Evening star., 1896-07-10

decorations for the main auditorium well
worth a visit in themselves. Over the pull
pit platform was q large arch bearing the
inscription "One Is your Master even
Christ. and all ye are brethren" Beneath
this was large flag f1anked on one si1e
by a New Jersey banner, covered with
badges of the various state delegations.
NEW YORK AVENUE CHURCH.
A ColOrcd Orator and an Indiana
LeRfslator Among the Speakers.
Christian citizenship was the theme of the
meeting at the New York Avenue Presby-
terian Church last evening. and three ad-
mirable addresses were made in advocacy
of such a principle. A large choir, under
the direction of Mr.. Page Zimmerman, rem
dered the musical part Of the exercises in
very spirited and pleasant manner. The
Rev. GilbL c. Kelly Of Birmingham, Ala
presided, and after the choir had partici-
pated in a service Of. song he introduced
the Rev. G. o. Little Of this city, who con-
Quoted the devotional exercises, during
which Mr.. Melville d. Hensey rendered in
excellent style BoexS Zone SWeetly Solemn
Thought"
A Christian Citixenship Platform.
AS the first speaker of the evening the
chairman introduced the Rev. DR.. D. F.
McGill of Allegheny. Pa. who spoke of "a
Christian Citizenship Platform" He said
that since he was told that Lincoln had
Wcrshiped in the church in which they ha d
gathered the features of that great good
man had been before him. and there came to
him the thought that If his face and mem
ory are imposing and inspiring. there was
One greater than Lincoln whom we must
always have before u.s. A Christian citi-
ZenShip platform seemed to be needed and
a Christian citizen, he explained was one
who perfo1 ms his duty as a citizen in re-
SD9ct nhplianf xn1 hot
more than being good or even goody- good
A Christian citizen should be first an apos-
tie of the Lord and then there could De no
doubt of his good citizenship. God must be
obeyed rather than man.. That Is the bu-
gle blast in a conflict which has never
ceased. If it is not a gold platform it is
Platform Of gold. and if 1t is not a silver
pla torn 1t Is one better than silver The
platform Is one of but seven words, but it
could not be improved upon by one of 1900
words The good citizen. the Christian cit
izen, should act and vote as Christ would
for that is the true test. In conclusion the
speaker said that If we would have moral
legislation we must elect moral legisla tors,
and any party which puts itself on the
wrong side of a moral question forfeitS it's
right to be voted for Man. who belongs to
God, must not cannot be owned by any
party. He must either vote for against
God. Jesus Christ did mot please every
bcdy. but He always pleased His Father,
and that is all we should do. No political
Son have come to stay.ti --r----. -+.. 80
The Anti-snloon League. .-
After the choir had rendered in spirited
manner the hymn, s'Onward, Christian Sol
diers" the chairman said that as a south
err man it gave him special pleasure to in
troduce a young man OF a race for whom
the southern people entertain only the
kindest feelings; in whom they believe, and
In whom they repose great commence. ne
then introduced MI w. l.. Board OF w Il
berforce Ohio, young, colored. man VINO
has attained quite prominent position as
an orator. .s.-
The young mans remarks were frequent
ly applauded, and in his address he fully
sustained his reputation as brilliant
speaker He said in part:
What to do and how to dc 1t are ques-
tions that puzzle temperance reformers. 1
am glad that we meet tonight not IS lrohi-
bitionists, not local optionists, not es
high license men, not as government regu-
lationists. but as Christian Endeavorers
seeking a better tone of Christian citizan-
ship, and countenancing nothing mat bars
the road to such an end. To whatever fac
ton of temperance workers We belong, we
oppose the rum traffic. Let us then lay
aside our prejudces, forego our preff r
ences and stand together for principle and
not method. The temperance workers nave
been mistaking too long method for priEci-
PIE. We have already wasted too much
time hurting missiles at each other, instead
trating our fire upon the enemy. Let us
surrender our preferences and take hol1 of
the method that promises most unity and
efficiency. l offer no apology when l pre-
sent for your consideration the method pur-
sued by the Anti-Saloen League. 1T is a
temperance method about which l know
most, having been associated with :he Ohio
Anti-Saloon League. 1t is interdanomina-
| tional and omnipartisan. Its methods are
so arranged that all good republic ans, good
democrats. good prohibitonists, good popu-
lsts-good citizens all may join issue
against common foe without giving up
their party affiliations. How can we help
| the cause of good citizenship? By being
practical citizens. By rallying to the pri-
| maries and seeing to it that dishonest bood-
lers are not nominated and elected to ad-
minister law in the interests of saloon
keepers.
1 am not advocating that every minister
of the Gospel and every good citizen should
become a politician, but l do advocate that
1t is the duty of every good man and wo-
man to go into politics. There is as much
difference between going into politics and
becoming politician as between patriot
and politician. The one wishes to do all
he can for his country; the other wants the
country to do all 1t can for him. l have en-
deavored to impress upon you something of
the dignity and grandeur Of American citi-
Zenship; l have pointed out to you its
greatest living foe, intemperance; have
dared to suggest to you a method to as
suage this evil. If you remember pothing
more, do not forget that the success of the
temperance cause lies in unity of action
and purpose. Let differences be compro-
missed for principle. Let all the temperance
squads unite and form a company, TIE
companies battalion, the battalions a
regiment, the regiments a brigade. and
| finally uniting in one grand army of Chris
| tian citizens, let US go forth to battle, as
one has said. mot to enslave. but to free;
not to destroy. but to save; not for con-
quest. but for conscience; not for ours ,lves
only. but for every land and every race"
Then will the -chSrch awaken to the aw-
full chorus of an army of 100000 fopelcss
drunkards in Ameriss crying to her eter-
| nal shame; then Y0f politics. journalism.
society and religion see themselves as
banner of King 6ofIA; then will that
| sense Of right andSdu@ Inherent in the
American people, take Xs proper place in
the affairs of statetAndeman of legisla-
| ton the enactmentSo Sof- $hst. practical and
effective temperance mehsures.
An Indiana Iskislator.
Another hymn was 4e by the choir, and
then the chairman~AAtroduced Mr.. s. E.
| Nicholson of Kokomo,' Ind. Mr.. Nicholson
is member Of the Indiana legislature, and
has done much effective work in the pro-
| motion of good citizenship. He said II he
could touch the heaft .bf some one by what