The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-17
The Pastor Of EpWorth n. E. Church
Talks on Political Questions. f
POLITICAL TRICKERY AND DISHONESTY
The Reverend Gentleman Makes
Same Sharp Digs ut Politicians
With Gncienn Methods-Dens OF
Shame Kept Open by Faithles.
Officials 10 Entrap the unwary.


was taken from Genesis xviii, 80: Per
adventure ten shall be found there. And
he said. 1 Will not destroy It for tens
sake"
The following are some of the thoughts
brought out by the pastor In his able
and impressive discourse:
Abraham pleads for the degenerate
city. God promises to spare the city for
the sake OF ten righteous. provided they
can be found. What can be the rea sons
why God, for the saks of so few, should
be willing to spare so wicked u place?
cannot thing merely that he might
| rescue the ten-other ways were open
for their deliverence. Is not this rather
the eXplanation--that there is hope for
tina redemption of Il city, however wicked
1t may be, II Il few truly righteous per-
sons are found In 1t? 1t Is stnl true
that righteousness. not wealth and Gull
ture, are the hope of any people? The
ultimate foundation on which all things
| rest is the law Of God contained In the
decalogue anu new-given In Christ Je-
| sus. Even material Interests resent the
disregard OF the moral law. The com
| mercial crises that come now and then
are directly traceablc to that greed and
sehshncss that dominate our business
life. The righteousness that Will con
quer Is no abstract righteousness but
righteousness in flesh and blood living,
active. aggressive. Nor must we forget
| that righteous men and church members
are not synonymous terms. Why blind
our eyes TO the fact, that. 10 an alarming
| extent the leaders in political corrup-
tlon and all forms OF immortality are
members of some branch OF the Chris
| tan Church. Our hope Is not In the
orthodoxy nor in the grandeur of the
church. but In the righteousness of Gods
true children. would remind YOU how
great is the power Of the Righteousness
l hi, M ar al nd
sistibe. SO few as ten might redeem
wicked Sodom. Gods Word assures us
that one shall chase q thousand, and that
two shall put ten thousand TO nIRht
/ II Is notifying 10 see the coward.ce OF
so many apparently good people. and to
hear their assertion that nothing can
: be done TO thwart the evil forces that
y surround us. To Il large extent our love
8 oil ease and love of gain are In the way
II "Ihs righteousness Is to be brought
~ In contact with the needs and with the
y HE of the people. We need an applied
:. Christianity Those who are so clamo-
# Tous for what they call the simple GOSPEL
y are frequently Of the number of those
- VINO nave reason TO be agraid of an ap-
r pi'ea gospel. During an agitation i'm
IF haliimore some years ago. in the interest
ie =, we oNerworked street-car men, u pa
IL EIShloner OF certain clergyman who
l. .ook an active part in the agitation, adj
|
!, to preach the simple Gospel of christ
II turned out that this parishioncr owned
STOCK IN one OF the street railway cam
panies. Men do not wan, to he 20
minded OF their misdeeds Of the week
ney come TO church 10 be soothed by
ou Ell, OF ilearen to the forgetfulness
c Oh ihat woman who makes shirts for
) tHeir stores n Seventy-fvc cents nor
aoZet' or Of their political tricksry ana
dishonesty. Nothing ressts the treat
nlehl OF the Gospel as politics does. Just
q saS you VIII preach Oh the subjec, and
y ~ one EeiS very uneasy lest you desc
: ciMtc the House of God. I do NOT kno,
why, unless it be true that ,yhila nt,,a
J. eNii Things are possessed OF devils ,his
:, possessed of legion, and. like thn
,'.h az lht Gospels. il shr!rks when /,
e W u glimpse Of the coming Eine
IS nat nave TO do with thee, thou san
i Vii. ivi'icans make politics as
!, aS possible, and then tell the prea ch-
V ers and the better layman ~ l,.,,.
!; .n"tShes that 1t is, too unclean for 49,,
- .uSh lSut Woe betide that Lon do,
u Sr,! piN 'housht who sits quiet Will,
l. tha ana corruption. narshnllin.
inon @ under the banner of The sa7
life eSs!oh OF the city
Gan politically lmpur. r,e, L.. 4.
same Time Christian? W.. 49,
\ niotlohS on this suhi..- =,
q ,na S ,, breath ;ha. we condrm ! ,i,,.f,
INV iHils, we tolerate the s,no .'i.-
III poil'ics Few men are sinf,,, ~ 81,
sspeetS. lmmorali:y. as n ,ula sho,,.
ar nj aions one line in anv human life
- po'ticai tricksier shows his viclr
h.i.e III ms thief: of the elec;ion !
nj 80 ,hat The man who will st.ol
n. 40 So WI steal money, If 1t paw MIN n
~ ; NOT Is that man better who do<.s
u uirtE work through other hands
es ,i..I iar less honorable than tho wnr,i
10 ron'lclaA who boldly purchases ~
-. on me degraded. He. after nj
al n.,;in ny aoes the work. helps the do m.
hation of one or NOR. Of 81. r",H
AZ, ana then often sits In church n
usli IN me garb of saint, In calf, =
. i ih 10 repentance. then, how con :. I,=
cone unless YOU tell thom M ,bn;, .'
,.ical sins and polir.cal du,Iesp RI, 49,.
autRS as truly rest unon ne a ~,
Ct .srh C out MONIES and TO our churches
christian is the salt Of the earl
,orn 'i,S Eie around him he must trans
iM e near ii often said that il :,
= io.fo,, ~, 20 make men good by lcgis
ha ms IS largely true. bur mus
Tha Iop 'ea with many explanations
ann az" OF prevention may be nut /,
., ~. ."'iol ny the law of the State. So
n"o certain temptations shall not com.
~ our yonths. But look at the ctbe
sue. WIN not the true ChristIan liz.
g 5no" ITSELF in the civic regeneration
VERY saloon. every bad law. ever,
corrupt election method. every arranra
thent That makes 1t easy TO perpetra i,
A. sis uu at the ballot-box. Is an advtr