The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-10-16
BAPTISTS PLAN
ANTI-AL SMITH
CHURCH MEETS

Ministers Urged TO Give Spe-
cial Talks from Pulpits
November 4
Grand Forks, N. D., Oct. 16.-(R
Appeal to the Baptist ministers
Of the state to preach special SER
mons en- November I with view
to deeeatin. Alfred f. Smith, Demo-
cratic presidential candidate. is con-
tanned in a latter sent out by Rev.
H. M. Wyrick, president of the
North Dakota Baptist state conven-
ton, to all Baptist pastors in North
Dakota. .js,
The letter was prepared by Rev.
Wyrick at the direction of the state
convention and sets forth the reasons
why Baptist leaders are opposing
Smith.
Declaring that the presidential
election brings to the front ''the
greatest moral issue" since Lincoln's
emancipation proclamation, Rev.
Wyrick said that IF Governor
Smith, the liquor candidate, is
elected president, prohibition will be
set back a generation and we shall
lose what has been won as q result
Of 100 years of temperance reform"
The letter asserts that Hoover
has unequivocally declared himself
for prohibition. Smith has repu-
dated the dry platform of his party
and asserted that, if elected, he. will
do all in his power to change the
present prohibition laws. His pro-
gram will be one of notification and
as president he can exert tremendous
influence"
Smith Liquor Hero
Developing this theory, Rev. Wy
rick pointed out the relationships Of
the presidency to the supreme court,
congress and the law-enforcing ma
chinery of the government. Smith,
the letter states, lis the hero of the
liquor forces and the candidate of
Tammany Hall which has always
been the friend and protector of the
saloon"
Turning to the religious factor in
the present campaign, the letter
said: LET us not be browbeaten by
those who say our fight on Smith is
inspired by religious bigotry and in
tolerance. The dominant issue is the
protection Of the American home and
the childhood, motherhood and youth
of our land from the corrupt, sinister
forces in present-day politics which
would bring back the greatest social
evil that ever cast it's blighting
shadow upon our nation.
Nor must we pay the slightest
heed to those who rave against the
church and it's ministers for med
ding in politics. No one ever heard
of the saloon keepers being de-
nounced for mixing in politics,
though in the old days the saloon
was the rallying place of venal
voters and a cesspool If civic cor
ruption. Such denunciations in the
main are hypocritical cant"
After stating that he wrote the
letter at the direction Of the state
convention, Rev. Wyrick suggests
ITO all Baptist pastors in North Da-
kota that Sunday, November I,
which is world temperance Sunday.
be used as = day Of prayer and for
the preaching of special sermons,
bearing directly on the present ma
tional election in its relation to tenn
perance and civic righteousness.
Have the Sunday school children
carry word to their parents urging
them to 60 to the polls to vote.
People Urged to Vote
II further suggest that on Sunday.
November 4, some kind of service
be arranged for all members Of your
congregation who have become Of
voting age since the last presidential
election, and who for the first time
will have the privilege of casting a
ballot for the high office of presi-
dency of the U. S. A list Of all
members of the church and congre-
cation who have attained age since
1924 should be prepared. they should
be given personal invitation to at
tend, asked to sit together in the
church and given some special rec
ognition in the service"
Reiterating his admonition to the
pastors to urge the people to vote
and ito help them see clearly the
moral issues involved in the cam
paign 50 they may vote Alright"
Rev. Wyrick asserted that this is
their due as prophets of God" The
letter states that he is planning
special services for the recognition
Of voters who have recently attained
their majority, and offers to give
detailed information to any pastor
who asks for it.