Middletown transcript., 1895-10-05
POLITICS, WOODLAND BEACH

age to express them. Admiration TO
the man does not imply that one neet
be of the same opinion. Indeed on
may admire qualities in his creates
foe, and nothing more strongly thar
courage; not physical courage alone
but moral courage more if it is tenn
pered with reason. There are preach
ers of the gospel who seem to lacl
moral courage, the kind that attacks
sin in particularly designated places
but Rev. Adam Stengle, pastor of th'
NJ. E. Church, Smyrna, is not one o.
them. He gives evidence of this, WI
are told, in his regular pulpit ministra
tions, and the following taken from
the Smyrna Times of 25th ult., shows
that he can talk to his official board
with the courage of his convictions
~ am deeply and painfully impressed
that our church has suffered greatly
from one or more of. three causes which
| will name:
First, the spirit of the late political
campaign with its bitterness, misrep-
resentation, slaLder, corruption and
lawlessness, directly and indirectly
left its blighting touch upon man.
Secondly, Woodland Beach with its
attractions, dissipation, and Sabbath
dissertations also made its usual draft
upon our church and Sabbath school as
well as upon the community in general
Many even of our good people have
gone there on the Sabbath ostensibly
to meet with friends who came from
the city on the Sabbath breaking
steamer.
The third evil, and which has smit-
ten our town like malignant epidemic
is the base ball craze, which was large
ly patroniZed even by our best people
as well as by the worst. And I am
told that some, whose voices are so
weak that when they speak in church
they can scarcely be heard across the
room, cheered SO Justify that they
could be heard all over ten-acre field.
and in response to my appeals to desist
from attendance upon such games, 1
have been reminded that some of our
preachers not only attend such games
but actually participate therein.
AS result of these evils and others
of minor Importance many of our peo-
pie have not only neglected the means
of grace but also give other evidence
of state of spiritual Decline"
The above is from the written re-
port of the pastor at the third quarter
ly conference. It..makes US wish for
more of the report and especially to
know the reasons that prompted there
erend gentleman to write as he did.
Evidently he feels strongly on the sub
ject or he would not write so pointedly.
We agree and we disagree with Mr..
Stengle, 1t appears to US to be sub
ject that may be discussed with profit.
We know nothing of Woodland
Beach and, unlike many persons who
write or talk mostabout that of which
they know least, we have nothing to
say of it.
But we do know something of "the
spirit of political campaigns" and as
we clearly pointed out in our last issue
that same spirit gets into the church,
local and general, and the man who
stands in the sacred desk should con-
denim it whether in the church, in So
clety, or in the State. It is the ''get-
there" desire without regard to the |
means. Not only in the "late political |
campaign" but in every campaign there
is more or less of bitterness, misrep-
resentation, slander, corruption, and
lawlessness, land it should not be.
These are matters that the minister
should preach against and not only
against the sin but he should point out
the sinner, saying ''thou art the man."
Instead of that, preachers can be found
to join hands, getting paltry share of
the spoils, with the most corrupt poll
ticians, and to become their apologist
and advocate. But because preachers
do this is no excuse for laymen to in
dulge in these reprehensible practices.
A political campaign does not demand
hard feeling among friends and neigh
bors, and it is foolish to indulge in it.
The partisan paper and greedy politi-
clan stirs up the strife because they
hope to profit by it, but for church
to be so far forgetful of their
obligations to the church and to them
selves is surprising, or it would be If it
were not so common. It is evidence Of
! lack of godliness, an absence Of vital
piety. A man should have political
riews as every man should have reli-
mus convictions. Good government
lhoHid be a matter of interest to every
.itizen but differences of opinion as to {
methods should not divide men social t
u, nor should men be so bound to
,arty that they must endorse all party I
lets. 1t is because men are so parti- 6
IAN that party leaders dare to do the Q
,hings they do, believing the cry Of b
,arty partyi will shield them from 8
|e.eat. II the. people would teach {
hem some lessons then there would be +
ess Of ISLANDER, corruption, and law 9
essness., Why will not the people b
% itP What can be done to prevail p
NON them to do It.? II the press was q
80 partisan and more independent It q
ouId have good effect. Indeed the 4
r6ss has been tho great leysrin many q
lforna and to Il The people are in- 81
6I for deiiyerapoe from mona than h