N. R. Convention at Morning Sun, Ia. [excerpt]

     The National Reform Convention in Morning Sun, Ia., Nov. 25 and 26, was a most inspiring one. New friends were added to the National Reform cause, and old friends had their interest renewed and quickened. Rev. J. M’Gaughey, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Kossuth, Ia., delivered a carefully prepared address on “Anarchism, Its Principles and Manifestations.” In this able and thoughtful address the speaker showed that the spirit of lawlessness and disregard for authority was found in unexpected places. He even accused our National Government of guilt in this matter, by complicity with that most lawless of all things, the SALOON; also by running mail trains on the Sabbath day, in violation of divine law; above all by setting up a government in a part of the realm of the Saviour King, Jesus Christ, without any regard to His sovereignty and ignoring His authority. After hearing the speaker’s able arguments the listeners were forced to give the verdict, “Guilty according to the indictment.”
     The complement of this address was given by Dr. T. P. Stevenson, D.D., of Philadelphia, subject, “Anarchism, the Remedy.” O [sic] this address I need only say that his arguments and exhortations were “as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies.”
     Dr. J. A. Black’s paper on “Christian Instruction in Our Public Schools,” was one that I heartily wish all readers of the Nation might see in printed form. He showed that the heart as well as the head of the future citizen of our Republic needed culture. Booth, Guiteau and Czolgoz were all products of our schools, but they were not taught in that great text-book, God’s word, which teaches, “Fear God, honor the King.”