Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-24
AT SIMPSON M. E. CHURCH.
Rev. r. r. Bigger Spoke of the Meaning of
Good Citizenship.

Good Citizenship.
The union meeting held in the inter-
est of good citizenship at the Simpson
M. E. colored church last evening, was
conducted by the pastor, Rev. John w.
Walters, and was attended by large
congregation. Rev. r. R. Bigger, Phi.
D., pastor Of the Third Presbyterian
church, made a splendid address in sup
port of the present movement, and his
remarks were listened to with interest
by those present
After appropriate hymns and prayer,
the Rev. Mr.. Walters announced that it
was in compliance with a special request
from him that the Ministerial Associa-
ton arranged for a meeting at the
Simpson M. E. church, so that the col
ored people attending might feel at
home. This meeting for a good gov
eminent" he said, lis to attract your
attention to what is going on in our
city. So far as the issue before us. is
concerned, you have very little part
in it. You have no saloons, you have
no gambling houses, you have no parks
or other places of amusement. How
ever, we must rise to assist the white
people in their efforts to improve the
existing conditions in this community"
At the conclusion of his remarks Rev.
Walters introduced the Rev. Mr.. Bigger,
who spoke interestingly of the meaning
of good citizenship. In his opening re-
marks he said:
at affords me great pleasureto be here
and it is the first time in my life that
ever addressed an audience of your
race l cannot forget that my father
shouldered a gun and fought hard and
long to free you, and for that reason |
feel at home among you. The move
ment for good citizenship in behalf of
which l speak, is not only religious
movement, but it is a civil movement"
He then spoke of what constitutes a
good citizen, saying: "a good citizen
is one who appreciates his citizenship.
Let me tell you that the President does
not own the country, that the Governor
does not own the State, that the Mayor
that own the country and we are re-
sponsible to God. We Christians ought
to enter politics. The people who use
the ballots for their own purposes are
the people who tell US to go away and
let them alone. The trouble is that we
Christians have been asleep. | think
you can safely say that there are about
10000 Christians here in Wheeling, and
if the church is to command respect for
herself she must wake up and make
herself felt in the city government
do not think this can be done unless We
to become of our country and our city
if we do not carry religion to the polls?
l want to impress upon your minds that
the man who sells his vote sells the
sovereign right which the government
has placed in his hands," Rev. Waters
here interrupted the speaker with the
remark: ''Such a man ought to be en-
shaved" Continuing his address, Rev.
Bigger stated: People who are fine
scholars may be ignorant of what the
city needs. The people need to be in
formed of these things
After speaking of the success of re-
form movements at various places
throughout the country, and telling OF
how the people in a certain county who
after an investigation learned that the
county had been overtaxed, the minister
remarked: 81 want you to understand
that we are not here in the interest OF
any party. We are here in the interest
Of good citizenship, an organization
which is about to be formed here to in
gestigate this state of affairs"
In referring to suggestion meetings in