Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-10-16
The PuIpi,,s Opportunity.


Now is the time for ministers of the Cos
pei to give up political preaching. We are
satisfied that the majOrity of those pastors
who have mixed politics with their theol-
ogy in the proportions of nine to one, for
some years back, have done it against their
better Judgment. They have yielded to the
fashion of the times, to the example of pow
eriul and successful preachers, to the real
(or supposedly irresistible current of feeling
in their congregations. We have always
held them, as class, to be above the sor-
did aims of politicians. They have not
preached politics for money, nor for vulgar
applause; but because they had not suffi-
cieut moral strength to resist the tremen-
dous pressure which was brought to bear
upon them by church conventions and as
semblies, and by active aud Influential oc-
cupants of pewS. In some instances the
pressure from the pews was not real, but
imaginary. The pastor, observing the ten
dency in other churches, sought to anti
cipatc it in his own, and, with un-
necessary precipitation, put himself
at the head of his flock and led it
into politics. Still, as a general rule,
the motive power, when it did not originate
outside of the church, came from the pews
and forced the pastor to write political ad-
dresses under the name of sermons and
pray for the success of a party more than
for the coming of Christ's kingdom. Their
Bible was their text book-their point of
departure, chiefly in the sense that they
departed from it-but their body of theol-
ogy was too often taken from newspaper
editorials or from the platforms of excited
public meetings held during the previous
week. Many preachers reflected the vary
ing shades of Radical sentiment so truth
fully that by stepping into their churches
on Sunday person could learn the condi-
tion of the political atmosphere as from
barometer. There was little garniture of
-, f,a 49, fI,ea
(not always selected with reference to top
les OF the day), in the short prayer possi-
bly, and in the formal benediction beyond
any doubt, but these were merely trim
mings to the huge hot joint of pure poll
tics, at which the preacher cut and came
again.
This political preaching has been the
shame and scandal of Christ's church. 1t
has been the prolific cause of iniidelity not
only outside of the church. but within its
pale; not only in the pews. but in the pull
pits. At first it was curious novelty, and
pastors found their congregations increas-
ed perhaps hundred fold. Men lncked to
the political churches as they went to the
OPERA the theatre, or the circus to be eX-
cited and amused. They could applaud
and they could laugh there at every smart
political hit. freely and without rebuke.-
1t was religion made easy, and, like virtue
made easy, there was very little of it left
when you came to look for it. Newspapers
were used to advertise these political SER
mons i'm advance. Partisan journals pub
lished the sermons the next day, not
omitting the cheers and laughter where
they propt rly came in, and flattered
the preachers in editorial articles. A
great deal of the hard work of the cam
paign was put upon their shoulders. Some
of them talked politics not only two or
three times every Sunday. but odd even
n tnr xxrilI l.
ing to work, they were too Jealous in their
new cause, and they over did it. Safety
in the congregation soon followed excess
in the preacher. The outside attendance
tell of; many of the pew-owners who had
liked the thing while it was new, got sick
of it at last, and these preachers finally
found themselves in the condition of men
who, having taken a false position, fee
compelled, out of regard to consistency, tc
maintain it at all hazards. In this resolve
they have been encouraged and sustained
by small but active knots of politicians
who give tone to many OF our churches
There are clergymen who have seen theil
flocks scattered beyond recall, and thei
churches sold out or turned into places o
| amusement before they would consent tt
retrace their steps to religion pure and un
| defiled.
| Now is the time for ministers to weed ou
| politics from their religion. The politica
reaction, OF which we see the signs al
| around us, is protest against politica
rraaching and numerous other errors an(
| iallacies. The reactionary feeling affect
| al classes of society, in all their relations
| We believe that if show of hands wer
called for in the churches next Sunday,
majority of votes would be found in tavO
of excluding politics from the pulpit; or
| il the sentiments of the church member
should be equally divided, we believe tina
there would be an almost general acquies
cence in the pastors determination to es
chew politics tor the future. Pastors wOul'
be surprised to discover how cheerfull
their people would now follow their lea
out of the miry paths of politics back t
the ancient trodden ways. They must, b.
this time, be satisfied that it is i'm
; possible to get out Of radical polite
by going to the end of it-for it ha
no end. The possible crotchets of the Rad
ical mind are infinite. Political preacher
|, never can say that their work is done, an
lay off their harness. Excelsior" is sti
the cry. and always will be, of the franti
agitatOrs who occupy the van of Radios
!, movements. They care nothing for til
church, except as it aids them in their dan
gerous ventures. While they use it the
despise it.. This fact is made very clear i
the last number of Wendell Phillips orgaI
which says:-"Churches and the clergy ar,
, as formerly, for the most part but make
weights or a positive drag wnere the
should be foremost in leading the nation i
e the light of immutable, fundamental Chris
tian principles through its present difficu
and dangerous pass" This is the oratitnd
which the political clergy receive froI
those who have sought to dictate their ST VI