Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-02
The Pulpips 0pportunity-Ths Time for
Ministers to Give Up Political Preach

The Pulpit's 0pportunity-The Time 10
Ministers to Give Up Political Preach
ing.
Now is the time for ministers Of thu
gospel TO give up political preaching
We are satisfied that majority OF thos,
pastors who have mixed politics will
their theology in the proportions OF mint
10 one, for some years back, have done
il against their better Judgment. They
have Welded to the fashion of the times
TO the example of powerful and success
full preachers, TO the real Tor supposed
irresistible current of feeling of their
congregations. We have always held
them. as a class, to be above the sordid
aims of politicians. They have not
preached politics for money, nor for vul-
gar applause but because they bad not
sufficient moral strength to resist the
tremendous pressure which was brought
to bear upon them by church conven-
tons and assemblies, and by active and
influential occupants of pews. In some
instances the pressure from the pews was
not real, but imaginary The pastor, OBJ
serving the tendency in other churches,
sought to anticipate it in his own, and,
with unnecessary precipitation, put him
self at the head of his flock, and led them
into politics
Still, as 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 party more than
for the coming of Christs kingdom.
Their bible was their text hook-their
point of departure, chiefly in the sense
that they departed 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
radical sentiment so truthfully that by
stepping into their churches on Sunday
a person could learn the condition of the
political atmosphere as from a baromo-
ter. There was little garniture of re-
ligion in the reading of the scriptures
mot always selected with reference to
topics of the day., in the short prayer |
possibly, and in the formal benediction, |
beyond any doubt, butthese we're merely |
trimmings to the huge hot joint of pure
politics at which the preacher cut and
came again.
This political preaching has been the
shame and scandal of Christs Church.
1t has been the prolific cause Of infdelity,
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 hundred fold. Men
focked to the political churches as they
went to the opera, the theater, or the
circus, to be excited 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 those political sermons in
advance. Partisan journals published
the sermons the next day, not omit
ting the cheers and laughter
where they properly came in, and
hattered the preachers in editorial
articles. A great deal of the hard work
Of the campaign was put upon their
shoulders. Some of them talked poll
tics not only two or three times every
Sunday, but odd evenings during the
week They we're too willing to work,
they were too jealous in their own cause,
aud they overdid it. Safety in the con-
yregstions soon followed excess in
preaching. The outside attendance fell
Fl, many of the new corners who had
liked the thing while it was new, got sick
IF it at last, and these preachers finally
'ound themselves in the condition of
men who, having taken a false position,
eel compelled, out of regard to con-
listency, to maintain it at all hazards.
10 this resolve they have been en-
Outraged and sustained by small but .
lctive knots Of politicians, who give the
one to many of our churches. There
IRE clergymen who have seen their hocks
beyond recall, and their
f amusement before they would consent
o retrsce their steps TO religion, pure
nd uudefled.
Now is the time for ministers to weed
ut politics from their religion. The !
olitical reaction, Of which we see the
igns all around us, lie a protest against
official preaching and numerous other
rrors and falacies. The reactionary
.eling affects all classes of society, in
II their relations. We believe that, if
how Of hands we're called for the
hurches next Sunday, q majority of
otes would be found in favor Of ex-
uding politics from the pulpit; or, If
ie sentiments Of the church members
lould be equally divided, We believe
Iat there would be al almost general
,quiescence in the pastors determine
% 70 escheW politics for the future.
asfcrs would Be surprised 70 discover
M cheerfully heir people would now
Tow their lead out Of the miry path Of
lif;cs back 10 the ancient trsdden
"a They must, By this t:=e, Be Al
lisfed that il is utterly impossible q
get out Of R.diosl politics By going
tie end Of it-for it has no end. The
-. umNammH I'D r.