The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-27
Pulpit stump 0ratory.

stump oictoi1'
when the Cromwslllans wished to take the
final step that should drive the mouse Of com
mons to pass the famous Selt-DeDylng ordln
snos. by virtue of which all members 0l par
liment forever renowned both their deere
and capsbility for welding military com
msnd,-which was, in fact, but TRICK Ior
wedding out presbyterian othcers from the
republican army,-a number OF the lnoepen-
dent preachers improved the stated fass 1or
declaiming in favor of the measure from tneir
pulpits and Sir Harry Eane. and CROMWELL
himself, came into the commons on the Hollow
ing day, and told the members OF that body,
with countsnances clouded by sssonlshmept,
that SUCH concurrence OF utterance In
number of pulpits was remarkable enough to
be esteemed voice from Heaven, directing
them how to proceed. And yet those willy
politicians both knew well enough before
hand what the pulpit fanatics were going to
say, and that il was purposely arranged for
them to say it all together and on that par
sicular day. The Self-Denying ordinance
was passed, therefore; but Cromwell took
care that il should not apply to himself.
The historical invention finds Its parallel
in our own time. When certain party plans
are to be put In working order, a certain
class of preachers are found all ready to set
the political machinery In motion. 1t Is done
by haranguing the people from their puipits.
In this way, the modern pulpit is encroach-
ing at a rapid rate upon the province of the
stump and sill the passions and partisan
feelings Of the stump are bodily transferred
to the pulpit. The result Of such an effort at
compromising naturally is that the pursuit OF
politics is made no more religious IN It's char
acter than before, while the public worship
of our Father in Heaven is visIbly corrupted
by the introduction of passions which 1t
should be the office of religious teachers to
harmonic and subdue. And because the
pulpit gives forth these stated sounds in uni
son, the fanatic politicians go back to the
people with the marvellous story, telling
them that Heaven is certainly speaking to
the nation now, and bidding them disobey at
their peril. And so the trick lie play too
often most effectually, and always with an
evil result.
Youthful and Inexperienced pulpit orators
should endure to be told, IN spirit of pity
rather than of patronage, that no amount of
mere sentiment, however sincere and prettily
dropped from the lip, will suffice to carry on
the affairs of this or any other ustion. The
world deman Is robusser elements in the men
who do the thinking and practically apply
the rules to the conduct of the race A pol
itical harangue In pulpit Is Of about as
much service as a similar piece Of sophomor-
isna on the floor of congress the real work
10 shaped and performed IL colnmitsee. les
the ornamental members cut up as many or
atorical curlyQ's in the hall as they will.
There is, to be sure, q certain sort of svaues
cent Influence generated of this party pulpit
preaching, creating temporary intoxicasion,
like the fumes of New Jersey champagne-
but the old wheel-horses in political Affairs
only smile at it ali, pleased to be reminded
that while they are tugging in the traces to
draw their load through the mire there is
somebody up on the wagon Furnishing and
cracking the whip, blowing the bright horn
and shouting to attract the admiration and
good wishes of the spectators.
The Office of the religious teacher was moi
ALWAYS put to such base uses, Once il WAS
seriously believed that the preachers duty
was to lead men into the paths where sweet
charity grew all about the feet, and the hot
breath of worldly passion did not soorch thu
tender plants of conscience till they witheree
and died.
The pastoral Office was once conceived to b,
so exalted and sacred, because it taught men boy
to go back to the business of life refreshed ant
renewed by the operation of divine grace. car
ryiug the spirit of heaven with them out into tn,
world, instead oil bringing the spirit of the worl
into the august courts where profession is mad
of publicly worshipping God. The pastor use,
to watch and nurture the tender consciences il
his flock with faithful personal interest FL
literally tended his important trust. He had
truly religious conception of the du ties of hi
sacred office 1t was the schooling of the human
conscience to which he gave his undivided an
prayerful attention. He served in the spirit @
Christ, and not in the interest of Belial.
But new style of dogmatic philanthropy an
destructive reform has changed all that TIL
young preacher now, who would be popular
selects text from the scriptures, wrings the tru
spiritual life out of it, 'pitches into" the pres
dents policy for an hour of sudorific eloquenet
and sends liberal extracts from his political hal
angue to the next days newspaper. He think
he has attracted popular attention to himsel
and hopes to have made ga good thing" out {
it. AS fer lmpressng the client truths of tn
gospel upon any human conscience within tn
reach of his echoes, he hos utterly f.;Iad 20 4
anything of the kind The "stiIl email 100
that does not come In the mighty wind or tn
whirlwind OF modern political nroaoh;,,. ,oo, =,
unheard. believers are not mul,;,,,?;o5S
his administration OF worldly ins,aaIp ns unue
ly things. A congregation Of parSsa, heaven
and sympathizers is collected about h; aun'iref
nerbaps bull the pews to high fonn "h
church market, and talk loud, and stron, III Tn
passionately of the 'sermon" onathe nexSs' a an
hut the religious bonds which were wont to 10y
pastor and church. in close and sweet commune
oftentimes during the entire life of the forme
are never knit together::in these party churche
it is but shavingss blaze of personal and p
tisan administration to-day, and another minis
Tomorrow, when their partialities shall ha
taken different direction.
The fruits of political preaching are too ma
and undesirable to be overlooked when we wol
deprecate the whole practice. How can
look for an improved state Of public mors
e