The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-29
Evangelical Alliance Refers Com.
mandatory Resolution to the
Board of Counselors.
TYRRELL's STRONG FIGHT.
Declare Political Matters Are Not
for Their Consideration and
Advise Association to
Keep Out of Politics.

The ST. Louis Evangelical Alliance. COM
prising the Protestant ministers of the
city. yesterday morning refused to vote on
a resolution indorsing the works Of Circuit
Attorney Joseph w. Folk. evading the d.
rect issue by referring the paper to the
Board of Counselors.
The resolutions were introduced on the
floor of the alliance by the Reverend
Frank G. Tyrrell. Immediate discussion
followed. and it soon became evident that
were a vote taken the house would be
about equally divided.
One of the bylaws of the alliance pro-
vides that all business to be presented to
the members must first be submitted to
the Board of Counselors. The formally
has often been waived. but the ministers
yesterday morning insisted that Mr.. Tyr
relrs resolutions go through the routine
before they be considered.
The substance of the resolution was as
follows:
Resolved, That we deplore the corrup-
ton in public office: that We urge all per-
sons to take an active interest in politics;
that we call attention to the approaching
election in Missouri and urge the election
tees: that We commend the public serv-
ants who seek purity. and indorse Theo-
dore Roosevelt and Joseph w. Folk"
No sooner had the resolution been read
than the Reverend Doctor Joseph W.
Young Of the Wagner Place N. E.
Church. South, arose and said he would
vote for the resolution were the names
omitted.
KEEP OUT OF POLITICS.
II might vote fer Folk for Governor"
continued Doctor Young. but this alliance
Is not the place to declare my sentiments.
Here We are ministers, and as such should
keep reiigiously out of politics.
1--WE should wish to be sponsor for
neither Folk nor Halves. Let the paper
be SO modified as to simply denounce cor
ruption and then 1t might be Endorsed
here"
The Reverend Doctor 7. II. Hagerty
chaplain OF city institutions. said:
Il think that we are not competent to
sit on this question. It is not our place to
depreciate the value Of one man by in
dorsing another. From the President down
to the Governor Of the State. we are asked
to commend everybody. 1t will be given
to the world that the Evangelical Alliance
Is supporting such and such q man, and
the true mission Of this body certainly is
not political.
Besides there are insinuations in that
paper that corruption exists in certain
places. Do We know that there is corrup-
ton anywhere? Have we investigator
MI. Tyrrell answered this with an en-
phatic YES, SIR" and Doctor Hagerty
then said that he had received the decision
Of the Supreme Court with some misgiv-
lngs, but preferred for It to sit on the re-
naming cases.
SEEK AN ENDORSEMENT.
The Reverend Doctor c. H. Patton then
asked IL the Republicans nominated a man
lust as good as Mr.. Folk for Governor
what the alliance would do. Mr.. Tyrrell
said that he had not mentioned Folk for
Governor. and Doctor Patton said that the
intent of the resolution seemed to be to
secure an Endorsement of him for that
,flce.
Doctor Baxter P. Fullerton of the Lucas
Avenue Cumberland Presbyterian Church
said that 1t would be best to refer the
resolutions to the counselors.
Ministers are sometimes too anxious to
get into politics." he said. Preachers
'ush in where angels fear to tread. It is
evident that If vote is taken on this
'esolution the alliance will be divided.
which would be most unfortunate.
"As to the matter of the Supreme
Courts decision will say that I received
t almost with disgust. But have since
the matter through my law
-er friends and find that by the law 1t was
Utmost compelled to take the course it did. |
let us not bring the Supreme Court into |
idicule. III
IF We do adopt the resolution. what4
rood win 1t do? The politicians will mere
y say. Well. the preachers have been |
esoluting again. and pass our action by |
Without serious thought. Whatever |
nay be our private opinions. we are here |
and as such should keep our
elves clean"
No one would move that the bylaws be |
suspended, and the chairman of the ALL |
nee, the Reverend Doctor John L.
srandt, was compelled to declare the reso-
utions out of order.
The discussion was followed by a paper |
cad by the Reverend L. n. Dorchester Of |
he Lindell Avenue n. e Church on |
Some Phases of Messianic Prophecy"