Year: 1872

Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Aston ON elbow


to Vote ut the Coming Elcction''-The


Duties of Christian and Patriotic Men


at the Ballot BOx-What We Have to


Fear.


The Second street Methodist Episcopal church
was quite crowded last evening to hear sermon
by the Rev. Mr.. Henry Aston on the subject. 'sHow
to Vote at the Coming Election" Mr.. Aston took
his text from John xviii, 40-"NOt this man. but
Barabbas. Now Barabbas was o arobber and a mur-
derer. Also from Isaiah 5s 1-"Cry aloud, spare
not, lift up thy voice like trumpet ana show my
people their transgressions." Mr.. Aston said =
THIS suggests che doctrine OF mans free choice
that good and evil are set before men for the ex-
ercise OF their free will. 1t holds up before us the
synonym or representative of all that is
grand and Godlike, and on the other the
representative Of all that is evil in wick
cdness 1t also. suggests that men may be
repress all that is good and choose all that Is evil
The cry aloud and spare not suggest the authority
sound the alarm. The subject is, "H0w shall we
vote In the coming election 9' Do not think that
partisan questi0ns-the defence Of the one or the
defeat OF the Other-is the duty OF the hour. The
pulpit has higher and h0lier functions. I look
upon 1t not as the sanctum OF partisan agitation
nor the forum from which


PARTY HARANGUES .a rIef
are to be given. When politicians drag into their
radius the moral law and ignore and trample it
uuuCI ttciI icct-WHcu tucy prOsbltuJc tuc pOWeTs
of their Office subvert the law lower its standard
and trail its banner in the dust, put premium
on law breakers elevating and defending
in direct collision with the real functions
OF the pulpit, and must expect it's laundering de-
is put for the defence OF Christianity and OF the ma
ti0n which fosters it, why not let the politician feel
its powcr2 Does the law exempt themr win God
dignity OF our national laws and sacredness OF oath
OF office should rise In their grandeur above party
barriers and selfish interests. Hence


MEASURES, NOT MEN,


principles not partisan questions is the burden OF
the hour. Mr.. Aston then went on to review in
eloquenty portrayed the fearful corruption which
we lay under. He then said that we were gradu-
ally getting into union Of Church and State, q
great curse for any nation, and how the power
OF the Catholic element was to be feared in It's cor
ruptibility and in the amount OF pecuniary help it
received at the hands OF the State. What care
these men what becomes OF the nation2 It is ours
to cry the alarm. Does it not force itself that to
vote for such men would be repeating the sin OF
those who said not this man. but Barabbas; for
Barabbas was rObber and murderer? Do you ask
way to escape-a remedy There must be q
waking up to sense OF our danger, our peril.


THE WRATH OF THE ALMIGHTY


Is klndled against such evd0ers. We are nearing
the rapids Awake to our danger and escape. /
charge Of duty at the ballot box. Guard its purity
challenge your neIghbOrs, vote yourselves. 1t is
alarming that the most intelligent and loyal ne
have held or throw themselves into the strife.
The corruption, you will say, OF politicians has be-
come bywOrd. Then go and change all that. Find
a remedy in organizing yourselves into patriotic
force breaking away from party lines, demanding
the most intelligent men for Office and watch
them in the discharge Of their duty. You say


THE TASK Is HERCULEAN;


that the name OF the opposition is legion; that
there is no hope. Will you let this tide OF corrup
tion roll on and on because our numbers are
smallf On this principle all the grand movements
OF the world would not have come to anything
Think of Christ Himself and what He has to con-
tend with The remedy for this is to vote for those
you have right to know will be most patriotic,
without regard to color, religion or politics. But
can't see how Roman Catholic can come up to
this To be q true American is to swear fealty to
this country. How can Roman Catholics do this
who hold another power to be supreme over all?


Mr. Aston then beseeched the young men of his
charge to pursue patriotic course.