Evening journal., 1900-09-24
DIR. HALL TALKS
TO POLITICIANS
Advises That Men Take More
Interest In
PUTTING DOWN CORRUPTION
ArchdeacOn Delivers Lengthy Sermon
in Favor Of a Purer Ballot
in Delaware

In a sermon to his congregation
Yesterday, the Rev. George c. Hail. of
st. Johns Episcopal Church, dealt
largely with politics. The archdeacon's
sermon was nOn-partisan, and was
,hea to good men to take interest in
Political affairs and put stop to party
corruption, which, he declared, had be-
come too marked. DR.. Hall took as
his text, But the olive tree said unto
them should leave my fatness where !
with by me they honor God and man,
and 20 TO be promoted over the trees?'
He then told how Jotham was one
of the seventy brothers who exercised
more or less authority in their country.
Abimelech, one Of the brothers, in
duced a number Of the people to be
lieve that it would be better to give him
all the power. He therefore put all his
brothers to death, with the exception
Of lothian, who escaped, and when
Abimelech was about to be crowned
Lothian told this proverb Of the trees.
The olive. the fig and the vine were
asked. but they refused, and the BRAN
BILE took the place. After speaking of
the lesson Of rke parable, DR.. Hall said:
"The general moral of this fable con-
sisted Of two parts. The first was that
weak and worthless men were always
ready to thrust themselves into power.
The character and conduct Of Abime-
lech were an instance of what he de-
plored 1t is a suggestive fact that he
was a son of Gideon by a slave He
therefore was both Of high and low
birth. What We learn Of him suggests
the inference that he must have in
rf unnfhpf
rather than those of his father" The
sneaker then went on to show how
Abimelech had by his plausible argu
ments convinced the people that Il
would be best to give power into his
hands. Continuing he said:
THE like OF that happens even il
"a our age While they whose lust is th'
lust for office and its supposed emolu
ments do not often actually strik
down those they regard as standing il
their way to magistrates. it is simpl.
an undeniable fact that in the worl
at large it is not the fit, but the unfit
who. as a rule aspire to places Of trus
and responsibility. Our own countr
in this respect is no better tha
others: perhaps, not as good 1t al
most everywhere is not the fig tire
and the vine that are aspirants for OF
flee. but the brambles. In many Of GU
states and in a large number Of ou
cities, it is frequently men who stan
for little in the community; men VIII
have nothing worth while to thel
credit. either in respect OF their birt
or through brave and honest achieve
tent: the men who in office see not
bublic trust, but an opportunity fC
lf-aggrandizement; men with amb
tions so ovcrwaening that neither cor
science nor fear Of either God or ma
can divert them from their unscrupl
lOusness In the pursuit Of their aim!
the men who. though they have no cal
about the pure ends fer which inst
tutions like ours exist. yet possess ii
effrcntery to ask that they be chose
to administer them-this is the kiT
Of persons who seek the positions
which our country's welfare is eithl
promoted or impaired. They in n
merous instances reach the places a
= ter which they aspire"
COMMERCIALISM IN OFFICE.
DR.. Hall then spoke Of the rece
meetings of the National Municip
League. and quoted one of the spsake
there on the danger Of commercials
in office he speaker at the cOnve
ton went on to say that these m'
had learned that politics was a payii
business, bu1 expressed confidence
the people, and had found that in d
end they called office-hOlders to a
count. Dr. Hall continued:
'I have quoted the distinguish
speaker because ne, in one Of our gre
municipalities, fills a position of gre
responsibility, position in which
has the opportunity to see how {
A nl
vate to crice. discharge their trGi
Hc has seen and learned enough
convince him that they who in o
cities and states fill positions for viii
A fhey morally and in other respects a
I p absolutely unfit, are sufficiently numt
Gus TO ba a menace TO cur institution
He as you observed, believes in
honesty Of the masses, and eNpel
there sooner or later will be a pub
opinion so intelligent and insistent
to drive the mercenary creatures @
Of the places which they als disgrs
ing by their infamies.
But it is a question whether {
bramble msn will net find thsir W
back to office again. There will be
permanent betterment in the admin
4 tration Of our country's affairs un
there is a radical change in the spi
and conceptions Of the men represel
ed by the olive tres, the fig tree a
the vine They. in Jothams tin
made excuses when asked to cen
forth and reign. The olive tree sa
Shall l leave my fatness?' The
said. Shall leave my sweetness?' 7
vine said. Shall leave my wine?' 7
answers in effect were one and
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