Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-05
VOICES FROM THE PULPIT.
Eminent Clergymen Express Them
selves on Pending Elections.

Boston, Nov. frey. DR.. George A.
Gordon, pastor of the New Old South
church in Copley square and one of the
most prominent Congregational clergy
men IN New England prefaced the
communion services at the church TINS
morning with q brief address upon the
political situation in Massachusetts.
DR.. Gordon's parishioners expressed
some surprise that the clergyman
should discuss civic and political at
lars from the pulpit, rs he has gcn-
orally refrained from such action. DR..
Gordon. however, explained his re-
marks by saying that the gravity of
the situation was such that he could
not refrain from commenting on it in
the pulpit.
He said that seldom in the history of
the country has there been q time of
greater peril, tumult. passion and false
mood than at present. He would not at
tempt to tell his people how to vote, he
SAID. but he wished to tell them how t.
prepare themselves to vote. If they
would keep in memory the lives and ser
vices to their country of George Wash
ington ard Abraham Lincoln, and would
dwell upon the sacrifices to preserve tn
Union made by the flower of the youth
Of the North who died in the Civil war
and If his parishioners would commune
with the spirits of Washington, Lincoln
and other great national heroes, there
was no doubt. DIR. Gordon said. that they
would vote on Tuesday "to rebuke the
| ,nmitigated liars who are disturbing the
peace Of society,"
Rev. Reuen Thomas, pastor of the IIar-
ward Congregational church of Brookline
one of the leading religious societies OF
that town. delivered a sermon in which
he discussed the political situation ir
| Massachusetts and New York and, with
ont using any names, vigorously CON
| dcmrcd those leaders who. he said. en-
| deavcred to stir up class hatred and ar
ray the poor against the rich. Rev. Mr.
Thomas said in part:
SIN our own civil and political life il
| is not possible for Il man today to say
| that it is nobodys business how he votes
We are a commonwealth. That which
hurts one man hurts every man. If on
Tuesday next Massachusetts and New
York states are given over to the tende,
mercies of unscrupulous adventures,
am disgraced, you are disgracod, every
man in these states is disgraced. These
states ara given over to the most dan
ecrOus types of men in the community
men who libel and lie unblushinsly FOR
the sake of exciting class feeling end
stirring up the envy and hatred of the
poorer classes against the richer.
This is not n question Of Democrat or
Repuhlican. 1t is 4 question whether Il
certain kind of man represents tn" Amer
lean people: whether this is a type of
man America delights to honor. Every
man owes it to his brother man that he
use his vote irtelliSently and recognizes
it as n trust.
eve who arc called to minister to the
truth of the church of Christ have moth
ing to do with party politics. The true
minister knows no rich and no poor.
When designing men are found preach
ing that rich people are all bad and poor
people all good. it is time to call 4 halt.
To set class against class in this country
Il trnocnn -