Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-24
Moral Issue Is justification, Says
Rev. f. 7. Oadmun.
REPLY TO SERMON BY DOCTOR EVANS
Prohibition lie Methodist Doctrine De-
elares Pastor and That Glve=
Authority For Activity in Politics
When This Principle Is involved.

In the presence OF large congre-
CATION at Trinity Methodist church
Sunday night the pastor. Rev. +. T.
Dadmun. replied to a sermon preach
ed a week before by Rev, W. +.
Evans, ID. D., of Birmingham. Ala. al
St Paul's Episcopal church. Rich
mond. DR.. Evans. taking his text
from portion of the sixth chapter
of Second Corinthians. That the
Ministry be Not Blamed" discussed
the political parson," declaring that
the minister's business is TO preach
the gospel and that he has no place
in politics.
Rev. Mr.. Dadmun preached from
the same, text. Though he said thar
DR.. Evans. in discussing this matter
from the pulpit. did Just what he
claimed should not be done. and his
cwn opinions were expressed very
emphatically, Mr. Dadmun's references
to DIR. Evans were mild and kindly
He went on to say that he condemned
no man for differing with him. and
that he respected man for daring
to declare his position.
Paul's Meaning Misconstrued.
Speaking to the text, Mr.. Dadmun
said that he believed DIR. Evans had
misconstrued Pauls meaning: that II
Paul were here now he would not ob-
ject to what the newspapers said
about him. l.is idea was that Pauf
was condemning preachers VINO
preached the gospel and did not live
as they preached. and therein made
themselves liable TO blame
Mr. Dadmuns subject was. The
Preacher in Politics; His Authority ;
His Precedents: His Limitations.
Under the head of authority, he de-
clared that prohibition had been
doctrine OF the Methodist church foi'
many years, and when he spoke for
prohibition he had the whole Metho-
dist church of the South behind him-
Presidents Cited.
Citing presidents, Mr.. Dadmun re-
ferred 70 the late Bishop Galloway.
of Mississippi for years one OF the
most distinguished figures IN the
Methodist church. Bishop Gallo gays
work he said, made an Antl-saioon
League unnecessary in Mississippi
drove liquor out of the country dis
tricts of the State and made state
wide prohibition easy when the time
came.
He went on to say that II one
cared to go further back for prece-
dents. he might mention John Wesley,
who is known as the father OF
Methodisrn. John Wesley, said the
sneaker. believed that strong liquor
should be used fer medicinal pur-
noses only, and made this doctrine
of his Methodist society
AS to limitations, Mr.. Dadmun SAID
thai a preacher has no right to tax
partizan politics or TO advocate the
candidacy of any man for office in his
pu,pit. that only when a moral issue
is involved does it become proper and
necessary for the preacher TO take a
hand politics.
When it Gomez in Newport News.
He went on to saw that during the
recent primary campaign he hardly
know how a dozen men in his con-
eregaticn voted, but that when the
time comes to drive the open saiooa
ont of Newport News, he would
know how every man in the congre-
cation stands: not to revile him or
to condemn him. but to plead with
him.
Speaking of those who agree with
Or Evans opinion that the preache.
mas no place in poltictis, Mr. Dadmun
-ntioned the brewers, the distiliers'
srtain politicians and certain bust
ness interests who get their money
from the liquor people He declared
that politicians have to keep their re-
cords clean since the preachers nave
been advocating prohibition. and tha'
those who do not want TO Keep tnelr
records clean naturally agree with
DIR. Evans. in the opinion that the
ministers should keep hands on.
Mention the Newspapers
In the course OF his sermon IN kicn-
-