Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-02-29
Political Prenohina,

ithe subject Of political preaching. As III
present SCENE the most favorable time for suol
discussion, while mems minds are compare
lively calm, the passions aroused by en- excl
ting political campaign having had time I,
cool, permit me, through the columns Of you
paper, 10 suggest few thoughts on this sub
ject; and l do 90 in no partisan spirit, for thii
Of all subjects is the last which should b,
dragged into the political arena. II appears Il
me, sir, that the advocstes Of this doctrine pro.
cesd upon an entirely mistaken superstition
and urge pripei pies which, Il adopted as rule,
Of everyday life, would soOsigu them to ths
lunatie asylum. Why, / have heard Il asked
should a minister be restrained from preaching
whatever he may believe 70 be The TRUTH why,
il might as sensibly be asked, should not a
man at all times speak vhaisver be may think
Let the same principle he adopted 10 our In,
tercoure with men, and let a man tell every
one be meets his opinion Of him. how "a,
think you he would 20 without being knocked
down. Truth spoken out Of season and out Of
place, is often more iniariOus 10 its effects
than fslSshOod. l believe political preacbing
wrong; lSt From the example Of the Founder
Of Christianity. DuriDR the life, and imme-
diately after the death Of Christ. while the
apostles still lived, Rome Rrasped 10 her iron
hand all the civilized and large portion Of
the uncivlliEed world, and was fast sinking
into her greatsss corruption. Everywhers
around him Christ saw lhs evidences Of her
cruelty and oppreSsion--eyerywh the great
est ignorance Of The trus principles OF governs
menti yet He did not condescend to enlighten
their ignorance; no, not even to teach them the
first principles Of government. except so far as
morality is the foundation Of all true govern
ment He came not to teach politics; his
mission was to lead men 10 repentance; and 10
my humble judgment, his modern dlseiples
would do we'll to follow bis example. Lot
them confne themselves to the coufse he has
marked out for them--lst them stand upon the
ground he has chosen. While here, their opin~
ions come with weight. and men bow to their
authority, but when they leave the firm ground
Of the Bible to preach their own opinions, cons
tempt for them is toO often followed by con.
tempt for The Master they profess to serve
it is not so; but the majority Of those to whom
the Word lie addressed, do not stop to consider
what is Gospel and what the mere opinions Of
the preacher, but receiving the whole as BY au-
thority, and believing part to be false, they re.
jeet the whole.
3D. An action is right or wrong, according
as 1t teuds to produce most good or evil in the
world; in other words The morality Of 40 acS
tion depends on circumstances that which 10
at. one time right is another time wrong, and
what under some circumstances is wrong be-
comes under others right. To decide then
whether the discussion Of politics in the pull
pit is right or wrong, CAside from the example
Of CHRISTI we must determine what would be
its effects. Suppose tbe principle adopted,
and that our ministers felt at liberty to discuss
whatever appeared Of sufficient importance 10
demand their attention. For when once the
broad line is passed, there is no guide. and II
they may discuss one they may all political
Questions, for all have a moral character
Adopt this principle and you open wide the
door to all the passions Of the political world,
and your churches, instead Of being filled with
devout worshipers, will be crowded with poll.
ticans-your altArs, instead OF being surrouud>
ed by meek aud humble christians, will be 10.
closed in thrOng Of wOrldlings Men. when
they enter the sacred temple, instead Of lay.
ing aside all worldly cares to template The
perfestions Of the Deity and their own imperr
fectionS. will come with all those cares and
passions TO contemplate their own perfections
aud the imperfectiOns Of their OppOnsntS-
These may appear sxaggeratiOnS, but in
greater or less degree, they will surely follow
the adoption Of such principles.
Sd. The two former objections bear with
equal force on the supposition that our min
listers always preach the truth, but the fact is
toe often just the conlrsy, for their teachings
are often as false as the place is Inappropriate;
or. as we once heard it expressed by dislin-
guished member Of that profession, and one
eminent alike for his spotless character and for
his clear and practical views on every subject,
"a good preacher is a poor politician, and
good politician is poor preacher"
4th. But not the least objection to the prac
tlce arises from the undue influence which the
minister exerts over his congregation. II il
by distinguished English writer,
that lawyer does wrong who declines case
because he deems the psrty guilty. for by 30
doing he usurps into his own hands the deter. |
minHtion Of justice, as the know ledge that he |
accepts causes In which be thinks his client
right diVerIs the minds Of the jury from the
coDsid eration Of the testimony before them, and
unduely influences them in favor Of his client.
But il the influence Of clear judgment and
an upright character be denied TO the lawyer
rs prejud icial To justice, how much more in |
urious must be that influence which arises
from mere position, aud how much more eul, |
pable the minister who takes advantage Of that
Influence to urge principles for whose truth he
has no better guaranty than his own Judgment;
Tor the influence Of minister does not in gen.
sral arise from any personal quali6c alton, but
S incident to the position he occupies. Men,
rom babisually hearing the truth proclaimed
rom the sacred desk, learn buttOo oftsn to aeS
,ept without question Whatever falls from The
Ups Of the preacher, and center In him the rs.
'pect they entertain for his profession Aud
or the same reason that they trust sntirsly.
Ehen that confidence ceases it will cease sna
irely.
These, Mr.. Editor, are, As Il appears 70 me,
! few of the objections which may be urged
against political preaching; not that they are
III. or perhaps the most important. but they
IRE sufficient, in my opinion, to condemn the