The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-01-09
THE PULPIT's OPPORTUNITY.

buES WuO nave LulAcu pottttcs Will buclI
theology, in the proportions of nine to one
for some years back, have done il against
their better judgment. They have yield.
cd to the fashion Of the times, to their
example Of powerful and successful
preachers, to the real (or supposedly ire.
sistable current Of feeling oftheir congre.
cations We have always held them, as
u class, to be above the sordid aims oi
politicians. They have not preached pol.
itics for money, nor for vulgar applause
but because they had not sufficient moral
strength to resist the tremendous pressure
which was brought to bear upon them by
church conventions and assemblies, and
by active aud influential occupants oi
pews. In some instances the pressure
from the pews was not real, but imaginary.
The pastor, observing the tendencies in
other churches, sought to anticipate it in
his own, with unnecessary precipitation,
aud putting himself at the head of his
flock, led it into politics. Still, as gen.
eral rule, the motive power, when it did
not originate outside of the church, came
from the pcws, aud forced the pastor to
write political addresses under the name
of sermons, and pray for the success of a
party more than the coming of Christi
kingdom. Their Bible was their text
book-their point Of departure, chiefly
ia the sense that they departed from it
but the body of their theology was toe
often taken from newspaper editorials OF
from the platforms ofexcited public meet.
ings held during the previous week
Many preachers reflected the varying
shades of radical sentiment so trutLfully
that by stepping into their churches on
Sunday person could learn the condition
of the political atmosphere as from a bar
ometer. There was little garniture o
religion in the reading Of the Scripture,
(uot always selected with reference to th.
topics of the day., in the short prayer
possibly, and in the formal benediction
beyond any doubt, but these were merel,
trimmings to the huge hotjoint Of pure
politics, at which the preachers cut ant
carve again.
This political preaching has been th'
shame and scandal of Christ's Church.
Ii has been the prolific cause Of infdelity
not only outside Of the church, but with
in its pale not only in the pews, but il
the pulpits At first it was a curious
novelty, aud pastors found their cougrc
cations increased. perhaps an huudrc,
iold, Men focked to the political church
es as they went TO the opera, the theatcr
or the circus, to be excited and amused
They could applaud and they could laugl
there at every smart political hit, freel,
and without reouke. 1t was religion
made easy; aud, like virtue made easy
there was very little Of it left when yo,
came to look for il.
Newspapers were used TO advertis,
those political sermons in advance. Par
tisan journals published the sermons mex
day, not emitting the cheers and laughter
where they properly came in, and Aatter
ed the preachers In editorial articles.
great deal Of hard work Of the campaign
was put upon their shoulders. Some o
them talked politics not only two or thre,
times every Sunday, but odd evenings du
ring the week. They were too willing L
work, they were too jealous in their new
cause, and they overdid it. Safety il
the congregation soon followed excess il
preaching The outside attendance fel
of many of the pew owners who hat
liked the thing when it was new, got sicI
of it at last, and these preachers finall,
found themselves in the condition of mel
who, having taken a false position, fee
: compelled, out of regard to consistency
to maintain it at all hazards. In this re
solve they have been encouraged an,
sustained by small but active knots o
politicians, who give the tone to many o
our churches. There are clergymen VIII
have seen their focks scattered beyont
recall, and their churches sold out O
turned into places of amusement befor
they would consent to retracc their step
to religion, pure and undefled.
Now is the time for ministers to weeC
out politics from their religion. TIL,
political reaction, of which we see tn,
signs all around us, is protest agains
political preaching and numerous othe
errors and fallacies. The reactionary feel
ing affects all classes Of society, in al
their relations.
We believe that, if show of hand
were called for in the churches next Sun
day, majority of votes would be fount
in favor of excluding politics from tn
pulpit; or, if the sentiments of the mem
bers should be equally divided, we believ
that there would be an almost general &C
quiescence in the pastors determination
to eschew politics for the future. Pastor
would be surprised to discover how cheer
fully their people would now follow thei
lead out of the miry paths of polite
back to the ancient trodden ways. The
must by this time be satisfied that it
impossible to get out of radical politics b
going to the end of it-for it has no end
The possible crochets of the radical min
are Infinite. Political preachers neve
can say that their work is done, and la
off their harness. Excelsior p is sti
the cry, and always will be, Of the franti
agitators who occupy the van of radics
movements. They care nothing for tn
church, except as it aids them in thei
dangerous ventures. While they use
they despise it. This fact is made clea
in the last number of Wendell Phillip
D organ, which says:
0 s'Churches and the clergy are, as form
erly, for the most part, but make-weighti
/ or a positive drag, where they should b
foremost in leading the nation in the ligh
. Of immutable, fundamental Christia
f principles through its present dificul
and dangerous pass"
| This is the gratitude which the politi