The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-09-01
Getting their Eyes Opened.
The Methodist Conference, at its


ordinary political life, with its partzanship, eau
cusng aud ntrigues, are inconsistent with the
pastoral duty of Christian minister.
2. That this Conference will not justify its
members in leaving their regular pastoral work,
except in such special emergencies, to seek for or
accept of political preferment.
The above contains an acknowledge
ment that it is wrong for minister to
engage in "ordinary political life, with
its partizanship, caucusing and intrigues" "
This is step in the right direction. For
years past we have held that it is wrong
for minister to engage in political life"
at al, Ordinary" or otherwise. We
hold that there are no circumstances in
which he can be placed which viii justify
him in dabbling in politics-partieularly
preaching politics from the pulpit We
believe that when a minister breaches
partizan politics, as thousands have done
during the last ten or fifteen years past,
he is guilty of a sin-a sin as grievous
and heinous in the sight of Heaven as
that of theft, or blasphemy, or profanity,
or any other sin enumerated in the Deca-
logue. There is no warrant in the Bible
. for preaching partizan politics, neither in
precept nor example. Our Savior, when
some willy politician attempted to entrap
him on the question of taxation, wisely
refused to take sides with either of the
political parties into which the Jewish
people were divided, by replying-"Re Rem
der unto Caesar the things that are Ce-
sar's, and unto God the things that are
Gods" The apostles, in this thing, all
followed his example. There is not a
word in any or all their writings, either
expressed or fairly implied, that justifes
partizan political preaching in the re-
motest degree. And yet, with some few
honorable exceptions, the clergy of this
land have been more or less guilty os this
abOminable sin; and by pursuing this
course they have actually driven men
away from the church; they have made
innumerable infdels all over the land ;
and they have, in many instances, brought
religion into contempt and disrepute
We would not have anybody infer from
anything We have said that We think
lightly of religion. We yield to no one
In sincere convictions of the authenticity
of the Bible, nor of the purity of the
religion which it reveals. Nor are there
any who more truly and highly respect q
minister than we do, if that minister con-
ducts himself with that dignity and de-
corum which always attach TO the true
evangelical minister of Christ But, on
the other hand, we have thorough con-
tempt--a hearty loathing for any minis
ter who 50 far forgets his obligations as
to dabble in politics in the pulpit We
believe any one who does has the blood
of souls clinging to his skirts. We be-
lieye with DR.. Adam Clarke, viz: That
"when preachers of the gospel become
parties in party politics, religion mourns,
the church is defled, and political dis
putes agitate even the faithful of the
land. Such preachers, no matter which
side they take, are no longer messengers
of glad tidings, but the seedsmen of con-
fusion, and wasters Of the heritage of
Christ" The Methodist Conference
condemn, in their resolutions, any of their
number who engages in ''orclaary politi-
cal life." They say it is Inconsistent
with the pastoral duties of Christian
minister" If it is wrong and inconsis-
tent for minister to dabble in politics in
"ordinary" times, will some one of their
number tell us why it is right at any
timer IF we should say it is ordinarily
wrong to steal, but on extraordinary ocea-
sions it is justifable and even commenda-
bic, what would be said of US? We
hold that as it is wrong to steal at any and
all times, so it is wrong for ministers to
preach partizan politics ON any occasion
whatsoever. It is not a question merely
of expediency, but one involving grave
moral considerations of right or wrong.
The Methodist Conference say they
"will not justify its members in leaving
their regular pastoral work." except in
certain special emergencies, "to seek for
or accept of political preferment." May
we be permitted to ask why they have
passed this resolution Men ordinarily
act from some motive. The Conference
pretend that their views have undergone
something Of change on the questions
under consideration. Is this, we again
ask, the real motive? Only short time
since many of them bawled themselves
hoarse preaching politics from the pulpit,
and none Of their ministers had any con-
scienrious scruples about running for po-
itical Offices whenever they had chance;
and they pretended, while doing all this,
that they were doing God service. Why
do they now whirl round SO quickly
Perhaps We can answer this question.
By laboring for years, as politicians, they
have helped to raise fearful whirlwind.
They have raised storm which they are
apprehensiye may harm them, and which