Delaware State reporter., 1854-11-21
Ministers and Politics.

We take the following from the Presby-
terian, the organ of the Old-SchooI Presby-
terrain church.
1t is refreshing TO know that the clergy
men of even one of the leading, evangelical
protestant denominations have refused to
descend from their high and holy calling to
mingle in the strife of party politics.
That SO many ministers of the Gospel of
various denominations, and especially of the
Methodist Church, have forgotten the mes
sage committed to them by the Saviour of the
world, and become not only politicians but
leading and active partizans, is considera-
ton well calculated to excite the most fear
full forbodings in every right-thinking mind.
What intelligent, real christian but mourns
over it as tending directly to a union of
Church and State, and threatening the most
fearful consequences, both to the liberties
and religion of the country?
We still hope that when the smoke of the
battle and the excitement which caused it
shall have passed away, our ministers of re-
ligion will return to their closets, and rccur-
ring to their bibles and ordination VOWS,
abandon course so fraught Will l---s,-- -
both Church o.,i state, The Presbyterian
thus discourses upon the subject:
" The good people of this country have usually
been greatly averse to union of Church and
ind.
that some sort of an alliance is in progress be-
tween the two powers. The pulpit in certain
sections has certainly put its fingers very deep
into politics Of late. A New York writer in one
Of the morning papers states that there were no
less than nine sermons advertised to be preached
in that city on last Sabbath, in reference to the
then coming State election and among the
speakers at q political meeting held in New
| York last week, we notice the names of two city
pastors Neither of these, however, we are
happy to say, were 0ld-school Presbyterians
1t is true that the object ostensibly aimed at
was the promotion Of Temperance good cause,
certainly, but in this instance so connected with
political partizanship, that it was impossible for
ministers to take public part without entering
the arena Of political strife. We have our doubts
whether the cause itself will gain by clerical
advocacy in such a connection; and we feel
assured that mingling in platform discussions,
under such circumstances, will not add much
to the weight and influence of ministerial char
acter. Even those who arc to be politically
benefited by such aid would probably prefer
that the clergy should confine themselves to their
appropriate sphere, and to preaching the gospel,
and leave the political cectioneering to those to
whose province it more appropriately belongs.
If ministers may interfere in one instance, they
may in others and if they are to leave the
pulpit TO drag their garments in the mre of poll
tics, we fear there will be a gloomy day both
for the Church and for the State
We also take from the Presbyterian the
following remarks of the Rev. Dr. BErnUNE
made at the anniversary of a religious society
in New York.
At the anniversary of religious society
lately held in New York, the Rev. DIR. Bethune
said: " If this were political meeting, we
might perhaps allow ourselves to discuss points
not in place now; but for my own part, do not
believe in clcrgymen attending political, meet
ings and making npliticail SfNeeoigH: MY Ohiee e
the gospel, and with the help of God, that mean
tokeep to. When have fairly gone through
preaching the gospel, and exhausted all its
precious themes, and prevailed with it over every
heart, may turn my attention to the law, and
perhaps try to enlghten my hearers on matters
of political jurisprudence if they will consent tc
listen, or think that can teach them anything
OH that point. Now, sir, as Christians, what is
our duty-our great and only commission as a
Church2 1t is to preach the gospel to every
creature, no matter where he lives, under what
laws, with what color, what his condition-ht
is sinner, and We must preach to him the
gospel"