San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-25
POLITICAL PIETY.

III TIE dlleluDtS VI inc ShuISutS W
make capital out of the attendance,
at this place or that place
of religious worship, of those
who are in places of Office and
trust. To see a body of people, pro-
feSSedly engaged in the service of
: God, toady to the wishes and prefer
ences of those in authority in gov
ernments, in order to secure greater
popularity and distinction for the
church where these dignitaries wor-
ship, is so foreign to all the spirit and
temper of Christianity, that it de-
serves rebuke. As the churches are
not likely to reprove their own sins
it is in order for the press to take the
work into its own hands. This mat
ter is suggested by a recent telegram
which went the rounds of the press
from Washington, 1t started out with
some statement of the push that was
made by the Washington shurches to
secure the attendance of President Nc
Kinley and family. The gratuitous
assertion is advanced that the presi-
dent would not care to attend the
church ut present, that he attended
as simple congressman. The rival
churches that have entered the list
to secure him as an attraction. are
mentioned and then this follows:
The rivalry has reached an acute
stage, Bishop Hurst has been drawn
into it to the extent that he has com
missioned prominent Methodist of
Washington to go to Canton and see
Mr.. Mckinley. This representative
is to find out two things. He is to
induce the president elect to name the
church he will attend, and also to in
quirC as to Mr.. McKinley's wishes
about the personality of the pastor
Foundry church is at present in
charge of Rev. o. A. Brown, whose
fixe year limit is about expiring: If
Foundry is chosen by Mr.. Mckinley
the bishop feels as if he would like
to know the distinguished attendants
preference for the successor to MI.
Brown. One of the names most men-
toned for the Foundry appointment
is that of Rev. J. NJ. King, Il personal
friend of the president, and now in
charge of Union church, New York
City. Other possibilities for Foun-
dry, if it becomes the presidents
church. are Rev. Lucian Clark, d. D.;
Rev. Luther =. Townsend and Rev.
DR.. Wilson, the presiding elder.
Now is not this nice thing for the
followers of the meek and lowly Naz-
airline. What would have been his de-
nunciotion Of this purse proud at
tempt to piece out the worship of the
invisible one. who is to he worshipped
in spirit and truth, by the worship of
the president of the Nation! What
would old Paul, who denounced the
assembly that had respect TO persons,
have said if one of the little Christian
churches around the field of his tray
els had made such bid for noto-
riety And remember this is a
Methodist church, presumably the
most Democratic and unworldly of
all. What would good old honest
John Wesley have said if some or his
preachers had proposed to him to
send a delegation to some colonial
magnate and ask him what church
he would like to attend, and what
preacher he would prefer to take the
pulpit there? Would not the bones
of the old reformer turn in his grave
if such thing were suggested to
him, even now? That telegram is a
terrible indictment against every bish-
op, presiding elder and pastor and
church directly or indirectly interest
ed in making the temple where God
is supposed to be worshipped the
museum where live president is on
exhibition.