The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-11-29
POLITICS AND THE PULPIT.

OF the Hon W. Maclay the son ofa clergy
mani which appears in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and
which was written in reply to an invitation Of the Key
stone Club to attend the banquet in New York last week
We make the following extract;
Cone Of the most remarkable features Of the late canvass
WAS the conspicuous part taken in this political strife by min
listers Of the Gospel And il worthy OF note that with
uch class Of In the held the City OF Churches
bsre the most eminent and influential OF these political d
is sxertsd his utmost defeat the democratic ticket
gave such decisive maores in favor Of that ticket and
made Il so triumphant all opposition.
And now that the struggle ended, take the liberty Of
,pressng my humble opinion of the which not few
ministers Of the Gospel have pursued this political cam
pagp am myself the Of clergyman and, SO far from
having any prejudice against this class Of my
am disposed award TO them the highest honor ana 70
Mace their calling first among all the ayocations OF fe
am not among those such there who would deny 70
ministers OF Gospel the right of suffrage or any other
civil right which the constitutions OF the Union and the States
to every loyal citizen But am one OF those who
believe that consistently DO az the same time
good minister OF the Gospel and an active pocan ana my
views ON this subject the result Of much deliberate reec
zion upon the teachings and example Of Christ and the Apes
ties AS we'll as upon the Of those peculiar interests
and responsibilities which belong respectively to the Church
and State.
Of the great Founder of Christianity, of his first ministers
which can be precedents for the conduct which
in ministers of this age but it must be evident
-, well balanced mind both OF the cler-
nv and the aty that the Apostles Of Christ manifested in
The uniform tenor of their ves and teachings exclusive
orsaeraton to the peculiar duties of their ministerial pro-
sson such Of them set forth IN the strongest terms
bar he declared to people tossed and torn by civil dis
cords in the midst social and political evils greater than
any to which we are subjected, that he determined to
kuoU uoing among them Christ crucfed. And think
that there can be no reasonable doubt that the minister who
spters the arena of political strife lowers the dignity OF his
profession and prostitutes the power of the pulpit His in
standing thereby deprecated, and his influence
greatly crcumscrbed His religious teaching, which ought
to be- and which designed to be- the great
TIVE element society," to be received with no more
humility faith aud than the declarations OF
political demagogue.
minister of the Gospel who devotes himself to the APP
uropriae of his profession possesses influence
which be properly exerted long retained In
other sphere action II is exclusively adapted to the
anties revealed religion and cannot be safely used to
force the imperfect doctrines of any political creed 1t
peculiarly suited to soemnes of the spiritual and the
immortal cannot be employed in the secular affairs OF
this life without dissertation In Short minister cannot be-
come politician without damaging at the same time the in
teres both religion and politics. He cannot enter the
political and long retain the mighty influence OF min
er Of the Gospel welded for political purposes
can he returning from that regain his influence for
the higher purposes of the sacred profession For the sake
Of the Church and State therefore, it ia to be hoped that
bs country may witness another such prostitution
the pulpit and that this signal triumph viii forever put to
flight the dsorganzng element of sectional parism and
Egous prescription while it binds in fraterna bonds the
hearts and hands all good citizens for the support
nerity and perpetuation Of this Union"