Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-23

ON THE SUBJECT-REv. OIL
PLANTS IDEAS ON THE GEN
ERAL CHARACTER OF A MAN
QUALIFIED IN EVERY WAY FOR
THE POSITION.
Rev. c. NJ. Oliphant, pastor of the
First Christian church, delivered a
very interesting sermon last evening,
taking for his topic "An Ideal Mayor"
The sermon defines Rev. ELEPHANTS
ideas of the character a man should
have to fill that honorable and respon-
sible position. The sermon was as fol-
lows:
TIL life of citizens is determined
by their ideals. If their ideals be low,
their life will correspond. If their
ideals be high, their life will be high.
The people of a city are very much as
the head of a city. If the mayor of a
city be a man Of lofty ideas, the people
will be people of lofty character and
vice versa.
Nehemiah, who lived about 2,40O
years ago, became the mayor Of Jeru-
salem when the city was in an unfor-
tunate state. He had been a c%upbearer
to King Artaxerxes, of Persia. Hear
ing of the deplorable condition of Je-
rusalem, the city of his fathers, he OBJ
tanned the consent Of the king to go
and repair the walls and restore, if
possible, to the city, its former great
ness.
In his position he resuscitated the
Jewish section, preserved the Mosaic
institution, and laid the foundation of
future independence in his official ca
pacity; we find in him characteristics
worthy the emulation of all city may
ors of the present day. We find in him
what should be in the ideal mayor.
The ideal mayor will be patriotic.
Nehemiah loved the city of his fathers.
He had learned of it's greatness prior
to the captivity. He had the spirit of
the true patriot who desires to rebuild
the walls that will protect the home
land. He met with opposition within
and without. Those who oppressed
him resorted to ridicule. He was I'M
moved. A man can endure almost any
thing but ridicule. To-day the fear of
ridicule binders many mayors from
seeking the highest interests of their
constituents and from showing the
best patriotism which always has in
it that righteousness which exalts the
life of a city. But the ideal mayor
will be unmoved by the ridicule Of the
politician, and the boss whose highest
aim is selfishneSs.
Ridicule was ineffective with Nehe-
miah. His opposers, who were not
true patriots, then tried to divert his
attention from his great work. This
failed. The standard of patriotism
with some mayors is very low. With
them it is to serve only those who as
sisted them in securing Office and very
frequently these belong only the lower
elements of society. Patriotism re-
quires a service that shall seek the best
interests of all citizens.
The ideal mayor is governed by high
principles.
He is doing a great work and can
not stoop to the level when men COM
promise with truth and righteousness.
Nehemiah, when asked to quit his
work and go to the plain of Ono, re-
sponded: 81 am doing a great work so
that I can not come down" He re-
sisted four times. Then he was charg-
ed with being rebellious and selfish.
God strengthened him to resist all
these appeals of enemies to the best
interests of the city. In fact Nehe-
miah had sufficient backbone to show
that public Office was not a private,
but a public trust. Yea, eve a God
given trust. He set an example that
has made him immortal. Mayors to-
day need such a high principle to sway
them.
Too many initiate the willow that
yields too easily to influences. They
should be like the mighty oak that re-
sists the influence of the storm and
wind, and grows on it's lofty height,
thus giving to mankind an emblem of
strength and power.
Many prefer to have high princi-
pie and in practice they are different.
An African prince was educated in
France and refused to remain on the
ground that he could not afford to re-
main in a country where principle was
one thing and practice so entirely diff
ferent. Many mayors are for sale; in
fact this is true of many people in life.
If, instead of selling their manhood,
they should buy the truth and sell it
not; their constituency would be bet
ter served and their reign a success.
The ideal Mayor will have a fixed
determination to insure the safety and
property of the people.
Nehemiah found usury to be a great