Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-20
NEW CITIZENSHIP LEAGUE.
What 1t Stands for, What It Hopes
to Accomplish.

to Accomplish.
Many Of the Prominent City Minis
tiers Embraced in the Organize
tion-They Explain and Defend
the observation-disclosures Dwell
ing at Length Upon Existing
Evils and Suggesting the Remedy.
The Plain Duty of Christian Citi-
zens.
The Christian Citizenship League is
a local organization which has been
in existence for several months, and
which has done some very quiet but
effective work. Its object is the puri-
fiacion of politics, and it embraces in
its membership some of the most prom
inent ministers in the city. Yesterday
was set aside by the organization as
day for explaining and defining its
aims and objects in the city churches.
A number of very interesting sermons
were preached on subjects pertaining to
the league
At the Chapline Street M E. church,
the Rev. William Anderson, secretary
OF the League, explained THE nature
and aims of the Christian Citizenship
League" He said, in substance:
In the interests Of good government,
and with charity for all and malice
toward none, 1 desire at this time to
bring before your careful consideration
an organization that is founded on the
principles of Godliness and equality,
and which has for it's object the en-
actment and enforcement Of righteous
laws. Can any honest man object to
this? And what would become of us
as nation, if all men were opposed
to righteousness? Under such a con-
dition of affairs, no national order
nor public nor private safety could be
guaranteed to any OF us, for everybody
would then be thrown into utter con-
FUSION a spirit of lawlessness would
prevail; property would 10 longer re-
main in the hands of its rightful own
ers, and death and destruction would
throw themselves as a dark shrCud
around our dwellings. In speaking OF
the nature of the Christian Citizenship
League, it might be well in the first
place to show you what it is not.
Like the builders Of the Jerusalem
wall, we must not only seek to advance
the golden structure of truth and
righteousness, but we must also drive
back the enemies of falsehood. And
Just so it is in bringing before the
minds of men an organization with
which they are not perfectly familiar
prejudices must be broken down, mis-
apprehensions must be cleared away,
and a firm and righteous foundation
must be laid.
The Christian Citizenship League is
not a secret organization. Crganiza-
tons which have for sheir aim only
the welfare of few Of their fellow
men may sometimes find it to their
advantage to be of secret nature;
but all organizations which are seek
ing to benefit all of the members of a
community should be given the greatest
publicity. The latter is true OF the &.
C. L. 1t aims to benefit all men, and
there is not anything in this organiza-
ton to which any honest man can OBJ
ject, though there are many things in
it which will meet with the disap-
prevail of corrupt officials.
This league is not a partisan or sec
tartan movement. 1t does not aim to
favor one political party any more than
another 1t is composed of Democrats,
Republicans, Prohibitionists and indie
pendents; and it invites the best men
of each Of these parties to unite in an
earnest and legitimate attempt to fur
Their the interests of good government.
Any candidate for office who attempts
to work this organization for the eX-
elusive interests of his own party will
be given his walking papers" But
on the other hand, any political party
that will bring forward good and
honest men for public offices will re-
ceive the encouragement of this or
ganiZation. This does not imply that
these honest candidates to which we
have just referred will receive the votes
of all Of the members and friends of
the C. C. L., but they would undoubt-
eddy receive the support of those men,
bers of the league who already belong
are members We cannot but believe
that this organization will meet with
the approval of every conscientious citi-
zen Of Wheeling, regardless Of their
political opinions, for surely every hon
est Democrat and Republican is anX-
ious to further the interests of good
government This league furnishes all
honest men with basis On which they
may unite for the purpose Of placing
the interests Of their political parties
in the hands of honest and God-fearing
men. 1t also extends the right hand
of fellowship to members of all re-
ligious denominations who are inter
ested in the welfare Of the city.
We shall now speak CT what this
organization is. One of its leading OBJ
jects is to make Christian principles
operative in public affairs. Many cor
rupt officials will object to this, for it
is in vain to speak TO them of Chris
tan principles; you might as well speak
to them CT that fictitious gentleman
who is supposed to reside in the
moon, and they have about as much
respect for the one as the other. Like
Calls of old, they care for none of
these things" Should their conscience
ever cause them uneasiness, they look
upon the matter as an instance Of
weakness and throw their convictions
aside as being hindrance to their Of
fetal progress. Now, | wish to ask