New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-13
POLITICS IN TIE PULPIT.

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with how much truth, that not fewer than one
thousand political sermons were preached Sun
day before last in Massachusetts. Without doubt
there were many discOurses there OF the kind
many appeals to the citizens to vote morally
and regiously-many demonstrations of che
concurrence Of religious and civil duties; but
il must at the same time be observed that IN
this there was no novelty, for ever since the
foundation OF the State-during the old Colonial
DAYS. the period preceding the Revolution, the
Revolution itself, and the contests of tie Fed
eral and Democratic parties-political preaching
was both common and vehement, while In more
modern times the pulpit took constant part III
the discussion of the Kansas Bill and the Fu-
gitive Slave Law. This interference (as 10 was
termed) of the clergy with secular affairs Gas
they were termed) gave great pain, a few years
since, TO the Pro-Slayery Conservatives who
were uncommonly eager for the preaching of
pure and simple gospel with no adulterous adj
mixture of profane elements. The grumblmg
was grievOus, but the preaching naturally went
on, for the simple reason, we suppose, tint
moral and political questions had become iden-
teal We cannot very easily imagine sermon
upon the tariff or internal improvements, or the
resumption of specie payments but to preach
upon Slavery, and the questions connected With
it, was the natural impulse of a conscientious
and benevolent pastor. When the Rebellion
came, we were not sorry to have the pulpit
upon the side of the Union, urging enlistments,
entreating rich men to lead their money to the
Government encouraging the Sanitary Com
mission--n all ways promoting the righteous
cause of loyalty; and now that practical hos
tilities are over, has the duty of the pulpit be-
come less because peace has made our contro-
verses more exclusively moral? The truth is,
our American politics, more perhaps than those
of any other nation, are based upon funda-
mental ideas of right and wrong. In many
other countries there is no pretense of conscien-
tiOusness in public affairs, and therefore no OPP
portunity for appeals which here are pertinent
and natural. The very men who sheer at the
consciences of their opponents profess to have
lively consciences of their own. This arises,
in part, from that personal responsibility which
the establishment of Universal Suffrage entails
The power of voting implies duty and to be
swayed by motives of mere interest, to make
merchandise of the ballot, or to desert
avowed principles, is hardly less than flagi-
tious crime. This gives to the pulpit the right
to speak upon topics which primarily seemed
quite alien to its sphere-to rebuke the false,
to censure the sordid, and to denounce the
timd and time serving.
The truth is, we have never heard any stick
Ter for pulpit proprieties complain when the
preaching was upon his side Conservative
politics are esteemed especially lovely in the sa-
cred desk. There was no censrre from the
fastidious for the clergyman who found an
apology for Human Slavery in Genesis or
Exodus, or in the Epistle of Paul to Philemon.
The preacher who charged the Abolitionists
with scattering iirebrands, arrows and death,
was esteemed only faithful sentinel by a
large class of his parishioners. We can remem-
Der when this sort of sermonizing was III the
highest fashion even in New England pulpits.
Thirty years ago the Anti-Slavery Clergymen
were a mere handful, and it was thought to be
an extremely courageous act when the excel
lent Charming ranged himself upon the side of
iustice and humanity. Boston merchants said
that he must undoubtedly be thinking of going
into political life and of running for Congress
II required nothing less than the Kansas in
iauty to turn the tide and to make clergy men
understand the true bearings of the question.
1t would be curious to inquire, ii the subject
could be so much rs entered upon ia these coll
umns, how much preaching has been political
since the establishment of Christianity. There
are ministers of the Word who are content
with the weekly discussion of theological alb
attractions, md We have no ccnsrrc for their
peculiar We've OF their ollciI duty bal lAerc