Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-05-01
MEET IN HIS NAME,
First National AssembIyof Christ
ian Political Union in Rock
Island.
IN SESSION AT .HARPERs THEATRE.
Small observation-disclosures of
the Gather.
ing.

There were 90 men and women at
Harper's theatre at 9 o'clock this
morning when the first national as
sembly of the Christian political
union was convened by W. r Bank
ert, of Davenport, the national chair
man. From 9 till 10 o'clock there
was a pentecostal prayer meeting
conducted by Rev. Wallace r. Stru-
BILE. of Chicago. The audience then
sang Praise God From Whom All
Blessings Flow" Rev. c. H. Thomas,
pastor of the Rock Island African
Methodist church, pronounced the
invocation; the audience sang "On-
ward Christian Soldiers" Mrs. NJ. H.
NJ. Blair, of Washing Ton, Iowa, read
from the scri ptures, and Rev. j. NJ.
Wylie, of Evans. Col, offered prayer.
Inc address of welcome was deliv-
cred by Chairman Benkert. He said
while the gathering was not large
one, it did not in the least lessen his
hopes for eventual victory for the
movement to which he had devoted
years. 1t could not but succeed, as
the effort was being made in the name
of Jesus. Rev. Struble, the national
secretary, read the minutes of the
Willard hall conference, after which
temporary organization was effected.
committees on credentials and perma-
nent organization appointed, and
miscellaneous remarks by the dele
gates, whereupon adjournment was
taken till p. M.
At the opening of the afternoon
session the several committees re-
ported. The temporary organization,
Mr.. Benkert as chairman, and Rev.
Struble as secretary, was made per-
manent. The convention then took
up the discussion of the theme of the
assembly, The principles of Christ
shall we apply them in concrete
form to state and national govern
ments through Christian political
union or partyP" Upon the outcome
of this discussion will rest the ques-
ton of the formation of a political
union or party and the nomination of
candidates for the presidency and vice
presidency of the United States.
TOnight's Program.
Tonight beginning at s O'Clock
there is to be a patriotic literary and
musical program as follows:
Overture; singing, My Country
lis of Thee, " audience; prayer, Rev.
George B. Simons; piano duet, Misses
Mitchell and Buck; reading of the
scriptures, Mrs. F. L. Sagendorph,
delegate from Michigan; solo, The
Holy City" Mrs. w. b Barker; adj
dress, Christ. the Savior of the In
I 4. 80 Dbl -
State" Rev. Wallace r. Struble, dele
gate from Illinois; piano solo. Star
Spangled Banner" Miss Mabel Ben
kert; address. The Evolution of
Government, Rev. j. NJ. Wylie, dele
gate from Colorado; song, Davenport
male quartet; statement of the pro-
ceedings and purposes of the assem-
BILE, w. &. Benkert. national chair
man; vocal solo, Prof. Elwood Lucian
Philbrook; 20 minutes for miscellane-
Gus remarks by the delegates
(speeches limited to three minutes);
singing. There's a Royal Banner
Given for Display" audience.
Christ In Politics.
The platform of the Christian pc.
litical union in part is:
I'VE believe the fullness of time to
have arrived when the eternal princi-
Piles of justice, mercy and love as ex-
emplified in the life and teachings of
Jesus Christ should be embodied in
the political economy of our nation
and applied in concrete form to every
function of our government, national,
state, municipal and local. We be-
lieve that the most direct means of ac-
plishing this end is the formation
of political body of united christian
men aud women who shall use their
elective franchise for the selection of
able. worthy and conscientious public
officials who will seek in their res pee
tive positions to perform the func-
tons of government in the spirit of