The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-25
FORT IN PULPIT
G0vERNOR-ELECT SPEAKS
AT METHODIST MEETING.
Results of His Administration, He Says
viii Depend on Support Given
by Churches.

JERSEY CITY, Nov. 2o.-GoVefnor-elect
J. Franklin Fort yesterday afternoon de-
livered a short address in connection with
the sixty-thlrd anniversary of the Linden
Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church,
Ocean and Linden avenues, this city. He
was met at the jackson avenue station Of
the Newark and New York Railroad by a
COMMITTEE consisting of former Con-
gresham Marshall Van Wrinkle, Reuben
Simpson, a trustee of the church., and Rob-
ert H. Duncanson. There was a delegation
present from the Seventh Ward Republic
can Club and one of his portraits was
hung In the choir loft, facing the audi
torium The organ was decorated will
the American flag. Judge James s. Ir-
win, of the Second District Court, a MEM
Der of the church, presided. Short adj
dresses were also made by Congressman
Eugene ". Leake and Mr.. Van Wrinkle on
"Rellgion and Politics. While there was
some politics discussed 1t was by no means
a political meeting. The presence of the
Governor-elec was due to his friendship
for the Rev. DR.. w. w. C. Walker, one
of his former pastors in East Orange, now
the pastor of the Linden Avenue Church.
Mr.. Fort said he did not know he was
to speak. and that was one reason why
he was half an hour late in reaching the
church. He added: II hav been making
speeches all over the State for the past
month, and my family thinks l have been
speaking too much They are wise. l
agree with Them Continuing, he said:
zone thing that struck me while / was
on the Supreme Court bench was the high
moral character of the young lawyers that
appeared before me. There was Leake,
who has just finished making an eloquent
address; Tumulty, Carey, Mccarthy, Lane,
Hendrickson and others who are identl-
fled with politics. It Is men OF this CHAR
acter who are needed to conduc affairs
of state. Some of us get careless and
old and pass away. We want such men as
I nave mentioned to uphold the hands OF
the government. l hope politics will not
have a bad influence on them. | have no
use for a man in public life who has not
faith in God. ] am not here to make a
speech, but ! have been taught some les
sons by d.. Reed
He referred to the Rev. George Edward
Reed. president OF Dickinson College and
a former member of the Cabinet of ex-
Governor Stone of Pennsylvania, who
preached a brilliant sermon at the morn
ing session and collected $165 for the
church interest fund in a few minutes
just before the Governor-elect spoke.
Mr.. Fort continued:
"Dr. Reed would make n fine politician,
IL 1 am to Judge by the manner in which
he raised that sum of money SO quickly
on a rainy day, which has doubtless kept
many from being present. we tried TO get
DIR. Reed for pastor of the Park Church
Just about the time he Joined the faculty
of Dickinson College. We lost a good
thing
Discussing the incoming State admins
~tration. he said that results would depend
upon the moral support given by the
churches to those in power, and added:
Good men should stand back of every
moral movement permanently and aggres-
siyely. There are three things that men In
public life ne~ed-courage, intelligence and
Integrity. In the campaign just closed
there was one established fact. No one
in New Jersey may fear evil If good
men will stand behind the government.
If anything shall result from what we
have so far achieved that may be con-
trary to the wishes of the church folk,
it will be the fault of the churches-not
NINE
Mr.. Fort held an impromptu reception
just after the session closed.
Congressman Leake said he had been
invited by Pastor Walker to discuss ''The
Church and Its Relations to Politics He
said there should be a closer communion
between the church and politics; that there
should be a close study of this question,
as Christianity is the basis of our govern
ment. He said the courts had held that 1t
was part of the government of the land,
He cited a case where Ingersoll defended
q client arraigned on a charge of bias
.phemy, and was worsted. He alluded to
the time when the New Haven church
moved 10 Newark and established a church
and almost the whole community moved
along with II. He said that recently there
had been n great moral awakening; that
tho voters have insisted that men In pub
lie life shall be honest in political affairs,
and that what is needed in public affairs
today Is the same thica ideals that moral
men use in their private life.
Former Congressman Van Wrinkles adj
dress was along the same lines.