Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-07-28
Methodist Opinion.

The Newman letter and the prin-
ciplcs involved in it continues to
furnish topic for animated discuss
ion by the secular and religious
press, not only of Iowa but of the
whole country. The tone of this
discussion is generally condemnato-
ry of the spirit and purpose of the
letter, and the uttcrances of'the Or
gans of the Methodist church give
ample evidence that Mr.. Newman's
effort to enlist that denomination as
such in support Of the political as
pirations of Mr.. Harlan, receives no
endorsement or sympathy from those
best qualified to speak for the Meth
odist church. The opinion Of the
North Western Christian Adcocute,
of Chicago, has already been quoted
in these columns. We give place
below to a very candid article on
the same subject from the New York
Methodist, the leading newspaper
organ of the denomination in the
country. 1t is undoubtedly true, as
the Methodist says, that minister
is entitled to all the rights of any
other citizen, to his preferences and
the expression of them, but it makes
the very proper distinction between
this legitimate exercise of his po-
litical privileges, and the effort, as
in DR.. Newman case, to marshal
the Methodist vote for any particu-
lar candidate:
CDR. j. p. Newman has been taken to
task very severely for writing letter or
letters urging the collection Of Senator
Harlan by the Iowa Legislature The
structures of the Independent, whether
they apply to the case or not, are sound
in principle. No church can be brought
lcgitimately as an element into politics.
Nor should the election of any man be
sought on the ground that he is Meth
odist, a Presbyterian, or Roman Cath
Ole. AS for Methodist vote, any one
who attempts to marshal it will be snub-
bed for his pains On ordinary political
questions, Mcthodists divide, rs they
ought to do, according to their personal
opinions. The church is concerned in
their voting no further than to see that
they stand firmly by good order, justice,
and moral ty In the distribution of of
fees, the Methodist Church as such has
no right to prefer any claims; nor has the
Presbyterian Churh, nor the Roman
Catholic We loathc this whole business
of dragging the churches into political
strifcs; we have never given it any coun-
tenance, and never will
Still a minister has his rights as citi
zen. He is entitled to his preferences in
the choice of men to hold Office, and may,
as any other citizen, give those prefer
ences expression. We have never ac-
cepted the notion that minister must.
his Sunday service over, be put away in IA
handbook, lest he should be soilcd by con
tact with this wicked world. He is
man among men, not a manikin. Above
all he is citizen he has renowned none
of the privileges of citizenship by enter
ing holy orders. And though he may
not leave his calling to engage in politics,
he has a right to express his opinions
both by word and pen, and if he has
friends who are candidates, to promote
their election in all honorable ways.
Every one who knows Dr. Newman I'M
derstands that he is ready, even eager, to
serve his friends If in the present in
stance he has overstcpped the bounds of
prudence, he is of course blameworthy.
He is, however, entitled to his own ex-
PLANTATION, and the following, which we
cut from the Tribune, is in point:
Here is given that portion of Senator
Harlan's letter, respecting the CONVERSE
ton he had with DR.. Newman in regard
to the letter.
We now give fair warning to the polit-
zeal class, that any attempt to drag the
Methodist Episcopal Church, as an or
ganizcd body, into the political arena,
will end for all concerned in notifying
failure. There is nothing Mcthodists so
much resent as this. They love their
church, but they love it too well to be
willing to see it put to such use"