Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-12-07
EVENING STAR.
POLITICS IN RELIGION.

This is the title of sermon preached
on Thanksgiving day in Philadelphia, by
the Rev. Charles Wadsworth, of the
Presbyterian Church, sent us by Joe
Shillington, who has it for sale 1t is a
bold and eloquent address, denouncing
the growing practice of making the pull.
pit political rostrum, yet asserting the
duty of government to protect society
from immortality, and to exhibit in its
own conduct an example of virtue. Mr..
Wadsworth handles irony as deyterously
as he does eloquence evidently fears no
man, but speaks what he thinks truth !;
and is altogether of a character rarely
seen in the pulpit nowadays, though
the world would be all the better if such
men were more common. We make the
following extract:
l need not tell you that it has come
to pass in these latter days, that these
standing. places of Gods messengers to
ruined world, become ofttimes the mere
platforms for political harangues. These
affairs of our God, where the broken
heart is demanded as sacrifice to Jeho-
yah, becomes ofttimes only " seats of
CUSTOM" where the worldly tribute is
rendered to Caesar. The precepts of the
Divine law thundered from Sinai the
promises of the Gospel issued in the
death-cry from Calvary; alas they are
all set aside and forgotten, that these
ambassadors of God may discourse poll.
tical declamations upon moot-Points that
divide our great political parties. Either
because these men find the duties Of
their sacred profession so light and their
consequent leisure so abundant; or be-
cause they regard the care of souls so
trivial concern in comparison with the
general enlightenment of society on these
political questions or, it may be, be-
cause they regard themselves as men of
such prodigieus powers and special in
spiration, as to make it their extraordin-
ary call to leave to their humber and
less gifted brethren the care of the ark in
the fields of Bethshemish, while they
strive about the golden mice with the
lords of the Philistines.
"Certain we are that for some reason,
into their religion, such as it is, they
carry some of the veriest denominations
of ruffian and radical politics. Their
pulpits become platforms, where all ques-
tions of practical morals are discussed
as side issues with some aim of the dem
agogues. The cross of Christ is taken
down from it's high place, as the crown
ing glory of the sanctuary, and in its
stead-as an engine of reiorm-is lifted
the ballot box; and the popular pas
sions are lashed into storm, that with
their sufrages as freemen they may car
ry Maine law or defeat a Nebraska
bill. And with this advocacy and pat
ronage in the Church's high places, it
has, not marvelously, come to pass that
the edification of the audiences should
be after their kind. Certain we are at
least of the fact, that many Christian
man looks to-day to the foulest machine
ry of partizan politics as an efficient
auxiliary in reformation of morals. |
Temperance, moral reform. religious edu-
cation, universal brotherhood, indeed all
things that are true, and pure, and love-
ly. and of good report, are-to speak
technically-by species of moral log.
rolling, linked as twin issues with the
foulest aims of ruffian demagogues seek
ing preferment and place. Nay, verify,
alas these heavenly moral virtues, that
as white robed angels on radiant wings
should be all unsoiled by dust and soar
ing sweetly in Gods sunshine, are har-
messed side by side with bank charters
and tariff provisions, to drag the chariot
o. some unprincipled placeman into hon
or and power