The true Democrat., 1857-01-27
From the PennSylvanian.
Politics in the Pulpit.


 The manifold blessings and valuable privi- leges vouchsafed to us as a people, by our ad- mirable form of government, should be the pride and boast of every true American. I here is no country on the face of the globe, where public opinion, speaking from the forum through the press, and permeating thousand varied channels, exercises so direct and potent an influence iii shaping our laws and institutions and adopting them to the demands and exi- gences of our progressive civilization. The Press, that great organ of the million, which is shedding the rays of enlightenment into every cottage and hamlet of the land-is free and unshacklc1 as the winds -the right of speech restrained only in its abuse, is accorded to all by the constitution and fundamental law; and any attempt to strike down or to abridge these cherished palladiums of our liberty would be met by a reslstcnce equivalent to a revolution.
 Enjoying thus these uneXampled privileges, Is there no danger that may run into excess through the very plentitude of our freedom, and convert, through our folly, our blessings in to blistering curse? Danger always turk kes near the borders of safety, and the bane and the antidote are sometimes in close proximity
 We have thought these few observations ap- proprlate in introducing our subject, inasmuch as they cover the whole ground upon which we intend to base our protest against what we are constrained to believe to be growing evil growing too, out of the very source from which flows all that make our noble fabric of government worth preserving and perpetuating
 For number of years past, we have been paned and shocked to observe an increasing disposition on the part of ministers of the gos- pei to lug, in some way or other, in their dis courses, allusions of a political and partizan cla .l II: :. hand; and particularly, during the late political canvass the practice became so common in some sections of the country-so bold and brazen in it's exhibiton--as to excite serious alarm in the breasts of prudential and right thinking people that the cause of true christianity would be greatly and irredeeMably damaged by its un- checked indulgence Now, as we-wishers o pure and unde6led religion, no matter what its forms of manifestations, we are prepared tc characterize this habit of dragging politics into the pulpit and thus desecrating the shrnes and temples of Jehovah, as most reprehcnsible in itself, and productive of the greatest mischefs and the worst consequences. While 1t brings in question the good taste and good judgment of the minister who is betrayed into the weak ness, it cannot fail to be offensive to at lea st portion Of his congregation. A denomin atior of christians, like any other promscuous as semblage, must necessarily be composed ol members of all the various political organza tions, and, therefore, how can any pastor ob truds his peculiar political notions upon those who have right to expect far different word. and utterance from his lips without supposing even if he does please some inudicous mem. bers by the violation of his duty, that he will greatly mortify and humiliate the feelings ol others belonging to his sacred charge? Thi. must inevitably beget schisms, breed discon tent and inaugurate status in the church any thing but favorable to the proper reception O those vital truths and teachings of the Divine Word. which it is the special province of the minister of the gospel to illustrate and enforce.
 Besides, there is no conceivable excuse or palliaton for this eternal meddling wth,politics on the part of portion of the clergy They cannot build even the excuse for their derilic tions in this regard, on the ground that the country is destitute of political teachers; and that, therefore, it is incumbent upon them tc step from the sacred desk, and instruct the peo- pie as to the public necessities and the public welfare. In all conscience we have enough and to spare, of those who are ready and vii ling, and ambitious to serve the nation, ant take care of its material destinies, without sx tending our researches into the pulpit for mouthy declaimers and irothy orators-enough office holders and of6ce-seekers to supply all practica purposes! But beyond and above all, how car they answer to God, the searcher of all hearts for thus defiing his ::holy temple? How ren- der an account of their stewardship, when cal. led upon to give it. after denying the bread O life to those thirsty souls who gathered around their altars and their communion tables-choos ing rather to SOW discontent, and wranging heart-burning, instead of Christian love, ant charity, and peace?
 It is a matter that interests all sects, and al denominations of Christians; because the in diligence of the practice which has fallen un der our animadversion, affects the integrity ant the purity of the religion which we all profes to worship-ths religion founded by Christ
 It is creditable to the southern States tha this perncious interference upon the part o the clergy has not prevailed to SO great an ex tent as in New England. In many parts of tn, south the minister has faithfully discharged tn, duty of his "calling" and let. the discussion o politics where it belongs-to politicians.