The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-22
MADE IT WARM
The Methodist Prayer Meeting
Last Night
Thrown Into Excitement by
Political Discussion.
MAI. TOM ANDERSON
Was the Subject of the Remarks
Of the Brethren.
WnaTr "a Hnrs%nT1
MAI. TOM ANDERSON
His Mock Prayer at Horton
Considered Wicked.

Major Tom Anderson made but one
public prayer in his life. If he is de-
feated for the nomination of state SEN
ator at the primaries tomorrow this
prayer will be largely responsible for
it.
1t was at the First district congress
s1onal convention at Horton last April
that Major Anderson prayed. On the
morning of the second day of the dead
lock, when the tiresOme balloting was
about to be resumed, one of the dele
gates suggested that prayer be offered
and Major Anderson, probably more be-
cause OF his patriachal appearance than
anything else, was at once called upon
TO lead. He sought position on the
platform and prayed as follows:
oh Lord, please get on our side and
stay with US We don't want you to be
on the other side. If you can't help us
lay low and we will show you the in
fernalest scrap that your ever saw"
1t was mock prayer that Major An
derSOn prayed. At least that is what
Henry GrOut, a devOut member of the
First Methodist church, publicly an
nOunced before the close of the regular
weekly prayer meeting at the church
last night. He did more. He stated in
emphatic terms that it was the duty
OF every man who prOfessed to be a
CHRISTIAN to work against a man for a
public office who was so sacriIegiOus
as to offer up a burlesque prayer.
The prayer meeting was somewhat
L. /
by storm as it were, and introduced a
basis for a political discussion before
the majority of the congregation knew
what was happening. 1t was just aft
er the prayer service had ended and DR..
Thorpe was about to announce the dOX-
olOgy, when Mr.. GrOUt stood up in the
aisle by his pew.
L have a word to say to the broth
ers here tonight said he. Il want to
remind you that the primaries are to be
held on next Saturday, and to say that
We should all turn out. There are two
OfnceS Which we should especially look
after in order that the right men may
be elected to fill them. 1 speak of the
office of county attorney and the office
of state senator. In reference to the
latter 1 want to say that a Christian
and a church member could not
bring myself to vote for a man for state
senator who publicly ridiculed the AL
mighty by Offering a mock prayer at a
political gathering, and I don't think
any other Christian and church mem
Der can with a clear conscience follow
such a course.
Mr.. GrOut sat down and heaved a
sigh of relief He had hardly resumed
his pew until the form of the venerab BILE
Methodist John D. Knox rose in anOth-
er part of the church.
My dear brethren he commenced
in a tone which became habitual with
him when addressing congregations as
a practicing Methodist minister. The
gentleman to whom Brother Grout re-
ferred is old time friend of mine
and L want to say that 1 don't believe
he ever forgot himself so far as to Of
fer up mock prayer I think it was
simply a humorous rumOr placed in
circulation without any malicious in
tent
By this time Brother Grout was
again on his feet. He pointed his fin
ger in the direction of his venerable
fellow Methodist, and said:
Brother Knox, 1 know positively
that the mock prayer was offered by
one of the men who now seeks to Sc
cure the nomination for as responsible
a position as state senator, I repeat
that 1 believe it the duty of every
Christian to work for his defeat
Tom McNeaPs stock was rapidly ris-
ing as a result of Brother CIRCUITS dis
pleasure over Major Anderson's mock
prayer. Again Brother Knox endeaV-
Ored to stay the rise.
He is a God fearing man and I know
it, he said. I cannot credit the re-
ports as anything but false"
Brother Grout was again ready to
reply, but at this juncture DR.. Thorpe
interfered
hardly the place for such discussion.
think that Brother CIRCUITS suggestion
that should all turn out at the pri-
maries and interest ourselves in plac-
ing good men in Office is an admirable
one. 1 feel the same way and would
urge all the members of the church to
take an interest in the primaries. I
believe if the primaries were held on a
night set aside for prayer meeting,
that we could really do more good by
postpOning the prayer meeting and at
tending the primaries to aid the right
men than we could by holding the
prayer meeting and neglecting the pri-
maries.
The furry of excitement occasioned
by Brother CIRCUITS remarks had died
out when DR.. Thorpe finished He
took the opportunity of preventing
anything further in the way of a pOliti-
cal discussion by announcing: THE
doxology will now be sung"