The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-04-05

sumo that Of the stump speaker, and
preach political not religious sermons.
The Union mistakes party zeal and party
feeling for patriotism and invective,
bitterness and bigotry for piety. The
} pulpit is no place for political harangues,
nor Gods holy temple for political meet
ings, nor the Sabbath day proper time
to discuss political questions. 1t is the
duty Of clergymen to allay not excite bit
tcrness Of fecling-to soften not arouse
animosities-to harmonic not aggravate
and increase dissenSions among neighbors.
Were a Catholic priest to follow the ex-
ample Of Abolition preachers, and urge
the members of his church to assist a
particular party, the Union would be the
first to denounce him. But short while
ago, when it was stated, without founda-
ton, that Catholic priests advised men,
bers Of their church to remember Mr..
CONFESS for his vote on the school bill,
the UniOn reflected upon them as unjust
" as severely.
We think that the pulpit, whether on
! the Sabbath or any--Other day Of the
G'cek, is the place for the exhibition only
of the Gospel OF Jesus Christ and that
it can be made subservient to the promo
ton Of political prosperity more eifectual
ly by the exhibition Of that Gospel than
by the discussion of any other theme
which can employ the powers of the
preacher. Such appears to be the senti
nent of the Saviour Himself, when He
declares my kingdom is not of this
world" Such peculiarly was the force of
His teachings when His enemies sought
to entrap Him into an expression of DO
ltical opinion for or against the Roman
!! 4 oy~17cc@7'~7t Whe0, Re SxXsbt ,szebnsis,
sion to Caesar, and refused to commit
Himself on a political question, He lcftan
= ny .skss s ~. ~.
preachers Of His Gospel to initiate in all
coming time,
There is no greater dclusion among
good men, as to the best way of advancing
what they deem to be the cause of truth,
than that which not unfrequently seizes
upon clergymen concerning their course
in preaching political controversies. They
conclude that this or that party is favor,
ing slavery, or intemperance, or some
other great social or moral evil, and being
impatient of the slow progress of preach
ing the gospel in its simplicity, and leaving
its doctrines by their operation upon the
hearts Of men, to mould and guide politi-
cal action, they rush into the arena as
partisan cOmbatantS, and soil their gar.
ments with the dust and smoke of the
contest, and use weapons, and give and
receive wounds, which, however tolerated
in those whose pursuits naturally lead
them into the conflicts Of life, are never
regarded by the public Judgment as in
harmony with their sacred calling. 1t is
a mistaken zeal which impcls clergymen
into political controversies, as the Union
well knows, and the manifest impropri-
ETY." Of their conduct is apparent. A
faithful exhibition of the great truths of
their mission, commended to the hearts of
their hearers by the gentlencss and un-
ostentatiousness and bamclessneSs of
their own lives, will do more to introduce
the principles of religion into the action
and policy of the Government, and OF the
various parties which strive to control it,
than all the political sermons which their
utmost industry could produce. Not
many years experience would seem to be
necessary to teach wisdom on this sub
ject. Even the casual observer is able to
understand that the faithful minister of
the gospel, who impresses his congrega-
ton with his earnest sincerity, and leads
their hearts and turns their steps along
the pathway Of true and simple Christian
ity, is not the political preacher who
deems it right to cast his influence into
the scale of every passing controversy, or
regards it as his prerogative or duty, to
guide the suffrages of his parishioners.
We suspect the instances are rare where
a clergyman in the habit of preaching
politics" has been able, for a series OF
years, to retain the dignity and influence
which properly attach to his calling, Or
to see his miniStrations exercise the legit-
innate control over the lives of his hearers,
which belong to the teachings of the gos-
pei. Hence, as a mere question Of how
he can do the most good, the clergyman
Of discretion and judgment relrainS from
assuming the Office of directly controlling
the political sentiments or actions of his
congregation. lie. would decide thus, if
certain that his own views Of political
questions were always correct. But in
truth there is no class Of well educated
men so liable to fall into mistakes con
corning the party controversies Of the
day, as clergymen. Without at all i'm
pugning their motives or understandings,
a sufficient explanation of this fact is
found in their comparative isolation from
practical business life, and in the single
point from which they view political ques-
tons. This should at least teach them to
he modest in the assertion Of their own
opinions, and to treat those of others
with respect allowing the possibility
that the latter may turn out TO be more
sound than the former. They should re-
collect that in their congregation there
may be men their equals in intellect,