The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-26
POLITICIANS OF
PAST AND PRESENT
Rev. Dr.. Dixon Describes Those Of Today
s. and Of Caesars Time.
Ifthe Minister Of the Gospel Has No
Right to Speak on This Greatest Of
Moral Issues, You Shut the Door Of
the Pulpit Against N ny Other
Present Day Evils.. Chasm Between
lniquity and Integrity.

Rev. Joseph K. Dixon. D. D., pastor
OF Penn Avenue Baptist church,
preceded his sermon last night with q
| forceful and fearless arrignment OF
the political policy Of reputation and
| dishonesty now before the people OF
| this nation. 1t was as follows:
God has driven ploughshare and
and made a chasm between inquiry
and integrity. No government can long
stand the pressure Of dishonesty and
reputation without sure and terrific
downfall. All old and effete civiliza-
tions whose wrecks are strewn along
the shores OF history are lessons in this
, regard. Lit by the ruins Of Parthenon
and Pallas tonight, / and you may read
this lesson in mouldering stones, bar
barious practices, the ten command
ments with the prohibition left out.
Men there are whose heads are So cool
because so empty who will even now
arraign the pulpit for bringing poll
tics into religion. The reason is plain.
they carry SO little religion in their
politics.
In the time of Caesar and Cicero to
be politician was to be good citt-
that walks the street. The sacrilege OF
this campaign has sent the cold chills
down my spinal column. The cross.
that blessed and beautified symbol Of
our faith, that rugged couch on which
the Son Of God breathed out his life
with a crown of thorns around It's
transverse pieces Of wood and pic
ture Of q candidate for the presidency
fastened to its forefront stamps the
title page Of q campaign song, the
American Marseilles.'
THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
II read in the decalogue Thou shalt
not steal If you debar the pulpit
the right to speak on this, the greatest
moral issue since the long lines Of
blue faced the long lines Of the gray
On the hattie plains Of the South, you
shut the door of the pulpit against
speech concerning drunkenness, bias
phemy, perjury, or any of the ills that
vex the world.
"Twice before sections Of this great
land have attempted reputation, once
when Washington's soldiers. bleeding
on the soil Of Valley Forge and the
great chieftain asked for money and
the states afterwards attempted to
disown the obligation, but congress
came to the rescue.
"Once again when in the sorest crisis
Of the nation. martyred and sainted
Lincoln called for help to keep the
soldiers In the field. The help came
from village, hamlet and farm, but
after the soil had been baptized with
blood and the blackman was freed and
the Union preserved, an attempt was
made to pay the obligation with 7S-
cent dollars, but loyal and royal
hearts branded the Infamous attempt
and preserved our honor among the
nations Of the world. and now a third
time. the sacrilege Is attempted to pay
our honest obligations with q 5S.cent
dollar.
A SHAME ON SHAME.
America. queen Of the earth and
child of the Skies with her fertile
acres overfiOwing granaries. tseming
mines, populous and prosperous cities,
her giant Industries. her vast territory,
her glorious record, to repudiate
shame on shame.
I'm this pulpit. let the strength of
my conviction with all the power Of my
Chritian patriotism thunder against
this sacrilsRe Of the hour and write
in letters Of fire SO that he who runs
away may read. to this church, to
this community. to the world. Thou
shalt not steal"
DIR. DIxON'S INSTALLATION.
The installa ton Of Rev. Joseph X.
Dixon, D. D.. as pastor Of Penn Ave-
nue. Baptist church, will take place
next Thursday evening and IL will
be attended by elaborate services.
Many Of the pastors Of the city will be
presen: to welcome DR.. Dixon as a
co-laborer in the vineyard here.
Rev. r. s. Macarthur. D. D.. L. L. D..
pastor Of Calvary Baptist church. New
York city. who Is, perhaps the best known
Baptist clergyman in the United States,
will deliver the principal address, and
he will undoubtedly touch upon the
political question.