The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-20

ing The German churches an opposition
and enmIty toward them was certainly
implied. Since. however. some Of the
churches, constituting the federation.
are composed Of Germans and the Ger.
mans contribute to them quite literally
in many CAGES, the pastors see the ne
cessity OF making apologies, in order
not to lose the support OF members Of
| that nationality to which they are &C.
cretIy opposed, which they openly tg-
more and against which they hurl their
epithets and slurs
In days gone by knew bully among
the boys OF certain town of the state
OF Texas who held his own In the self
same style OF these sO-called reformerS
by constantly resortlng to the phrase:
"n anybody says anything against me,
| he Is u -" In this manner he fright
eaed the little boys, who shrank from
the odIurn Of the obscene name men
toned.
have a falling. viz. an analytIcally
inclined mind. When l heard Of the
Federation Of Churches, the question
at once suggested itself to me: What is
1t, what constitutes It? The German
churches, with the possible exception
Of one, had nothing to do with It. thu
! large Catholic organisations declined
to take part. what then Is this fed
Grafton? Upon further inquiry learn
ed that not all the churches OF Wheel
ing. but some, representatives OF some
OF the Protestant churches. had COM
bined for the suppression Of vice.
A spIritualistlc trust had been intend
ed. but I fear 1t also meant brench
Of trust.
Incidentally allow me to ask. what
would be the consequence II the Cath
Ollie clergy Of Wheeling were to stop
TO the methods used by the federation
Why, 1t would simply mean relIS-
Ious war; And yet. IL not q fundamen-
tai principle ut stake even under pres
ent conditions? We have justly been
taught to believe the invlolate separa-
ton Of state and church. With al good
citizens. l take the stand that neither
the church, as such, nor any member y;
them. for that matter, dare interfere
with the administration OF city. county,
state or states. May God Illustrate
and bring to naught any efforts to the
II il, therefore. quite evident that the
movement Of which / speak is funda
mentally wrong. Were the members OF
the federation discreet, as well as SIN
cere. they would have instIgated the
movement not under the auspices OF
the churches, but Of the citizens for tho
mayor, chief Of police and other officers
are responsible to the citizens US II
whole. not to the members Of one or
more churches: / repeat. the admins
ttation of Q city is Of and for the psO-
ple, Irrespective of creed, color and ma
tiunaIIty, and must give an account 20
them, not to body OF preachers. Oa
they ever 30 capable and conscientious.
| almost forgot, however. that men ar;
usually governed By mixed motives.
nphnFa
NOT only concerned In the legitimacy
! and constltutIonallty OF their actions,
but are also secondary. " not primarily
thinking OF their advancement and
glory in this world.
What about the methods OF the fed
grafton? We are all accustomed 10
hear. much said concerning the dark
nges when countries were prirst-riddeh
and the methods OF lnquisItlon were N
vogue, Now close observers behold the
lAmentabla spectacle OF u return 10
those much abused lnQuistional meth
DDS on the part Of those who are coltei
ministers Of the gospel. Instead OF. or
| besides. preaching the law OF God N
the churches. the members or The FED
Grafton Of Churches find It necessar" TO
refer to thu law. TO stoop to esptonag"'
to threaten those In authority ana IN
general to tyrranlZe the consclences OF
the people. 80
/ feel confident that an abrupt stop
WIFI be- put 10 this humI!latlng proceed
,,rn II the people once fully realize tins
s,rnvc banners that threaten us when
ministers EIFrering among themselves
and who can scarcely agree upon run
damepta! principles OF religion--hgres
TO prosecute those whom the VIII OF the
people has placed In authority. Preach-
srs arc ambassadors for Christ. who
are To preach the reconciliation between
God and man. and OF man and man. Tor
that matter and woe TO them II thcy
Instend SOW the seeds Of discord' I'M
dermInc the confidence of man TO man
and estrangc men from God ana IN"
cb,,rcbes People can possibly be
brought TO the churches In handouts.
hut they will never, never love those
who brought them, nor Will they ever
sce the beauty and holiness OF the re'
IIgIou which they are forced to swallow.
Mon can be persuaded. yea urged TO
| connect with the churches. This can be
| done by teaching and proving TO them
| the angels message OF good wiz TO an
men" but never by unkndncss' un-
! chaFltableneRE and persecution MY
! Intention Ia simply to sound note OF
wnrnInp. Icgt In their zeal good men
| depori from the entrusted commission
| 10 ave i,ouls by the preaching OF the
goEpel. The danger Is imminent that,
when pastors see their inetiicacy 10
produce desired results. they seek FOR
other instruments Of warfare. Ana YET
| the word Of God shall not return void
and IL Is the sole ONCE Of preachers TO
/ preach that word
Though the old saying IL true and one
| Of the federation refers TO IT, "knowl-
edge is power" It IL equally true that
"a little learning Ia dangerous" Even
though certain knowledge Of munlcl-
pal nrInIrs can not be denied to the fed
| GRAFTON, yet there Ia faint possibility
| that even the members Of that organi-
| Zation can RtIll learn some things,
| They, above all others, ought not to be
carried away by the senae OF their own
| Importance.
/ am Inclined to think that " the pas.
| tors and churches would do their work
more thosoughly-and they need no
| federation for that purn0se--sthr powers
| that be would also awaken to Keener
! realization Of their duties.
p. G. w. METZENTHlN,
| Renwool Dec. TO-
Z