The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-14

The Rev. E. L. Nicholson. Of Bethany
College. preached 4 very interesting ser
mon At The Second Christian church
last evening". In the absence Of the pas
Tor. Rev. S. c. Naylor. His topic was
NY Party or Ny Christ; the Church
or the SalOon-whieh?+
Rev. Nicholson IS an entertaining
speaker. and his discourse was closely
followed by tie large congregation
present HIS sermon was made more
impressive by bottle Of liquor which
be purchased In & Market street saloon.
and which he used 10 good advantage
during his sermon. which was in part
as follows:
This Is 4 subject Of the greatest I'M
portanee TO the people OF this nation
to-day, for on It depends the future OF
the United States. 1t is subject on
which the future OF the church rests.
and It is for this reason that L min
Ister almost unknown in this city, and
when all the Clergy Of the city are silent
on the subject. speak on It tonight.
The city Of Wheeling is blessed. not
only with manufactures. but blessed
with a grand and good people. While
we love all this, We love something bet
ter-she gospel OF Jesus christ-and it
is that intend to preach tonight.
"A preacher once accepted the pas
torate OF a new church, and on his
frst Sunday he vas met By the elders
and requested not TO preach against
the dance halls. because some members
attended these places. AID not 10 men
ton the theatre for the same reason.
and 10 let the saloons alone because
their richest member was the most
prominent saloon-keeper in the town.
This kept up until they ran down the
entire list. when the minister asked:
well. what am TO preach about?"
..well, preach about the Jews, for
don't see Jew in the house That is
Just what the ministers OF this city are
doing to-day. preaching about the Jews
They are afraid 10 speak their minds.
for fear they viii b. asked for their
resignation.
While Wheeling IS = great town in
many respects. it Is not what it ought
to Be. I have been IN the Sums and
all over the principal cities OF the cas-:
and one thing l can say Is that the
press OF wheeling Is cleaner and more
uprIght than many OF the largest cities
OF the world. While Wheeling is a
model city in many respects 1t is the
model city OF hell on earth Why is
It that all Of the saloons in wheeling
are open to-day2 Why IS IS that the
police OF Wheeling are upholdIng this
IavIessness! met policeman this
afternoon on Market street. and 1 said
10 him: can you tell me where l can
get some liquor to-day2" He said:
why. yes: you can get It in any sa-
looa in town. This is the greatest town
on earth. You can get whiskey here
at any time" walked into the near
EST saloon to which he directed me. and
1 purchased the bottle Of liquor. and
paid twenty cents for IL The bar VA
crowded with men OF various ages. and
during the seven minutes was talking
to that policeman counted between
twenty-five and thirty young men be-
tween the ages OF eighteen and thirty
coming out Of that saloon door.
Il have been closely watching the sa-
ioons Of this city for some time. and
md that they are in complete posses
sion Of the slot machines. which rob the
people Of not less than sixty per cent
OF the money they put into them. Now.
brethren. If you want me 10 prove these
things. 1 can do IL have seen po-
ileemen going into these places At all
hours Of the day. and hremen sneakng
in the back doors and coming out with
a bucket OF beer and taking ii to the
fire houses. Why is thls7 Simply be-
cuse the citizens are not doing their
duty. 1 have more respect for sa-
1oon-keeper than ! have for the man
who says the business IS all WRONG. and
then votes to iesa!ize it II all the
members o. all the churches would cast
their ballots against this aoominaoIe
franc. 1t would be wiped out Of exist
ence. But who's TO blame FOR ali this?
Why the man who thinks more OF his
party than he does Of his Christ.
a member OF a Wheeling church said
to me the other day that the saloon was
a necessary evil. the bToihel necessary
evil. the gambling den necessary evil.
thank God. brethren, that that man
was not member OF this church. When
we reach the point where ne can say: I
love my Christ better than my party
then we will be worthy OF the name Of
citizens"
He then vent into statistics, and told
how many persons either died within a
year or we're sezt TO the psnitentia-y'
and IN conclusion he asked;
And now. brethren. let me ask: What
are you goirS to do At your next NUM-
eipal eleetiong How win you voter
Shall It be Ny Party or Ny Christ the
VT-F.gaR,