The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1866-10-19
Politics in the Pulpit.

The parsons having returned from theil
summer vacation resumed their pulpits on
Sunday for new political campaign.
They appear to be refreshed with the wa
tiers of fashionable resorts, salt and fresh !;
but the "waters of life' do not appear to
have inspired them very much towards
the ful6lment of their supposed mission
the spiritual regeneration of their
focks. With few exceptions the sermons
preached on Sunday were political har-
rangues, some covert and iusiduous, some
open, bold, and almost blasphemous.-
Henry Ward Beecher, more cunning than
the rest of the political preachers, did not
refer directly to politics, but the whole
tenor of his address had marked politi-
cal significance. He dealt rather with
historical ideas and with great men of his
tory than with local events, prospects or
issues, but nevertheless there was no mis-
taking the direction in which his thoughts
were turning while his philosophy was re.
llevlng itself in eloquent words. His SER
mon was calm, dignifed and statesman
like effort, altogether at variance with
those of the other pulpit agitators.-
Beecher's discourse indicates the man of
thought; those of the others the effusion
of men of froth, cant and illimitable I'm.
charitableness. Take, for example, the
language of DR., Bellows, who ought to
have sense enough to appreciate the du-
ties of his profession as he once before ap
peared to comprehend the value of another
calling as an elevating element of educa-
ton and morality. DIR. Bellows, while ia
king his text from the Bible, descau ted, not
upon the duty of man to his Creator, but
upon the elections, dragged into the pull
pit "the glorious news from Maine and
Vermont speculated upon the prospects
In Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, and
concluded by prayer to the Almighty
that He might guide the people to vote
the radical ticket at the coming cleo
tions.
Such language one might expect to
hear in the gatherings at street corners
or in bar-rooms; but your political par
son thinks that they are subjects good
enough for the house of God. These re-
Jolclngs over elections past and prophetic
auguries of the result of elections to come
were mixed up with the most undignifed
abuse OF the President of the United
States and his administration. Are there
no souls at all to be saved in DR.. Bellows
"Church of All Souls ?" Are tn, ways
OF the politicians of more importance to
his congregation than "the way, the
truth aud the life" which he is supposed
to lead them to? Rev. Theodore L. Guy
Ter, too, opened his discourse with pray
er that the President may be led "through
darkness into light that is to say from
the darkness which envelopes the uphold
ers of the Constitution to the ethereal
light of radicalism, with its symbols of
blood and fire and new civil war The
other political preachers were more deli
cate in their illusions. DR.. Tying inform
ed bis audience that he had his trade
bottled up, but would open it on future
occasion. With such an example before
them in the pulpits filed by white preach
ers, we cannot be surprised that the poor
blacks of Zion Church were entertained
by their colored pastor with somewhat
similar, though much more moderate and
Christian language; nor that when he
announced that the Saviour had died for
colored as we'll as white sinners, one of
the congregation cried out "Bully for
Him." and the whole crowd rose to their
feet, shouting, stamping and screaming.
This was, no doubt, the most unseemly
conduct in church, but not whit worse
than the indecorum of the white parsons
who introduce politics, profanity, spirit
of uncharitableness and a fire brand of
discord in their pulpit speeches. 1t is
the general opinion that the business of
ministers of religion is to save souls and
promulgate the doctrine of charity to all
men but ministers of DR.. Bellows and
DR.. Cheever's and DR.. Tyng's stamp des-
pise all ouch old-fashioned notions. They
evidently regard the pulpit as a political
rostrum, and instead Of being the mouth
piece of the Gospel they have become the
agents of the politicians and the Evil
One.-New York Herald.