The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1872-06-07
Views and Vargarirs Of The Ncli-
riOuS Press.

Views and VargaricS Of The Ncli-
giOus Press.
The Presbyterian organ, the ObSer-
rer, last week starts boldly upon the
topics now most interesting to the pub
Iic-rcIigion and politics. In an article
upon the subject ofthc "Clcrgy in Pol
tics the Obserrer rGyivcs the follow
ing interesting poliicol rcminiscncc:
When the Wing National Convention
was scssioncd in Baltimore, nearly thir-
ty years ago, and II private consultation
was going on amonga number of the
delegates rs TO the best man TO be nomi-
mated for Vice President, Mr., Clay be-
ing the only man thought Of for Presi-
dent, the New Jersey men proposed
Theodore FrcInghuyscu. In the dis
cus,ion that followed Mr.. Rcvcrdy
johnson Git may not have been hc) is
reported to have said: Mr.. Frcling-
huvscn. why il were TO choose n man
for my minister, my parish priest, he
would be the man Of all men: but TO
drag one 50 pure, SpotIess, through the
mirc o!party politics, never, never"
Upon the above text the Observer
proceeds TO say:
There is a whole sermon in that story,
but we do not intend to preach il now.
Mrfrcinghuyscn wasnot clergyman,
and he was nominated: and though de-
fcated. he was not soilcl by the mud
thrown at him. or through which he
was drawn. But If he had been n clcr-
gyman he would have been injured So
rouSIy, perhaps ruined, by the race.
lie was n layman, n lawyer, u statesman,
and belonged TO that class Of men to
whom the country ought to turn with
hope when seeking leaders. But there
are some good reasons WHY ministers
should keep ou' of party politics, which
may be urged without DENYING their
abstract right TO bcas warm. active and
decided partisans as they please.
The Observer argues that a minister
is not 50 good pastor or preacher who
mingcs actively in political controvcr-
sizes. His mind, it continues, is prc-oc-
cnpicd by them. His spiritual nature
is degraded and soilcd. The temporal
rather than the eternal, the seen. not the
unseen, takes hold Of his soul. The cX-
ample Of the Master and the doctrine
of the apostles would teach ministers
to stand above mere party politics. All
this is very good advice, coming from
such source. But, alas! how often is
it the case that Il popular pulpit orator,
stimulated by the applause of the
groundlings, sacrifices the spiritual
rood he may do as II clergyman to reap
the rewards of successful political dcm-
agogucry! The Observer does not die
tate. 1t merely shows its opinion, as
Eiihu did. And Elihu said: "Grcat
men are not always wise, neither do
the aged understand Judgment"
A Proclamation by the President.
WAsuINGTON, June J.--'Thc following
Proclamation has been issued by the
President:
WHEREAS, The act of Congress ap-
proved May -. 1872 removes all poili-
cal disabilities imposed by the third Sec
ton OF the fourteenth Article of amend
mcnt to the Constitution Of ,hc United
States. from all persons whom,ocvcr
except Senators and Representatives Of
the thir'y-siXth and hirty-scycnth Con-
presses and officers in the Judicial.
Military and Naval service of the Unit
ed States. heads of Departments and
Foreign Ministers of the United States :;
and,
Whereas. II is reported to me that
there are now pending in the several
Circuit aud District Court, fthc United
States, proceedings byquo warranto, un-
der the fourteenth section Of the act
of Congress. approved May 81. 1870. to
remove from office certain persons who
are ALLEGED to hold certain offices in VIC.
lation of the provisions OF said article
Of amendment to The Constitution of
the United States, and also penal prose-
cution against such persons under the
fifteenth sections Of the act Of Congress
aforesaid.
Now, therefore. |. Ulysses s. Grant.
President OF the United States, do here
by direct ali District Attorneys. having
charge Of such proceedings and prose-
BUTTONS. TO dismiss and discontinue the
same, except asto persons who may be
embraced in the exceptions named in
the act of Congress first above cited.