The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-10-27
Grrm5 Of Adrrrtisino.
POLITICS IN TIE PULPIT.

THE parsons having returned from
their Summer vacation resumed their
pulpits ON Sunday for new political
campaign. Theyappear to be refreshed
with the waters of fashionable resorts,
salt and fresh; but the waters Of life''
do not appear to have inspired them
much toward the fulhlment of their
supposed mission--the spiritual regen-
Grafton of their tlocks. With few ex-
ceptions the sermons preached on Sum
day were political harangucs, some COW
ert and insidious, some open, bold, and
almost blasphemous. DIR. Bellows, while
taking his text from the Bible, descant-
ed, not upon the duty of man to his
Creator, but upon the elections; dragged
into the pulpit the "glorious news from
Maine and Vermont :" spccuated upon
the prospects in Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and Indiana; ; and concluded by a pray
or 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 bar-rooms but your political par
son thinks that they are subjects good
enough for the house of God. These re-
joicings over elections past and prophet
| ic, auguries of the result of elections to
come were mixed up with the most un-
! dignifed abuse Of the President of the
| United States and his Administration
Arc there no souls ut all to be saved in
| DR.. BellOWs's Church of All Souls? %
Are the ways Of tho politicians Of moro
Importance to his congregation than
"the way, the truth, and the life,"
which he is supposed to lead them to?
Rev. Theodore l.. Cuyicr, too, opened
his discourse with prayer that the
President might be led Through dark
ness into light" that is to say the dark
ness which cnvelops the upholders of
the Constitution to tho ethereal light of
! Radic0lism, with its symbols Of blood
and fire and new civil war. The other
political preachers were more delicate
in their illusions. Dr. Tying informed
his audience that he had his TRADE bot
tiled up, but would open it on future
occasion. With such an example before
them i'll tho pulpits filled by white
preachers we cannot be surprised that
the poor blacks of Zion Church were en-
tertained by their coored pastor with
somewhat similar, though much moro
moderate and Christian language; nor
that when Ire announced that the Sa-
viour had died for colored rs well 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, most unsecmly conduct in q
church, but not whit worse than the
indccorum of the white parsons who
Introduce politics, profanity, spirit Of
; uncharitableness, and Il frcbrand Of dis
cord into their pulpit speeches. 1t is
the general opinion that the business OF
ministers of religion is to save souls and
promulgatc the doctrine Of charity to all
men but ministers of DIR. BelloWs's, and
Dir. Cheever's, and DR.. Tyng's stamp
dcspise all such old-fushioned notions.
They evidently regard the pulpit as a
political rostrum, and instead of being
the mouth-piecc Of the gospel they have
' become hcagents Of politicians and tho
Evil Onc.-NGlC York EcrQid. .