The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-06
POLITICS AND TIE PULPIT. : :


the Essex street congregational church, boston, col
ebrated. The church was crowded and upon tne plat
form some Of the most distinguished clcrgymen Of
Boston and vicinity Altogether there were nearly
hundred ministers present. Hon Rufus choate the os-
ator Of the occasion, after referring length 10
some of the for attending and being attached
the Essex street church. delivered the following just and
pointed remarks upon the Introduction Of politics into the
pulpit gANW
But there Is another reason, which 4, committing
nobody running the risk OF differing from many OF you
aymen and clergy, but assuming 10 act for nobody bot
myself with your permission, will proceed to give
reason, why sober conscientious. and thoughtful lay
man we'll have attended worship OF this church
And that u.s. permit say, that We have every one
Of us assaredy felt came here from Sunday 20
Sunday, and took seats in pew. that should
hear nothing An the world but religion preached from
that pulpit and no manner Of politics. State OF ma
honai, directly Indirectly. We came here, ii We
came protested did, 10 hear of those
things which pertain 10 religion, TO the salvation OF
the soul and to the rest everlasting. Aud may 10
permitted to say for myself that have uniformly found
Il 20 be true and have uniformly reconcled-f need
cd 10 reconcile my attendance upon this church BY
the consideration OF that TRUTH have UNIFORMLY found
il to be true that hurt nothing ssaet by moth
ing secularzed BY nothing, defended attacked
by nothing which had done. nothing for which had
voted acted in the political world without Ali of
spent the week before and all of obliged To spend
the week afterwards. less in that heated
heayng political world there acted there we had to
ueDatc, There we iOat Dut thank
that able to say in the presence Of many and
such respectable clerical friends these those SEQ
about that in Introductory prayer la
hymn occasionally OF in the ordinary of public
worship selected by any illustration in any sermon
by any train OF association right wrong have been
carried back into the world that had left and which
should have been wing for that day, at least have
forgotten OF religion and correct moral, personal
feof these to hear, and of these alone have
heard at any time have of doubt that
there great many pupts Ia Boston which the
thing might be said do not personally know that IL
might not be said OF every one know that 1t can be
truly said of this and thankful to be able to thus
publicly state that know II to be true And now since
have mentioned this subject. my friends, may be per
mitted without presuming to complain Of anybody
dictate anybody and still without assuming to
myself to preach oocio adj eyua to preach ut all may
be permitted behalf Of uninstaucted and unproes-
sonal aymen, to one single word to serious clergy
men, the duty OF rigorous abstinence from politics
and from any element which has been connected In any
way, with active party politics, the Lords Day
need not say that have great deal too much
respect and love for that profession in all its dcnonna
ons that too perfectly appreciate the past and present
anscendent good they have done to their country and
TO man, to WISH if had it in my power to abate
little of the just respect that is due to them to impair
In the least degree the just influence which they have
qured and which they possess in this community still less
to intrude into that secret and elevated circle OF private
judgment which is every mans right. But will sayf
repeat in behalf of nymen more, that Il IL exactly
because love and honor them Is exactly because
would do everything can not merely to the alot
cd salary but everywhere to preserve TO them the n
which the selection Of their field of duty has ont
tied them to exert that take the liberty in the presence
Of of them, to say something Permit me. then
suggest in the first place. that he who breaches
politics. any topic in the least degree connected
with practical party politics. in the pulpit lays himself
under the suspicion at least from many many laymen
that his motives not entirely unobjectonable, and
that thus he does something does much to unfit him
for the full and perfect performance of the great duty to
which he has been solemnly called do not say that
such is not a very bold i do not say that he
is very sincere man do not say that he Is not
bold and sincere old prophet standing up before
king and in the eloquence of expiring nation, de-
nouncn his sins and the sins Of his people But mean
say that he great risk OF being suspected not
be bold and not to be sincere at all He the risk
of being suspected and he is suspected OF denouncng
stakeholder because he hates the STAKEHOLDER feels
that he has anything TO do with the business but because
rich in his congregation hates shareholders,
and because he pleases him by denouncing them. He
runs the risk of being suspected not of being brave
against danger which is thousand miles away, but of
being coward and bowling down before supposed
danger that is very near him. He runs the risk
of being suspected, not of being bold, to challenge
o who cannot do him any harm, but OF challenging
that same because he Is afraid that another who
can do him HARM may be found within the reach of his
voice He the risk of being suspected, not Of bray
ing danger that may arise fron distant region and
distant public sentiment but Of being afraid Of public
sentiment at hand that may take the form Of danger
that may risk his salary, by possibility induce the
chance of calling council of dismsson. And thus it
comes TO pass i submit, and have heard 1t at
many times remarked that this suspicion units him to
do the duty which expect of minister of the Gospel
and thus OF doing something to violate that great trust
which he took upon himself with much soemnity at
his ordination to let despise the ministry far
he concerned and to it for its proper in
fuence in the noble speciality which has been asgnedto
Permit to give second reason, In the pursuit OF this
OF thought that intelligent PERSONS and very
many intelligent persons too apt to think that the
preacher of politics in the pulpit really does not know
his business, and that he is really above or below OF on