The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-09-30
MORE LION, LESS LAMB
Needed in the Pulpit Says Charles
M. Sheldon.
4 POLITICAL UNION OF CHRISTIANS

| from the pulpit of the Central Congre-
gational church atHuntoon aud Buchanan
streets last evening upon the subject of
/ "a Political Union of Christians" In
the course of his sermon the preacher
dwelt upon the degeneracy of political
| parties and urged Christians to stand to-
! gether in political union and vote as they
prayed.
Preliminary to the sermon Mr. Sheldon
/ gave a brief sketch of the struggle of
| the Cuban patriots for freedom from the
| Spanish rule that has and Is being waged
on the island of Cuba.
He spoke Of thescrueities of the Span
ISL iDquisition methods used in subju
ting its colonies and said in conclusion:
My sympathy goes out to Cuba and l
hope her people may recover their indie
pendence. recall with gratitude how
| France assisted America in her hour of
need, and SO must the Cuban feel at each
! spark of comfort.
"If the United States could see its way
clear to aid the struggling patriots I am
sure it would be along the line of its
| policy and the peoples wishes
In his sermon AIr, Sheldon said:
'All governments of men should have
| the supreme love as their guide. A ma
ton is but a collection of individuals.
THE ills OF government, like ind-
viduals, arise from disobeying the divine
commands.
There is no political union among
Christians in government, but the Non
conformists of England are nearest
There seems no attempt by Christians
TO get on a common platform.
dangerous classes all unite and vote
one way to Carry any measure they may
desire and why should not Christians.
''The only way to save the nation from
the ruin OF spoilsmen is for Christianity
to unite politically.
"Good men must be elected, pure men
selected. Ballots are what elect men to
Office not prayers. Christians must vote
together as well as pray together.
~ hat we want is more lion and less
lambssin the ministry. Ministers must be-
qualified for other matters besides at
tending sewing circles on week days.
They must be strong and dare to tell the
truth.
bad men and corrupt organize to
carry their ends and ideas then how
much Iiiore necessary is it that Christians
should do so for the right.
''Can there be u political union of
Christians? Yes. there can aud should
be. This is not my idea alone nor am
cranky about it. Some of the best min
listers in the country are advocating a
political ChristianSuuion.
"if all Christians would vote the same
way. l mean in matters of righteousness,
this would soon be a model, moral coun-
try.
"Of political parties. each claims to be
the purest and best. A Christian will re-
member that no party has monopoly of
the purity.
"Partisanship is awful in its hideous-
ChriSfi4n nr1iDO xyOnl0 wilma on
the spoils system and greedy office-seek-
ers who have only their own welfare at
heart.
"In the heart of Chicago is a commu-
nifty of souls as large as the city of To-
peka that live in drunkenness, vice and
crime.
in each campaign politicians meet
and discuss the finance, tariff and fitness
OF the candidates for office. Does that
tend 10 cure the woes of this community
and make better and brighter their lives
But political demagogues are not
looking to these things; they are trying
TO get a seat in congress. They harp on
the tariff and finance.
Jesus didn't talk on finance. The
only time he ever spoke in this connec-
ton was when he mentioned the rich
man. the needles eye and the camel
! parable Jesus talked of the regenera-
Q
not following Jesus.
/ Everything on earth, including hui
manisK,s helongs to Jesus and he should
/ be recognized more often and his doc
! trines followed more closely.
EThis nation will never prosper right
| eously until Christians unite and vote as
unit. We must ignore party politics.
We do in municipal affairs and why not
| in national affairs
i aR..I. IL,
/ ger Of party fealty aud bossism. In two
| great eastern states have two men sue
/ ceeded in defying all efforts to better the
political condition by dislodging them
! from power. They remain firmly en-
| trenehed.
u have been asked what would be the
! platform of the political Christian IN
ion. 1 answer, The sermon on the
mount OF the Lords prayer The love
| Of God and the brotherhood of love is
| sufficient.
mo better government could exist
! than one founded on the Lords pra yer
/ 1.-The present financial and tariff dis
| cussions are purely selfish and for selfish
motives. The Christian platform would
! be what God willed. Perhaps platforms
alone don't make pure governments.
The Christian party praying to God is
a splendid platform. But professional
/ politician would laugn anu 1eer at
| Christian party.
"But the time is coming, and not far
distant, when Christendom will be- united
to battle for pure government and the
right. Not in a pharisaical form, not
for spoils, but for the brotherhood of
| Gcd. believe this will occur before the
twentieth century.
81 am sure there are many in this con-
gregation who would unite along the
lines l have spoken of and battle faith
fully for the right"
KANSAS CITY AND RETURE
SANTA FE ROUTE.