Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-11-20
Ministers and Politics.

Why il II that the American clergy are
so timld about engaging in politics? Why
Is Il their voice Is seldom heard describing
aud condemuing political wrongs, and
pointing out dangers that threaten the very
existence OF civil government? Why Is It
when fraud aud corruption are rife In high
places, and parties are stopping to the most
violent. unlawful. anil corrupt methods to
| win power, practices ,ha. eclipse civiliza-
ton and outrage the Christian sentiment OF
standing 10 the very center OF the most
! elevated christian thought aud sentiment
| OF the age, are silent as the grave in regard
} to these great wrongs that Invoke :hc judg
ment OF the Almighty. Hare they school
! ed themselves Into the belief that IL Il not
wise to take politics into the pulpit? Are
| they afraid of doing violence 10 the popular
| Judgment of the day, and OF being stigma ?
| tixed as religious maniacs or political IA
/ na,ic.; Are they afraid Of producing dis
! sension In the churches. Are they afraid
/ OF scvering the sympathetic chord that
/ binds them to the pockets OF their people.
/ and of suffering from want aud poverty ?
. VI. on IIt OtuGE UtuI. uaNt tnfN no Uttp
| convictions 10 regard to political questions !?
| Whatever may be the reasons, II Is never
/ iheless palpable fact that the great body
J OF the Clergy are profoundly silen. a.
| touching political crimes.
! They may agree ths, politics Is not with
| IN the sphere OF their legitimate work, IN at
! their duties relate to the social aai spirit
! ual life OF the race. and that this special
| work requires their devoted and undivided
| attention, and that Il Is not wise to Impair
/ the efficiency OF the ministry. and disrupt
/ the churches by Introducing the turbulent
/ element OF politics.
1 Are the ministry 20 preach only what
! plcases the popular ear and fancy. and trail
I the banner Of the Gospel In the dirt OF un-
rcgeuctated sympathies: Is 1t their high
/ mission 10 sooih the Tears OF degenerate
| people and lull them To sleep while they
| are yet struggling IN the fatal network of
| destruction? Is {: their Sublime idea ot
I duty to gloss over the difficulties which lie
| between hum Al hopes and future bliss and
I deceive the human race as 70 IT, real sta
7 tusg i il the hel.h, OF their wisdom TO
I apply all The remedial power Of the Gospel,
! the vast resources OF omnipoteuce Ia pet
! the social sins OF individuals. while they
J sAy with compaccucy we have no power
1 ihsi j. adequate for natoua! crimes which
! lugu.r their fatal virus through all the
I channels u national aud ladisidna! hie.
I and which danrru and Scorch and withcr
/ sli the hborJ 81 To4ig'oa< hi"f l. tn" line
! o! tie prophets vision 20 run 50 low that it
| !, ever Intercepted by the mole-hill OF In
| diViJual folly. while mountain. OF uatioCal
Wickcdncss rise above them casting their
! long, dark shadows over the earth uaoo-
! served:
The Deyil would laugI al such a weak
| doc.riue. Who shall show NY people
| their -lus and pronounce the verdict OF Al
| mighty upon them unless 1t be MS chosen
| messengers?
| Look over the long line of prophets who
| for nearly four thousand years flashed the
| tightening messages OF Gods wrath athwart
| the darkness oil human history, and study
| their terrible and far reaching import. The
| burden OF their prophecies, aud theme vi
| the inspired bard were latioual ln!quLies.
| They entered the citadel. OF national homer
and brought the messages ofDiyiue Justice
| iace 70 face with the Dat kings. and thrones
| trrmbled in their whIckedness In the pres
| ence of the Almighty. see the servants
| and messengers OF God ascending the
| throne by Divine appointment succeeding
the reign Of terror By the mild and
| gentle reign OF the Prince OF Peace.
nounce the Almighty for taking part in
| po,itlcs Now 10 this more enlightened
| and chrlstlauizcd age shall the youug
| yr1w up in the vile atmosphere OF our
| national life with the conviction that there
| I. no connectloD between the Cross of
| Christ aud true citizenship and national
honor; that religion is n crown OF glory
| that caps the summit OF human nature As
the crimson sunlight enclrcles the sum
| nit OF mountains, while below they NAV
still be covered with dense mists filled with
| poisonous mia.mas, with health and beauty
| al he top aud death and darkness al thr
bOltoml No, the duty OF the pulpit oil
America IS plain 10 educate the American
heart and conscience. IL is To In up the
human heart 10 the idea of Divine excel
lence, aud to teach 1t 10 love and rever-
ence him a 1t appreciates his incompatible
moral qualities, and to love Whatever re-
nects the attributes OF Jehovah; 10 love
your country next TO your God If its govern
msnt be an expression OF Divine law, and
To abhor every expression OF human power
al variance the law OF God; TO love your
neighbor as your self, which includes as
the natural sequence OF social love an eQuat
protection OF his property, his person. his
honor his rights under just laws with your
own and that true religion. thC source OF the
npolest and uOst conscientious motives. Is
the strongest power behind the law 10 sup
port To cultivate and chasten, and guide all
Of those natural affections which ind their
natural outlet la the sphere OF domestic lie,
primitive government OF man, and the unit
OF national power; 10 eDlighten the mind In
regard To duiy, not Ia "glittering gener-
alltIes" merely but In specific details In the
duty OF citizens by fair discussion of po-
al prtn IN fheIf % linn N
aud Divine government, and by just
criticism of the methods BY which those
principles are carried into effect.
We don't ask for partizan pulpit But
We do ask for aud need pulpit as little in
iuen.ed by politicians and political par
ties, AS the sun is by the earth which it en-
lightens. Separated from all political iu-
iluence with no selfish or partizan pur-
poses TO serve, its purifying, elevating in
fuence upon national politics would be in-
estimable. We ought 10 look to these
mountain streams to feed the rivers of
public patriotism. Religion is but the
purest and iottiest patriotism, and where
ever IL flows, national life becomes preg-
nant with the loftiest principles OF honor,
freedom and loyalty. Political life will
never be reIorsned until it is taken up into
the pulpit and baptised in the light OF Di-
vine truth. II is the only conservative
force that can lift parties out of the sewers
of political corruption and cause them to
march in harmony TO tue music OF the
spheres.
Men whose hearts arc estranged in the
bitter contest Of political life will clasp
hands in loving tenderness around the
cross, and wait with breathless attention
the revelation Of Gods will in human gov
ernmenr from his inspired messengers.
l hold il 10 be the duty of the Clergy to
study thoroughly the tenor and drift OF
American politics, aud TO be the divinely
commissioned guardians of national honor,
purity, and patriotism; to strike down
wrong, injustice and fraud In public Affairs
with fearless and unsparing utterance: to
sound the note Of alarm 10 view of the
threatened peace and security Of national
life. IL . man to sacrifice his dignity and
privileges ~ an American citizen when be
dons his clerical garbf Is he to sacrifice
his right to express his political sentiments
and opinions, Or waive that right and be