The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-04
ELECTION LESSONS.
The Rev. ]. L. scuddeT Con-
siders the Amendments
Defeated aid Scores
Hudson County.
CHRISTIANS WERE BETRAYED
Says the Result Was a Disgrace
to Civilization Services
In Other Churches.

At the Tabernacle last evening the Rev.
John L. Scudder delivereda prelude to his
sermon, entitled Lessons from the last
election, in which he said
Last Wednesday the better classes in
New Jersey were plunged into humiliat-
ing glooom by reason OF the supposed de-
feat of the -antf-gambling amendment. 1t
looked as if in spite of all the agitation
by the Citizens League. the Christian
Endeavor Societies, the clergy of all de-
nominations, the foes of righteousness
were victorious. There is a rumor, how
ever. that the amendment was carried
by some 267 votes, on the basis of fuller
returns from the rural districts. If this
statement is correct, the churches have
occasion to, rejoice, but a victory won on
so small a margin carries little glory.
Whether we won or lost, 1 affirm the cleo
ton to be a disgrace to our so-called
Christian civilization. Those of us who
took an active part in the campaign have
nothing to regret. We tried our best to
rouse the people to a sense of their du-
ty and the gravity of the situation, but
their response was meagre and dilatory.
It is evident that the inhabitants OF New
Jersey cared little about the election or
the principles involved. They were too in
dolent to vote. and hence it may be said
nat this good cause was defeated, or al
most defeated, by the apathy of its
friends or normal supporters. Compared
with previous elections, the vote last
Tuesday was pitiably small, and Hudson
county, as usual, maintained its I'M
enviable reputation, and led off with a
majority of 1900 votes in favor of sin.
vThis election is significant. 1t indi-
Gates that the religion of our day lacks
moral ea~rnestness, that it is gelatinous,,
insipid and inefficient; too sentimental
to come into practical conflict with evil,
and toe selfish to make sacrifices for God
n native land.
What the piety of this day needs is
more backbone. The times call for a new
crusade. During the past three weeks the
preachers nave berated the gamblers;
now / propose that for the next three
years we denounce the labby Christian
ity which talks much and prays oft, but
accCmplishes next to- nothing in the do
main of civil government.
If the army of church members in New
Jersey cannot make a better showing
against gin tha they did last TUESDAY,
spect. and demands vigorous censure from
the prophets of God. IF saloons and
brothels and gambling hells are active
anu dieFl Oh elGcliut udl diu iAdhe tiSih-
selves felt at the polls, the churches
ought to beat a White heat in the cause
of virtue and order; but as a matter of
fact many of them were SO Hfeiess that
in some places the pastors feared to
call mass meetings lest the empty seats
SHOULD reveal the lethargy of the So
called followers of Jesus Christ.
THE election was a pitiable exhibition
of spiritual weakness; and now while we
ak of reforming politics. / think it
would be well to get to work and reform
ourselves. Every 'stay-at-heme' citizen
should be branded as selfish, unpatriotic
and unfit to live in a civilized country.
His absence from the polls should be re-
garded every whit as pernicious as the
ballot Of a blaekleg, who, at any rate,
stands by his principles and votes as he
talks. May the Lord have mercy on all
~non-poting Christians and convince them
of the error of their ways; may the
preachers show them that they haye
committed a crime against both church
and State, and that they merit as Sc
we're a condemnation as the gamblers
themselves