Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-05
PULPIT POLITICS.
The Privilege and Duty of Ministers to
Discuss Men and Measures.

In6 PrlVu0S0 ana DuCy OF MlnlSt0r6 70
Discuss Men and Measures.
The services at the First M. e. church last
evening we're of rather more than usual inter.
est. The announcement that the pastor, Rev.
national topics, drew ont large audience. AT.
ter the Introductory hymn and prayer the con.
gregation united in singing the hymn ''My
Country tis of Thee
The reverend speaker took his text from the
18th chapter of Paurs Epistle to the Romans,
and the last clause of the first verse: "The
powers that be are ordained of God.'
He commenced by saying that a misappre-
honsion existed in regard to the duties of the
ministry, in the minds of many. They are in
q measure set aside from the business cares of
life, and have therefore more time to devote to
thought and the contemplation of matters
which affect the public veal. It is not enough
that they keep before their congregation the
doctrines of church. Theirs was broader
field. They have right to be
heard upon every subject, and especially SC
at the present time. Heretofore the chief Or
gan of public opinion has been the newspaper,
but the newspaper is fast losing its hold. Not
a single newspaper could control a thousand
votes. Its power has passed away; il has
failed in its mission. The people Of the pres
ent day take the papers for news, but it is left
for the pulpit and the platform to shape their
sentiments and judgments. The newspapers
furnish the facts but the people form their
own opinions. The newspaper utterly fails as
an organ of opinion. This duty is relegated
to the pulpit and platform. The same differ
ence in some respects is observed in the minis
try. There was time when the minister was
regarded with reverence, but lately it has been
discovered that he is only man. Pursuing
the topic further Of the right of minister to
be heard on all Subjects he said he would at
all times express his views, and he would not
cringe to any man or clique, and if his hearers
did not agree with him he would step
this topic he congratulated his
audience upon the auspicious occasion. It was
the anniversary of the nations birth, and we are
at peace both at home and abroad. The present
is prosperous and the future hopeful We are
rich as nation, and honor, truth and morality
is in tho majority. This is a Christian nation.
He made brief allilsion to the Presidential
canvass now in progress, and characterized it
as simply struggle for Office. Alluding to the
two platforms, he said they were nearly alike
on all questions including the money question.
OF the two candidates. he said neither represen-
ted the best craftsmanship of either party, but
he paid compliment to both as honest men.
There we're three words in the Democratic plat
form which he did not like. and they were ''No
sumptuary laws. He claimed that the govern
ment had right to pass such laws and enforce
them. The license laws were just as tyrapical
as sumptuary laws. He said General Grant
had disgraced the nation for two terms, and
hoped that General Hancock, if elected, would
not follow the example. President Hayes was
not man after his own heart. He was not a
strong man. He paid o strong compliment to
Mrs. Hayes for making the White House q
Christian as we'll as a temperance home. He
upbraided Hayes for non-fulfling his promise
of civil service reform. He uttered the predic.
tion that in the end the South would predomi-
nate on account of its wealth and intellect, as
they should do everywhere, and closed with the
hope that all would work together for the good
of the nation.