Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-07-10
Political Sermons.

Quite scene OF excitement occurred III the
Church of the Epiphany, on Sunday night,
during sermon delivered by the Rev. bud
lev A. Tying. The Reverend gentleman had
pre- viously announced his intention to preach
"a sermon on Kansas affairs, and a-large au-
dience gathered in consequence. True to
the announcement, Kansas was she subject
of his discourse, and in the course of his re
MARKS, We are informed that the speaker was
severe, not only in his reprobation of slave
~. but on the conduct of those who wished
70 Introduce it into Kansas He denounced
the Federal Government in style which
va anything but Aecorous, and certainly very
unfit 10 pnl pit Some portion OF the con-
gresst:ou sat very uneasily~nnder these re-
marks, and finally respectable member Of
the Church felt called upon to interrupt and
recall the Minister to reason. He spoke OF
the sermon Objectionable in point Of matter
and in point ul lacL that 1t was desecra
ton of the pulpit and of the sacred calling
of the clergy TO Introduce such subjects, and
to treat them in style suited only to politi.
cal and partisan harangues. This rebube
seemed rather to disconcert the clergyman.
He paused ill the speaker had finished bis
remarks, then looked upon his written SER
mon, skipped several pages, and finished his
discourse The gentleman who administer
ell the rebuke has the reputation of having
manulnitted number Of slaves, that wonld
have been worth to him IN money had he
chosen 10 hold them, at least $4,000 The
sermon has created quite disturbance In
the Church. Some OF the leading members
deDOunce il as an attempt to substitute pOiit-
ical trades in the pulpit for the teachings OF
the word of God
We cannot but agree With them in opinion,
and every calm and sensible man must see
that the sacred Office of the ministry is in
very great danger Of being defiled by being
blended with partisan politics. The pulpit
is no place for discussions, the nature OF
which, joined with the infirmity of human
temper and Judgment, necessarily leads to
iutempcrancc of thought and speech. lfthey
are touched at all it should be in soothing
the angry passions which they generate, with
a view TO restore the mastery of reason aud
Judgment. This is the proper place of the
/ clergyman, and in matters pertaining to bis
particular vocation the world defers to his
teachnie5 from respect to his character and
the sacred Office which he fulhls. But
there IS nothing IN the pursuits and profess
SLOT y ae,e-,yman vhic,: girec althcrily c
I his judgment ia I.olitica. questions, or makes
/ it superior to that of any of his co.gres alton
There every nan s;G-l. .rvl IA 0wn mi
vate Judgment. Tie def4rs To 40 authority
hut his own reason. and presumes 10 settle
the principle Of conluc. which should guide
him, according to his own notions Of righ
and wrong, of expedency or interest. /,
niue cases ont Of ten the secular judgment il
secular affairs is more enlightened aad cor
rect than the clerical, because men mixing
with the world are better acquainted with
the business of the world and the principle,
Of human action which its strifes and its inter
ests call continually into play Hence ii il
unwise forclergymen to bring themselves il
conflict with men so much letter prepared t.
grapple with the excitements aud question:
Of the day, and in which their interests, pur
suits and aspirations are SO much more deepl,
centered. IL is mistaken judgment to sup
pose that the authority which appertain; 4
his divine teachings carries weight with
into other AMI different channels, and tn
cler2ymen must have very imperfect con
ception of his Office when he attempts &c lic
tate where such authority does not exist
PbH. ledger.