The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-04-18
NEW ENG1AND RELIGIoN.


The resolutions published by US last
week as having been introduced in the
New England Conference of the Method
list E Church, did not pass that body.
They were referred to a committee which
never reported them back for action,
but in their stead another lot of resolu-
tions were offered which affirm that it
is not necessary at this late day for that
Conference to affirm its sympathy for
the oppressed-their undying love for
the poor darkeys of the South was known
etc, etc. Is it not about time that this
great Methodist church organization
abandon politics and turn its attention
to religious matters? There are thousands
and thousands of sinners scattered all
| over the North country whose souls
need saving the very worst kind. They
| are bad sinners; old sinners; hard sin
ners. It will require an immense amount
| of preaching and hard, earnest praying
to reach their cases. If the Methodist
brethren will only undertake this job
their hands and minds and hearts will
NC 81 4G4A NhotA NAANy wa la NJ N4AAAS ~
| dabbIe in politics. This thing of great
church Legislatures interfering with
| religious matters is a positive evil. OF
| course ministers have the same rights in
this country as any other men. They
| ought to take an intelligent interest in
the affairs of the nation They ought tc
read the newspapers and keep themselvs
| thoroughly informed as to public events
and they ought to vote as all other good
| citizens do. But in their capacity as
ministers of the gospel, in their capacity
as Legislators for the church of the Most
High God they should keep their hands
clean. Democrats have souls to be saved
as well as Republicans, and there are
some Democrats who would love to 60
to heaven through the portals Of the
Methodist church. They ought not TO be
excluded. The church ought not TO turn
itself into a Radical political party, so as
to drive out all those who cannot sub
scribe to its bigoted political deliver
ences.
The truth is, whenever the church de-
| sends from its high and holy mission and
NEEDLES in the world, it degrades itself
and Injuries itself for good. The cause
of Christ is not dependent upon
any political party or upon any form OF
human government for success. It can
flourish in a Kingdom or an Empire as
we'll as it can in Republic. a great deal
depends upon pure, holy, dcvot-
ed ministry. Where a congregation is
blessed with a preacher whose whole
life and heart is consccrated to the
one single purpose of saving the souls of
his people, you see fiourishing church
and happy, contented, prosperous peo-
pie Where you find a preacher who is
constantly meddling where he has no
business; sputing politics on the Sabbath
day, insulting God Almighty by bias
phemousIy advising Him what to do and
how to do it; praying for the success of
this or that political party or clique, find
the church going to rack, the members
in wraDgle, the morals of the neigh
borhood going to decay and everything
connected with the organization drifting
to ruin.
The Methodist church in the United
States is numerically the most powerful
religious organization in the country
Its opportunities for doing q great work
are immense. The responsibility is enOr-
nous This great church should be very
careful that it does not abuse its power
on the one hand nor destroy the conf
dence of the people in its purity and
holiness on the other. Let its ministers
at al times remember that they are the
servants of God, and let them serve their
great and holy master with fidelity and
zesl Caesar does not thank them for
their advice. lie has no respect for them
when they officially meddle with his
affairs.