The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-12-15
PRESIDENT EDwIN d. wuEELucK


church AMI stntc. nor do they sock to roy-
ern tho state through the church, but they
do propose ito identify Christian citizcns
with public affairs nnd thus infuse into
industries, policies and administrations
tho spirit Of Jesus Christ " After statint,
that II double work needs to odouc, form
ative and roformative, that tho young must
be'cducatcd i'll civics that the rearing OF
boodlcrs and drunkards must be stopped.
and that The presout generation of voters
must DO united for Christian government,
the call concludes rs follows
To this necessary and sacred work we
summon all of whatever creed, party, na-
tionality or seX who acknowledge God ms
supreme over all and desire 10 SEQ his will
done upon earth.
Tho officers Of the league are: President,
Edwin ID. Wheclock; yico Presidents, Io-
seph i. Berry, Henry II. Spouner md
Norman q. Lexington; treasurer, $. AL
len Wilson; corresponding secretary, a.
M, Haswcll; counsel, Mckenzie Clelnnd;
field secretary, Dr. Carlos Martyr.
Among those who signed the original
call besides tho officers wore: Rev. Waylnnd
lloyt OF Minneapolis, Bishop Nindo of De-
troit, General o. o. Howard, Miss Frances
H. Willard, Lady Isabella Somerset, the
English temperance woman and bosom
friend of Miss Willard; Rev. Francis T..
Clark, the herd Of tho Christian Endcayor
society; Neal Dow Of Maine. tho veteran
Prohibit!onist Helen NJ. Cougar of In
diana, Rev. S. i. Smith, author of tho
hymn America" Rev. b. Fay Mills, tho
noted rcriv&lst; John Willis Bacr, Bishop
Mnllnlieu OF Buffalo, Bishop Foss Of Phil.
adclrhia and many others equally well
known in Christian work.
II should be explained that tho leaders
OF tho new movement expressly lisclnim
any intention to form new purty. In a
paper upon this phase written by II. n.
Spoonor. ono of tho vico presidents of the
league no says that "overy body rccogniZes
tho fact that In republic government
must ba conducted by party" adding that
nobody seeks To diSplaco or replace eth
tho Democratic or Republican party in ma
tlunal affairs, ard that tho purpose of
the National Christian lrapuc is Sin all
local mattrrs, after the example of tho
great English municipalities to persuade
voters to shake off tho party yoke and to
vote conscicntinusly and stcndfastly for
good local government, independents of
democracy or Ropublicnnism.'
~ fear has boon Expressed in some quar-
eers that the league IS seeking to drag tho
church into politics. They say that "a union
OF church and state would bo n bad thing.
il 1t were accomplished tho church would
simply be seGulnri2cd, while tho state
would not 10 Christianizcd. In regard to
this, tho Rcv. j. 5. Berry says that since
tho church cannot go into politics an arena
must be opened where church members
can perform their duty us Christian citi-
Zens.
In pursuance Of this policy, the local
leagues arc autonomous with regard to To-
Cal work, their functions being to unto
thc better classes in each town and city on
nonpartisnn, noEsoctarnn basis for the
combating of local evils, but their object
Is also to secure tho co cooperation Of tho
leagues In each state upon state affairs,
mus forming II state department under
proper leadership, and to take the lead in
nj movements of general or rational
character. focusing tho strength of all the
state departments and local leagues ON tho
question mt ISSUE
The leaders of tho league commend to
Mo voters Of tho United Suites tho Chris
l..