Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-01-15

ohoo. ~ eQuedhS llk6 u mouse at el6C-
ton. 1t flames up like volcano in res
olutions 1t crouches like a spaniel be-
fore the politician S lash on election day.
As long as insolvent Christian citi-
zenship backs the church against the
saloon that always pays cash it will al
ways be beaten.
There is a church, beautiful church,
with a beautiful steeple pointing for
ever to God, testifying of him night and
day
Finel
But steeple is not ALL
There is preacher.
How does he point?
He doesn't point at all.
How do the people point?
They point every way, like paper of
tacks.
Do you wonder that men of the
world look on and say: "It's toy,
myth, fraud They don't believe in
it themselves"
Better that church were empty, with
just the steeple pointing Godward and
telling the people of him.
But when the testimony gets mixed
God sends war or pestilence or the cross.
So his children may get their bear
ings for time and for eternity.
From the power of testimony turn for
moment to the nature Of testimony.
l have sometimes thought that when
God made man he cut him off from all
dealings with him except by testimony
He made the world court and put
himself on trial before their intellect.
Jesus stood on the bare facts of testi-
mony.
John, in prison, deserved the best
answer Jesus could give when the mes
sengers came for another positive as
surance that he was the Messiah.
'Tell John that the lame walk, the
lepers are cleansed and the poor have
the gospel. On this testimony I am that
l am. -
God will not usurp.
Whatever the logic of the truth
brings you to there stand-to die, if
need be.
come to ask you Christians, Are
you the power of God?
Dare you send me back to say: Blind
men are tripped up, lame men stagger-
ing through the streets, lepers trampled
under foot of men, the dead violated,
the poor f1ayed, stripped, starved, mur-
dered-and the church stands by hold
ing the garment?
Will you send me back with the tes-
timony: We Christian men are what we
are.
Now for the instruments of testimony.
The world is great court for the or
derly trial of cases.
1t is no slogan of a political party,
but the cause of Jesus Christ before the
world.
A court is thing Of the intellect.
You would not hope to win in court
by singing gospel hymn to the jury.
A witness is person who proves
something.
If the world is won, it will not be by
professional, but by individual livings.
Who is ON trial-the Republican par
ty, the Democratic party, the Prohibi-
tion party:
No. Christ is on trial.
The spirit of Pontius PLATE bestrides
the political throne.
The event depends Oh you.
You shall be witnesses.
"What do you prove?"
81 am Christian man.
Sorry for US. That is the most misty
term in the language.
Ninety eight per cent Of the Christian
men at general elections vote silence.
That is, it is not necessary to be dead
square.
Listen! S-i-l-e-n-c-e. the pious party
way of spelling l-i-c-e-n-s-e-the same
letters little differently arranged.
What do you prove?
Not what do you feel-how do you
sympathize?
The ballot is the ingot Of power out
Of which statutes are cast.
Look to your testimony on election
day.
The saloon holds over until its party
successor comes.
Its name is not ON the ballot, but the
saloon has, under the curse upon satan,
crawled on its belly to the throne and
Kisses its orders to the Christian church.
Christ is the Christian voters candi-
date.
Who will stand for him against the
saloon?
We must be true.
Will you choose Jesus or Barabbas?
Here is crowd with banners: Spoils,
protection, including protection for the
hyena, the saloon; gold and silver. wise
and we'll regulated sympathy.
Here is another: Free trade and tariff
reform, spoils; silver and gold; no
sumptuary law.
will join no party that will not fly
this flag: "For Jesus Christ and His
Church; Down With the Saloon; Away
With Tariff Hypocrisy and Chickering's;
Protect the Public School, Protect the
Home; Up With the English Language;
Another Chance For the Drunkard; An