Much has been made about these mid-term elections. I have heard so much hyperbole regarding them. And it may be true that the tilt of the political landscape will be set for the foreseeable future by how we vote today.
I was thinking about what has been said about elections in the past. One of my favorite quotes is from John Wesley, an Anglican priest, who is regarded as the founder of the Methodist movement that sired a good number of Methodist/Wesleyan/Holiness denominations. On October 6, 1774, two years before the Declaration of Independence, he said the following:
“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”
What would Mr. Wesley say about 21st century American politics?
“Providence has given our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.” — William Penn, founder, Province of Pennsylvania
“When a citizen gives his suffrage (vote) to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country.” — John Witherspoon, Minister and Founding Father of the United States of America
“Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.” — Daniel Webster, US House Representative and Senator
If you have voted, good for you. If you haven’t and you’re registered, go vote. Charlotte and I voted this morning at 6:00 a.m. and even though we have thought a lot about it, we prayed on our way to the polling station. Don’t forget that important element.
Caritas in Veritate 