The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-21
A SUNDAY BOOM.
Clinton Clergyman
Talks About John
L. Bates.
CHRISTIANS AS POLITICIANS.
Rev. A. M. Osgood Believes
1t Possible For Men
to Be Both.
CHRISTIANS AS POLITICIANS.

Clinton, Aug. 2O.-The visit of John
L. Bates to Sterling camp bore fruit of
praise in Clinton and in so other towns
it was said this afternoon, from the
mouths of as many clergymen and
other officials of the Methodist church.
AT least 40 members Of Grace M. E.
church heard Speaker Bates at the
camp ground. yesterday. They came
home a unit in his praise, and in ad-
miration of his ability as a speaker.
Rev. A. M. Osgood spoke of Mr. Bates
at length, before those who attended
the mems meeting of the Y. M. c. A,
which was held on the Stevens lawn
at o'clock this afternoon. The meet
ing was attended by 50 persons, most
of whom were women. But a score or
more were attracted by the eloquence
of Mr.. Osgood in passing, and listened
until his eulogy of Speaker Bates was
finished.
The clergyman brought up his sub
ject, he said, to show that there were
Christians in politics. as well as in the
other occupations of life. He COM
pared Speaker Bates with Gen. 0. 0.
Howard, a general of the civil war and
a famous worker for the Y. NJ. c. A.
The speaker told his listeners about
Mr.. Bates early days, how he had
grown up in the truth of the word,
and had never been afraid to proclaim
the Bible. In his home in East Bos-
ton his character grew until he was
sent to the legislature by those who adj
nired him for his ability and Christian
worth. After serving in the legislature
term after term, his abilities so i'm
pressed his fellow members that he was
made speaker.
II thought of these things, yester-
day, when l heard this able man adj
dressing an audience of Christian peo-
pie at the camp ground. l speak OF
them merely to show that there are
Christian men in politics, today, men
who are not ashamed to proclaim the
faith they hold.
when l attended the great eonven-
ton of Epworth league at Indianapolis, "
continued Mr. Osgood, I'VE were told
that two of the leading Methodists of
the city We're absent 1 refer to SEN
ators Fairbanks and Beverage. We
found upon inquiry, that one of them
was absent because he had just return
ed from trip to Alaska, where he had
been making an investigation Of the
resources of the country. He was in
Washington making his report. The
other was even then in the Bay of Ma
Mia"
Rev. Mr.. Osgood told this to enforce
his contention that many Christian men
are in politics and engaged in the adj
ministration of the country.
He closed by comparing the lives of
men like Gen. Howard, Speaker Bates
and Senators Fairbank and Beveridge
to one of the phenomena to be witnessed
at Niagara Falls. First, there was a
great body of water falling with i'm
mense grandeur and noise, but accom-
plishing nothing. This was like some
lives of men who came into view but
never seemed to accomplish much of
an enduring nature. But near the falls
the waters of the grand swiftly flowing
river were diverted by man, under the
guidance of God, so that cars and en-
gines and instruments of power were
driven, and much noble and useful
work performed in the distant city of
Buffalo.
Mr., Osgood brought his audience to
see that it was this last display of the
forces of Niagara to which the lives of
such men and he mentioned were akin.
Mr.. Osgood made no allusion, how
ever, to Speaker Bates candidacy for
the -governorship.
If every voter in the state was as
ardent an admirer Of Mr.. Bates as Rev.
Mr.. Osgood proved himself to be. there
would be no doubt about the result of
the contest between Mr.. Bates and Mr..
Guild
There was a Guild man at the meet
ing, however. He was Jacob w. Pow
ell Mr.. Powell is president of the
Epworth League. His conversion to
Guild was announced yesterday by c.
Frank Fairbanks. Mr.. Powell is de-
voted to Guild, it is said, because he
formerly knew him in Boston. Mr..
Powell is stenographer in the en-
ployment of the metropolitan water
board in the engineers department.
1t is likely, however, that the Bates
delegate ticket will receive the sup
port of quite a number of church peo-
pie if they are given an opportunity to
vote on such ticket.
This opportunity may not be given.
The Guild men are very much on top
today, for the reasons told in The Spy
Of this morning. and it is not probable
they will be entirely satisfied with the
work they have, done until they are
convinced that there will be only one
delegate ticket.
There was a well attended open air
meeting in Fullers grove this after
noon. The meeting is one of the series
of summer meetings being given under
the auspices of the Methodist Church.
Those present listened to an address
by Edward r. Leslie