The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-13
POLITICS IN THE PULPIT,

1ohlIASS In LIE L u LIZ IL.
Under this head, the New York 1ames
which is as inveterate in its hostility to sla-
very and the South as the New York Iri
dane, justiies the anti-slavery denuncia-
tions which are poured out from hundred
Northern pulpits, and remarks:
= This will set some to advising that the clergy
stick to their task OF preaching Gospel doctrine in
Gospel words.-of combining themselves to the de-
nunciatioD OF sin in the general leaving special
sins and individual sinners to be treated general
principles. There is class of surgeons who treat
local diseases in this way but we have noticed gen.
orally that they are men who do not like cutting.
and never attained to any great skill with the seal
pei. Our own sentiment is that small piece of
caustic applied directly to the proud flesh" is gen
orally more successful in checking the morbid
growth than gallons of Sarsaparilla taken internal
ly, though OF course if the blood is not purified,
local applications will seldom cure local trouble.
So the clergy, think should put the hot iron d.
rectly on rampant sin, while of course they will
not refrain from denouncing sin in the general"
We concur entirely with the principle an
nounced by the Times, but the absurdity of
applying it to the "sIN'' of SLAVERY in NEW
YORK will strike every reader at the first
glance. Who holds slaves in New York, I'M
less they are white slaves What slavehold-
er's conscience is to be reached by thou
sand anathemas from Northern pulpits If
slavery be rampant SIM let the clergy
come near enough to the sinners to "put the
hot iron directly ON the diseased spot.
When the Apostles had to grapple with the
Idolatry of their day, they did not remain in
Jerusalem, and thence, surrounded by peo-
pie who were unanimous in the belief of one
Deity, hurl their denunciations upon the
heather. but they went among the idolators
and at the very foot of the images of brass
and stone, they exposed their falsity and pro
claimedthe true God. Let the preachers 81
the Northern pulpits pursue this course, lei
them bring their hot iron to the South, and
we will recognize their apostolical descent
| Most undoubtedly the clergy should put
the hot iron directly on rampant sin,
Vague generalities, indiscriminate charges
of moral corruption, no matter how severe
and emphatic, never scorched any body yet
nor do they require any moral courage on the
part of preacher What is intended for
everybody is rarely received by anybody
The really brave, faithful and practical evan
gelist singles out prevailing sins among his
congregation, and puts the knife to the dis
eased spot. Such a course may make him
unpopular and plant thorns in his pathway,
but men will in the end respect his honesty
and concede that he has chosen his vocation
for better purpose sthan temporal ease and
qualification. If this course were pursued
by the New York clergy, would they preach
Sunday after Sunday about slavery which
does not exist in New York, and soothe the
consciences of their hearers by saying not a
word about sins which do exist there? The
rampant sins in that great city, Judging
/ from the statements contained in the n. York
Times, and other Northern papers, are coret-
business, (which st. Paul said was idolatrv,
and which he denounced most earnestlv,-the
same st. Paul, who, when he converted q
runaway slave, made him return to his mas
ter, love of pomps and uanities corruDtio0
of public officers, from the Common Council
down to the policeman; and, if the Same N.
York papers are to be credited, such an in
crease of Righteousness as might well require
the whole energy of the pulpit to curb and
resist. What shall we think then of clergy
men, who, in the very citadel of avarice
luxury, selfishness and sensuality, devote
their pulpits, not to the apprehension of these
crying iniquities at their own doors, but of
the institutions of distant people, who nei-
Their hear nor heed them? 1t is as if Lot. in
the midst of the cities of the plain, instead OF
rebuking the crimes which drew down fire
and brimstene from Heaven, had periodically
entertained the people of Sodom and Go
morrah with the rampant sin" of his kins.
man Abraham in holding slaves.
|