Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-28


Memphis.
Yesterday our religious reporter yis-
tied the Linden street Christian church,
and reported the following discourse de-
liyered by the Rev. David Walk. The
bold and outspoken utterances will st'
tract unusual attention, couched as they
are in truthful, eloquent and impressive
language. The reverend gentleman ad-
dressed the congregation as follows:
have recently read of distinguished
divine who was grateful for Thanksgiving
Day, because, as he alleged it afforded
him at least one day in the three hundred
and sixty.fve in which he could speak
his honest sentiments To me this
statement, of the truth of which have
no manner Of doubt, is really amazing;
and yet am not so sure that it ought to
excite. wonder. In this age Of time
serving; in this age Of sham and pre-
tense and fraud; in this age Of over
weening ambition to attain high results
without corresponding efforts; in this
age of servile trucking on the part of
money-loyers and politicians; in this age
of rings and giant monopoliesi in this
age of shoddy aristocracy and inflated
values; in this age when Legislators,
Jurors and judges are bought and sold
like SO many sheep in the market; | say
that in such an ege we need scarcely be
surprised at anything. | presume that
the distinguished divine whom ! have
quoted had agreed to prea ch so many
sermons per anpum at so much per ser.
mon. and knowing bis audience, he
shaped his disconrses accordingly. Why
a ,aan should say anything on Thursday
that he dare not say on Sunday; Why a
man should ..ske advantage Of this semi
secular occasion I'd say anything, which
he would be ashamed 10 say on the hrst
day of the week; or, why man should
seize upon this particular day TO yentilate
net theories CT nGe special hoobies' is
what cannot understand. True, some
subjects may be more appropriate TO thIls
dav and occasion than others; as mere
qucstieu of Taste and propriety, it may be
more seemly todiscpss some SUBJ ects 70,
day than on the LorT Gay; but would
blush to acknowledge thata vo1tS preach
what | believe 10 be the TutR to-day,
and would hesitate TO do so on Sunday.
Truth is truth, apd what it is right tor me
To preach to-day IL "a right for me TO
ureach any day. Neither dc day nor
tbe ocSss;on can at all change tho ehGr.
acter of truth. y il be true on Thurs
day, it is none the iess true on Sunday,
and I il be wrong TO preach z on sun
day IL is wrong TO preach it on Thurss&y.
Now, / have never preached on many
subjects. not because YVES afraid to doa
so or ashamed 10 do 80, Spt SIMPLY be-
cause, in the exercise Of NY best Jug
ment / have not chosen 10 90 $50, For
example, have never preached what IS
commonly called political ssrmol,
not because was afraid 10 do so, or be-
cause I was ashamed to do 80, but sim
ply because Z have not chosen to 90 SO
When / wish to pssSch in politics shall
do 80, and deny TO any NAP the rignt
TO sbridge my liberty of speech. "bFeeeh
the Gospel aud let politics alone, Is tie /
CRY OF tho bypOcrite and demagoguee
When trenaIetea J. means you preach
ers jast let ps politl ACNE. 1hls Is
our eoantry and our government. Ihe
belongs to Us. the e9ees
belong to Us. The epoils belong, 10 ps; 4
All we ask of you is to Let rs alone.
This is what they mean by preach thes
Gospel but do not meddle with politics.,
OF one thing you may rest assured
namely. The party on whose side you
preach will got complain OF youI " y
only when the preacher runs counter 70 !
the interests Of some politice} party or |
hack, that fault is found; and the NC. !
ment he does this your demsgoge will
let loose upsl him q whole fountain OF
slander, abuse and fsl2ehood. 1t is all
right as long as the politician can have
bis Epy unmolested, b1t the po'
ment yos dare intimate that you,
too, have some rights end privileges !
as a free American citizen, thss misera- |
able cur will turn upon you, and yslp Ct |
your heels all the way from Dan 70 |
Beersheba. In the matter OF what is
called political preaching, ! simply as
sert nv Ti0hf, whether ] choose TO exer
c;ss if az not. Who shall mete and 1
hound the feld Of ihe preacher Who /
sball limit bis range d topics, or pre-
sef,6s As 10 his method Of treating them
n voa answer that Christ commis
s;oncd The aposiles 70 preach the gOsPelf
Trns INT what vas ;hsig understanding |
~ he eomprehensiveness O. ihe word I
= sosnsl2 Did il embrace poiitiesf VI
assert thst 4 did. Among the hrst les-
sons which they taught the new covers COW, ls |
was the following. Lei every soul De
subject unto the higher PoFegs- for
rheca is no power bot Of God the kg-
ers that b. sze ordA.aed Of God hho-
soever therefore rsaisteth The PoseI
resisteth the ordinance Of tsoe snd they
hat resist shall receive 70 te5ssmsse''s'