The News On Clergymen's R. R. Tickets

The Grass Lake News is now ac cusing the clergy as being bribed with half fare tickets not to denounce Sunday work on railroads as well as Sunday opening of the World's Fair. To show how the News feels we quote: Last week in speaking of the open and defiant violation of the Sunday lawsby the railroads we said the pulpit would say nothing against it because "bribed with half-fare tickets." ()ne of our local ministers takes the assertion in high dudgeon. He doesn't like the word "bribed," and yet less than a year ago, as we are informed by a gentleman of high standing, our critic applied the same term to members of the legislature who accepted passes from the railroad companies, during a session of the farmers' club held at Mr. Barber's, southeast of this village. But let us give the matter in controversy a square look in the face. Supposing the ministers of the christian church should all unite and from their pulpits preach against Sabbath desecration by the railroads; supposing in their conventions, conferences and assemblies they should agitate and pronounce against it until a public sentiment was formed that would insist upon the enforcement of the statutes and a discontinuance of the evil complained of, does any man for a minute suppose that they would be given half-fare tickets by the railroad managers of this or any other state? But half-fare tickets are given to the clergy. The latter wage no warfare against trains running on Sunday, worthy of the name. Nobody will maintain that reverend gentlemen accept half-fare with a distinct understanding that they are to wink at railroad Sabbath breaking, but men cannot accept such favors without in a measure feeling under obligations to the donors.