The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-19
Politics in the Pulpit.
From the Herald.

from WC f1eTutU.
The parsons having returned from their sum-
mer vacation, resumed their pulpits on Sunday
fer new political campaign. They appear to
be refreshed with the waters OF fashionable
resorts, salt and fresh; but the "waters OF life"
do not appear to have inspired them very much
towards the fulflment of their supposed mis-
sion-the spiritual regeneration of their focks.
With few exceptions the sermons preached on
Sunday were political harangues-some covert
and insidious, some open, bold, and almost
basphemous. Henry Ward Beecher, more cum
ming than the rest of the political preachers,
did not refer directly to politics, but the whole
tenor of his address had a marked political
significance. He dealt rather with historical
ideas aid the great men of history than with
local events, prospects, or issues ; but
nevertheless there was no mstaking the
direction IN which his thoughts were turn
ing while his philosophy was relieving itself
in eloquent words. His sermon was a calm,
dignihed, and sUatesmanllke effort altogether at
variance with those OF the other pulpit agitators.
Beechers discourse indicates the man ofthought;
those of the others the efusionS of men of froth,
cant, and illlmitable uncharltaDene3s. Take,
for example, the language of DR.. Bellows, VINO
ought to have sense enough 20 appreciate the
duties of his profession as he once before ap-
peared to comprehend the value OF another call
ing as an elevating element OF education and
morality. Dr.. Bellows, while taking his text
IRON l0G DlDle, ueSCuul6u, not upon bUS uuIy
of man to his Creator, but upon the elections,
Dragged into the pulpit &" the glorious news from
Maine and Vermont" speculated upon the pros
poets 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 elections.
Such language one might expect to hear in
the gatherings at street corners or in the bar
rooms; put your political parson thinks that
they are subjects good enough for the house of
God. These rejoicings over elections past and
prophetic auguries OF the result OF elections to
come, were mixed up with the most undignided
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 the ways OF the politicians of more import
ance to his congregation than 1.-THE way, the
truth, and the llfe.n which he is supposed to
| lead them to? Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, too,
opened his discourse with pray er thattthe Pres
| dent may be led through darkness into hgnt,"
| that Is to say from the darkness which envelops
the upholders of the Constitution TO the ethereal
| light of radIcalsm, with its symbols of blood
| and fire and new civil war. The other politi-
| cal preachers were more delicate i'll their allu-
| sons. Dr.. Tying informed his audience that he
| had his TRADE bottled up, but would open 1T on
| future occasion.
With such an example before them in the pull
| pits filed by white preachers, 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 an,
| nounced that the Say lour had died for colored
as well as white sinners, one of the congregation
cried out "Bully for Him. and the whole GROVE
| rose to their feet, shouting, stamping, ano
screaming. This was no doubt unseemly con-
! duct in a church, but not whit worse than the
indecorum OF the white parsons who introduce
politics, profanity, spirit OF 'uncharitabeness
and frebrand OF discord into their pulpit
speeches. 1t is the general opinion that tht
business of ministers of religion is to save souls
and promulgate the doctiine OF charity to a
men; but ministers of DR.. Bellows and DR.
Cheever's and DR.. Tyng's stamp despse all such
| old-iashioned notions. They evidently regarl
the pulpit as political rostrum, and insteac
of being the mouthpiece OF the Gospel they nave
become the agents of the politicians and the
| Evil one.
We notice with some surprise that the clergy
| of the Catholic Church an institution Whict
always attended 10 its legitimate business, th'
cure of souls, and Stunned politics altogether
show symptoms OF meddling with that danger
Gus and not over clean subject down South a
between the negroes and the whites. SO, "a
least, we Judge from the recent pastoral of th
Catholic BISHOP OF Savannah, encouraging the
interference of the Church withtihe condition o
, the Southern blacks, and intimatng that tn
, National Council OF Bishops about TO assemble
next month at Baltimore viii take special actol
, | upon the subject. We have no other eyidenc
, that the bishops intend to travel outside @
Their accustomed track so far as 10 meddle il
politics, except the pastoral address of tn
Bishop OF Savannah, aud we hardly think thel
mean to do So. The Catholic Church has mair
tanned It's influence for more than cightee
> | hundred years over the colscienees and spir
! ual conduct of its followers. In this country
q Is remarkably prosperous and progressive Jus
+ J now. 1t has always kept aloof irom politics
and that may be one of the secrets of its success
9 / We hope that it will not follow the example
. the political parsons, but will adhere relgiousl
9 to its old policy OF saving souls and leave polite
! and politicians to take care OF themselves