Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-11-19
The Pulpit's Opportunity,


satisfied that the majority of these pastors
who have mixed politics With their theology
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 powerful and
successful preachers, to the real Cor supposedly
irresistible current of feeling in their cOngre-
cations. We have always held them as a
class to be above the aims of sordid politi-
clans. They have not preached politics for
money, nor for vulgar applause but because
they had not sufficient moral strength to re-
slst the tremendous pressure which was
brought to bear upon them by church con-
ventions and assemblies, and by active and
Influential occupants of pews. In some in
stances the pressure from the pews was not
real, but imaginary. The pastor, observing
the tendency in other churches, sought to an
uciPate 1t in his own, and, with unnecessary
precipitation, put himself at the head of the
flock and led it into politics. Still, as gen.
eral rule, the motive power, when it did not
originate outside of the church, came from
the pews, and forced the pastor to write po>
hucal addresses under the name of sermons,
aud pray for the success of party more than
for the coming of Christ's kingdom. Their
Bible was their text-book-their point OF de-
parture, chiefly in the sense that they depart
ed from it-but their body OF theology was
too often taken from newspaper editorials or
from the platforms OF excited public meetings
held during the previous week. Many
preachers reflected the varying shades of rad
ical sentiment truthfully that by stepping
into their churches on Sunday person could
learn the condition of the political atmos-
pherc ls from barometer. There was a lit.
tie garniture of religion in the reading of the
olu a.
encc to the topics of the day,) in the short
prayer possibly, aud in the formal bencdic-
ton beyond any doubt, but these we're merely
trimmings to the huge hot joint of pure poll
ties, at which the preacher cut and came
again.
This political preaching has been the
shame and scandal of Chirst's Church. 1t
has been the profile cause of infdelty, not only
outside of the church, but within its pale
not only in the pews, but in the pulpits. At
first it was curious novelty, and pastors
found their congregations increased, perhaps,
a hundred fold. Men focked to the politi-
cal churches, they went to the opera, the
theatre, or the circus, to be excited and amused,
They could applaud and they could laugh there
at every smart political hit, freely ard without
rebuke. 1t was religion made easy, and, like
virtue made easy, there was very little of it
H.
pers were used to advertise these political SER
mons in advance Partisan Journals publish
ed the sermons next day, not omitting the
cheers and laughter where they properly came
in, and hatteTed the preachers in editorial ar
ticles. \ great deal of the hard work of the
campaign was put upon their shoulders.
Some of them talked politics, not only two or
three times every Sunday, but odd evenings, |
during the week They were too.wiiliug to |
work, they were too Jealous in their new cause, |
and they Overdid it. Safety in the congrega-
tian soon followed excess in the preacher. |
The outside attendance fell off; many of the |
pew-Owners who had liked the thing while it |
was new got sick oft at last, and these preach.
ers finally found themselves in the condition !
OF men who, having taken false position, |
feel compelled, out of regard to consistency, |
to maintain it all hazards. In this resolve |
they have been encouraged and sustained by |
small but active knots Of politicians, who give |
the tone to many of our churches. There |,
are clcrgymen who have seen their focks |
scattered beyond recall, and their churches
sold or turned into places of amusement be- |
fore they would consent to retrace their steps |
to religion pure and undeflcd.
Now is the time for ministers to weed out |
politics from their religion. The political |
reaction, of which we sec the signs ali around |
us, Is protest against political preaching |
and numerous OtherCrrOrs and fallacies The I.
reactionary feeling affects all classes of society,
in all their relations. We believe that, if a /
show of hands were called for in the |
churches next Sunday, majority of votes |
would be found in favor of excluding poli- |
tics from the pulpit; or, if the sentiments of |
the church members should be equally divi- |
ded, We believe that there would be an almost !
al Al. 1
ton to eschew politics for the future. Pastors |
would be surprised to discover how cheerfully |
their people would now follow their lead out !
Of the miry paths of politics, back to the |
ancient trOdden ways. They must, by this |
time, be satisfied that it is impossible to get |
out of radical politics by going to the end of |
it-fOr it has no end. The possible crochets |
of the radical mind are infinite. Political |
preachers never can say that their work is |
done, and lay off their harness. ''Excelsior!"
is still the cry, and always will be, CT the !
frantic agitators who occupy the van of radical
movements They care nothing for the !
church, except as it aids, them in their
dangerous ventures. While they use it, they
despise it. This fact is made very clear in
the last number of Wendell Phillips organ,
which says: ''Churches and the clergy are,
as formerly, for the most part hut make.
weights or positive drag, where they should
be foremost in leading the nation in tho light
ofimmutable fundamental Christian principles
through its present difficult and dangerous
pass" This is the gratitude which the politi-
cal clergy receive from those who have sought
to dictate their style of preaching for a num-
Der of years. How much longer will minis
tiers of the Gospel submit to these hardest of
task masters !-.Iournalof Commerce.
"A golden cagle-not the bald headed
grey old thing which was so improperly cho-
sen as the emblem of the Union-swooped