City Hall Condemned from the Pulpit - 1894
The preacher had let it be known what was to be the primary topic of his sermon. The topic drew enough attention that the church, the Wentworth Presbyterian Church, was well-filled for the evening service on Sunday October 28, 1894. Among those in attendance were reporters for the Hamilton Times and Hamilton Spectator who wrote extensively about Reverend James Murray’s sermon which was later referred to as “a Trumpet Call for Good, Capable, Respectable Men in Municipal Life.” The “Civic Sins” which Reverend Murray attacked included gambling, intemperance and Sabbath Breaking, and the specific targets of his criticism were the elected officials in Hamilton City Hall, aldermen and the Mayor. The text selected by Rev. Murray to introduce his sermon was from Jeremiah, Chapter 29, verse 7 : “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof