New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-25
BEECHER ON Politics AND RELIGION

The Rev. Henry Ward Beeeher gave lecture last
evening on Politics and Religion in the Forsyth-stree
Methodist Church. The lecture (which was advertised
as new lecture was the same delivered before the
| Mercantile Library Association of Boston, in the
| fremont Temple ON Wednesday last. The church
was nearly filed. He commenced by drawing a dis
tncon between theology and religion; theology was
fthe head what religion was OF the heart. He Went
into an extendedsurvey of the worlds growth and
tendency to division of labor, which had separated
Church and State. In our Government no class was
represented as class; votes represented citizens the
preacher might vote but he voted as man, and not
as preacher. Hight weight age condition, oceupa-
tion none was taken into account Color was the
only circumstance involving such profound moral and
political influences as TO be an exception. But the
pulpit was instituted to exercise its influence
on the lives and actions of men. Moral,
regulative principle a part of the best Gov
erpment and thus was best taught through reig-
ion. There was no reason why Governments should
not be administered with truth sincerity and benevo
lence, homer and justice. Public were bound to
conduct public affairs with the same scrupuOsity as
th Jse which should govern private affairs The rule
Of morality was the same for men in and out OF ONCE.
The same Judgment day would take cognizance OF the
private and the official character of a man. man
had no right 10 do a thing as member of party
which he would not do as man. When you found a.
man whose politics and religion were kept separately,
you would always find that his politics the cream
and his religion the skim milk. [Appause. Parties
were good and necessary, like sects. Without moral
force parties were like the desert sands; but
give them the strong cohesion of a principle,
and they rocks, enduring for ages. Tue
publication which politics needed had been fur
nshed TO other things by the woman element, and ne
did not believe that we should ever permanently
pnIe politics until men and women went hand in hand
TO the ballot box, there 10 express their opinions of
men and things. Applause and misses Yes, it
the serpent that seducsd woman in Paradise, and he's
here yA. Laughter and applause It's some poor
miserable husband, who is hen-Pecked at home
-.
should not be so public in telling your grievances
More than any other country needed the influence
of religion in politics. Every mother shonld be
priestess TO teach the child never TO swerye from the
right in his action toward his country. This culture
should be continued IN the schools there the religion of
patriotism should be taught. The press should carry
on the preaching. Oar newspapers were steadily
rising in moral tone in the practice OF Judging things
from high moral sand point But mainly we mu:took
10 the Church and its ministry minister had something
TO do beside teaching biz people to pray and enjoy the
flavor it. The ministry was expected 10 supervise the
moral action of men. 1t might he called dangerous;
when minister began TO call anything dangerous, his
work was done. When a man began to count the
value of his life it worth nothing. There were
thousand towards who wou!d hunt co ward Cars
always knew whom TO bite. He bad great compassion
for God-earing men-fearng, devil-fearng ministers.
Fear was very good pepper and mustard once in a
WHILE but i. made bad bread for steady eating When
merchants violated the great principles OF Christi an
duty, must the preacher be blind TO i Mr.. Beechsr
gave ucctIPtion oi Ihc WV
preached Gospel, and dared not preach about any
live subject. Such minister was infdef 10
Christ. He Mr.. Beecher would rather have an
alabaster box of oil of yitrio broken upon his
head than to have tina, said of him which Rufus
Choate said of his pastor that he had never heard
sermon from him that disturbed him. The minister
should hold mp the Gospel 10 make il shine into
every Granny Of the life of every of his congrega
ton. And il any of them should be go ncensed as TO
get up and 90 out the congregation would be much
the gamer the Israelitish congregation when the
scape goat had run into the wilderness Ii was objected
that ministers did not know enough of politics to take
part. This was grea. mistake. Every woman who
had brought up six unruy boys was liz to be Pres.
dent. He concluded by answering the objection that
politics should be left 10 the general influence OF
ligion. Religion was nothing he said unless il
applied; religion rubbed in the thing. lie told
story of his father shooting snipe and killing ten
and lie said that whe never preacher took aim AZ one
man he might be sure that he would bit twenty