frank A. Mitchell
and Lewis T. Grubb.
Mr.. Mitchell offered preambles and reso-
luton. Mr.. Baynard moved their adoption
and they were adopted, as follows, with
only one voting no"
"Whereas, the sacred tabernacle and
altars of the Brandywine Summit Camp
have been desecreated by being made the
forum by which designing political aspi
rants, taking advantage of the sacred privi-
lege granted them in advancing their in
dividual interest, and
Whereas, We believe that this will re-
suit in serious injury to the spiritual vel
fare of the camp, and
Whereas, 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 sacre6
calling for partisan purposes, and it is
hereby
Resolved, 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 inimical to tie spiritual we'll
fare and the cause of Christ On the camp
ground"