The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-13

: APclitIcal Par,on.

We have a great respect for an ambas.
sador' of God, fortified by the credentials
OF the Almighty, when he addresses us
officially from the pulpit on subjects oon-
nected with the welfare of the soul. Our
respect is for the Office, and not for the
man; for the sanctity Of the calling, and
not for the poverty Of the means. But
we have very little respect either PERSONAL
ly Or officially, for protested minister of
the gospel, who enters the pulpit under
the pretext of religion and then deliber-
ately turns his back upon his Lord and
Master in order to serve at the altar of a
political mammon.
On last Sabbath evening the Young
Mems ChristianAssociation was addressed
by the Rev. Mr.. SALrER of Minneapolis,
in the first Presbyterian Church of this
city. Mr.. SALTER was invited to deliver
Christian address, and not political ora
ton. He was invited in his capacity as
ambassador of God, and not in the capaci-
ty of a stump speaker. His audience. was
composed of men of all parties, but of one
faith. They did not all believe in ABRA-
ham LINCOLN, but it is fair to presume
they all entertained either practical or
theoretical belief in the doctrine of the
atonement. To address such an audience
on the subject Of politics was simply to in
suit them, and willie it exhibited exceed
ingly bad taste upon the part of the speak
er, it confirmed q large portion of his
hearers in the opinion that he was not
what is designated ia the New Testament
as a faithful Steward. The Reverend
gentleman took occasion to denounce
the moral cowardice of such preach
ers as refuse to desecrate the sane
tuary by turning it into political mass
meeting. But we can tell him Of much
more venal sort of moral cowardice than
this. 1t is that of minister who enters
pulpit, takes his hearers at disadvantage,
and knowing that he cannot be answered
on the spot, proceeds to impose upon
them bis peculiar views in relation to the
politics of the country. 1t is that of a
minister who manufactures q political
platform out of text of scripture, and
twists the eternal and spiritual meaning of
Gods word into a temporary makeshift,
and false Specification. 1t is that of the
housing owl" having at the eagle; ola
political parson stabbing at MoCLElLAN
from the pulpit; forgetting that che who
ruleth his spirit is greater than he who
taketh city," and illustrating the golden
rule by plunging his puny stiletto into the
back of brother Christian, and. one of
the greatest of liberty's defenders. 1t is
that of the priestly defamer of his neigh
Dor and brother, who,' trampling under
foot Christ's imperial mandate, "Thou'
shalt not bear false aoitness against thy
neighbor," deliberately rises in the pulpit,
and under the cloak OF religion brands the
the democracy of the country as spmpa-
thizers with an unholy rebellion. We can
tell Mr.. SALrER that the democracy throw
back the foul imputation in his face, and
that when he takes occasion to have his
unchristian and narrow minded fling at
them from the pulpit, he must expect to
be answered by the press, and answered
in way that leaves no room for the ex-
ercise of that respect which we habitually
entertain for minister of God. The Rev.
erend gentleman processes to be commits
stoned by the Almighty and set to watch
for the souls of men. If be is tired Of
his service; if he is wearied of his Master;
let him come down out of the pulpit, take
commission from ABRAHAM LINCOLN as
high private in the army, and peform
nickot dutv in ustchino for roho1o