The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1895-11-28
Christian Endeavor and Politics.

It is perhaps to be expected that when
an organization working on moral lines
attains large proportions there should be
attempts to divert it from it's purpose, and
that more or less dissension should arise.
We all know of a temperance organization
which has accomplished much along it's
original lines and which is still. through
its local societies, carrying on the good
work, although the head Of the order is
endeavoling to set it afloat on the troubled
sea of politics and to convert it to all sorts
Of fallicies and heresies. The Christian
Endeavor society has recently been the
object of an unjustitiable attack, through
the National President, by a third party
temperance orator, one John G. Woolly.
1t is not necessary. to go into detail as to
the nature of Mr.. Woolly offensive IT,
rades. The substance of his charges is
this: That President Francis E. Clark has
refused to officially lead tie Christian En-
deavor organization into political party.
1t is needless to say that President Clark
is sustained in this position by the great
majority of Christian Endeavorers every
where. 1t could not we'll be otherwise.
DIR. Nehemiah Boynton of Boston, in a
recent Sunday evening discourse, said:
Christian Endeavor has patriotic but
not political mission. II is not the bust
ness Of the society to make Prohibitionists,
Republicans, or Democrats, but to put
right principles into its young people, to
teach them to apply them in the sight Of
God. Christian Endeavor has a patriotic
mission III the truest sense, but you step
aside from Christian Endeavor when you
Try to make it's mission political.
The Congregationalist,i in an editorial on
Mr. Woolly's attack on DR.. Clark, says:
We do not anticipate any serious injury
to the Christian Endeavor movement from
this iil-advised attempt. Christian En-
deavorers arr enthusiastic believers in
Temperance and foes Of the saloon. Some
vote with the third party, among them
Secretary Baer and Treasurer Shaw, as
they have publicly stated. Others be-
lieve they can accomplish more for tenn
perance by voting with other parties. But
the effort to drive the Christian Endeavor
Society by organizing political party
within it, led by man who coarsely at
tacks it's honored and beloved President,
has nothing to commend itself 1t is
hardly conceivable that Epworth Leagues
can continue to invite one to address them
who assails the chief officer of the Chris
tian Endeavor Society by calling him ga
prophet, not of white life, but of white
liver
These two extracts voice public senti
ment and the sentiment of the Endeavor
ers as we'll The Waldo County Union at
its recent session in Belfast passed resolu-
tons ON this line, and we give here DR..
Clarks acknowledgement.
BosToN. Nov. u, 1895.
Mss Maud E. Wdtheacs, Belfast. Ne:
DEAR FRIEND: Thank you for your very
buttons Of the Waldo County Union. l as
resolutions are highly appreciated by me-
everywhere have also expressed their views
in similar way.
am convinced that no other course was
possible, and the unpleasant affair has real
ly done much good in showing the world
in regard to good citizenship, and that we
man or any party.
Very heartily yours,
F. G. CLARK.