Year: 1878




IDEST HAYES, AND DECLINES TO PRAY BE
FORE THE HOUSE ANY MORE THIS SESSION.


Chaplain Thorpe, Of the Legislature OF
Iowa, has addressed the following letter
to the editor Of the Des Moines Register


EDITOR REGISTER: / regret the necessi.
/ ty of rushing into print in order to redress
wrongs either real or imaginary and do
so now only to state the words really
used by me in opening the House with
prayer on Tuesday morning. and make
myself to be fully and correctly under
stood


The minutes Of the House proceedings
of Wednesday. published in Thursday s
issue of the Register, show that Hon.
Alexander Bleidung. Representative from
Clayton County, presented a resolution to
utterly disapprove that portion of the
prayer referring to the President Of the
United States. This resolution contains
an implied public reproof, and is Of such
a nature and comes from such a source
as to cause me serious injury at home
and abroad, unless the facts in regard to
il are fully disclosed Not knowing Mr..
Bleidung's motives in bringing such a
resolution before the House, / cannot az
firm that he intended to injure me, but
il is inferred that such was his purpose
at all events the result is injurious to me
and my work. am politically staunch
Republican. have been identified with
that party from my youth, and s1ovyd
my loyalty to il and the Government by
service in the late "unpleasantness.' -
Perhaps a stronger term would call out
another resolution, for ministers have no
rights Of opinion that our wise legisla-
tors are bound to respect. From the
Inauguration Of the present Administra-
ton / have been saddened with Mr..
Hayes puerile and ruinous policy Of con
ciliation, and as ] have watched the
unfolding of affairs IN the South this
feeling has grown deeper and deeper
from week to week. i am not compli-
mented by being told by him that is was
no credit to me that drew the sword
in defense Of the Government" for il IL
was not a credit il must have been q
crime. Perhaps | had these things in
mind when / offered the following prayer
for him in the House on Wednesday
morning:


"And now, o Lord, we pray for rulers,
as Thou hast taught US to do in Thy holy
Word. May Thy blessing rest. we hum
bly, beseech Thee, on Thy servant, the
President Of the United States. Be pleas
ed TO cure him Of the insanity OF the
feelings which has shown itself in undue
sympathy for a section OF the country,
and enable him to see il to be his duty
to heed the sentiment OF all the people.
May his will be swept into Thy will in
Thy plan Of saving the lost.


This is the substance Of the prayer that
was so offensive TO this honorable Mr..
ID =. 4. II L Il
is a query whether they would not be
better pleased to dispense entirely with
the services of the clergy in the House
and out Of it-until they come to die
While / defer to no man in my respect
for those in authority, and especially for
Mr.. Hayes as private citizen and Chris
tian gentleman. | am at the same time
aggrieved by his administration and con
denim his policy Of Cancellation, and shall
maintain the right to express my views
with regard to IL, both to man and God.
The prayer was an honest and sincere ex-
preston OF my convictions and desires to
God, and not to the Legislature or any
members in behalf OF President Hayes,
and | care nothing at all for the favor or
disfavor Of Hon. Alexander Bleidung
and his colleagues in this crusade. and
regard myself responsible to God only for
the spirit that directs my address before
His Throne Of grace. IL would be well
for the House to appoint Mr.. Bleidung
committee OF one to draft a form Of
prayer neutral in religion and politics to
be forever used by the Chaplains who are
to succeed the Pastors now officiating in
that capacity.


The resolution contained another un
gentlemanly reference to the remunera
ton Of the State to the Pastors who spend
their valuable time in serving the Legis-
lature. With regard to that | have only
to say that the sum that inures to each
Of the l6 or IS Pastors of this city is a
very small consideration when placed in
the scale over against the sneers and
abuse and denunciation that have been
dealt out to US during the present session
Of the Legislature by certain egotists.
both in the House and Senate. have
pocketed scores Of them for Christ's sake,
and now / will take no more Of them,
for my own sake. The Savior said, "If a
man smite," &c. have been snitten on
both cheeks, and now | shall take my
own course, which is to decline respect
fully to serve in the Legislature during
the present Assembly.


W. w. THORPE.