Smyrna times., 1896-06-03
At the Methodist Church.
1.-THE NATIONS TRoUBLER.

st the Methodist Church, the pastor,
Rev. A. Stengle preached also on
national topics taking his text from l
Kings, 1917 II "Art thou he that
troubleth Israeli" The discourse was
vigorous throughout, dealing with the
subject of ''part idolatry" and cutting
close to the burr, The following is
brief synopsis of the discourse:
A great nation was in trouble. Who
was the troubler? First trouble was
due to misrule-Ahab the king was a
weak and wicked man and was domi-
mated by his wife JeZebel, a strong
minded, wicked idolatrous woman who
virtually ruler Israel, and the result
was oppressive and demOralizing and
the substitution of Bael for God.
Secondly a drought of unprecedented
severity and duration came upon the
country as o Divine visitation to re-
buke the wickedness and to restore the
true worship. So it is manifest that
the trOubler was the Government it
self which, by its departure from God,
brought upon the country the evils
which afflicted it.
The topic suggested by the text and
its environments is The Cause and
| 1NCuuCuN VI NdIAOl1l NlOuDACbs
Our nation as well as others has had
| its troubles. Memorial Day awaken'
slumbering memories of the darkes
period in our national life, and it is
eminently fitting to honor the memory
of the slain on this day by visiting
their graves with fragrant flowers,
melodiOus songs and eloquent speech
But we need not go back thirty year
l. m
trouble in our land to-day. True, W,
have no war, no famine, no pestilence
but their is unrest, discomfort, dis
trust, bitterness, want and universa
lament of ''hard times" There
troQble-Who is the trOuhler? Som
will say Providence. But while Pro
vidence does sometimes affect an
punish nations for their sins, yet W
are not at this time the subject of sue
a visitation; but on the contrary Go
is dealing very graciously with III
Others will attribute the trouble
= civil and political measures-such {
high tariff; low tariff, Mona or Bimeta
, ism; Private ownership of lands; IL
? legalized liquor traffic etc.
=, But the real cguse lies back of q
e these questions, though it operat
: through them. That cause is our nat
;, Onal departure from God, to which OF
:, troubles are traceable. AS nation v
g have set up Bael instead of God
II Party instead of Country-Party i
s. stead of Right-Party instead of Go
n In casting their ballots the mass
|; voters are no longer governed by que
5; tions of what is right? What is be
7; for the country? What is the will
II God? but what is best for the part
3 This fact is demonstrated at the prii
4, aries, at the ELECTIONS, in the conve
= tiOns and in the Legislative halls q
ID executive chairs. And the Priests
3 Bael or Party Bosses dictate to t
T. masses, the men and measures to
st voted for and enforce their dictation
bribery or intimidation, by lawful a
unlawful means, by machinery of Sti
rs we'll as by party machinery.
- The natural result of this pal
~ idolatPy and blind partisan spirit
IN IN civil and political eorruptiOn-IneO
VI petent rulership -MisappropriatiOn
~ Public funds az we'll as eXtrayag,
ue and wasteful aIpropriations-PrOsti
- ton of Government to party purpo
or and a disregard of the needs a
-, rights of the country-MOrality, rig
" eousness and God are substituted
eu trickery, policy and demagogues -s
~ Of course the result is the general
m, structlon of confidence resulting in
40 withdrawal of capital and the. con
u, guent closing Of industrial Institute
~ and general paralysis of business,
en This is the Troubler, what is
'n; s Remedy? The general princiI
ol governing Israel's case are equally
M. plicable here The remedy consists
IL the acknowledgement of God and
destruction of the priests of b
ms Party bosses must be put down,
IN gl every nam must exercise his own
w hghtened judgement and obey
~ ~uls dictates of his own conscience, and
euo up God instead of party. That is
' ew spirit Of true patriotism and that
De' remedy the ills and restore confinde
and awaken slumbering industries.
So while it is proper to mourn {
the graves of of those who sacrif
tho their lives upon the altar of t
Ter country, it is better that we mo
re- over the desolate homes of the livi
orc --desolated by our departure from {
and reckless disregard of the pu
90 interest-and that we better bear
-io such desolate homes the flowers
IA music Of a reformed national life.
, l. us then erect such an alter to God
las- before it pledge our hearts and
lid for thorough reformation of our
:, 3. and political life both IN State
ms, Nation.
lOr, ---4..----