The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-04-11
PREACHERS As POLITICIANS.

A preachers business is not only TO eI-
pound his creed snd save souls, but to keep
the charge confdsd to him from falling into
disrepute by suffering 1t to become identi,
fed practically with very gross and very
material movements. Is is very easy to
soil the ministerial garments and render the
calling one subject to the gibes and jeers
and ridicule of the public by descending
nom the proud eminenoe of representa-
tive and special envoy of the GREAT JEHo.
VAN into the worldly and corrupt channels
and associations frequented and maintained
by the men of the world. II is therefore an
article OF popular faith everywhere and one
OF the chief reasons for the veneration and
respect paid to ministers and religion, that
the calling of the one and the pro-
vince of the other are removed from
the spheres Of politics, trade and the
ireer and easier pastimes Of the social and
sporting circles. When instances occur
| where the minister forgets that he is looked
upon as man from God, and that there
fore special attention and criticism are raid
to his conduct and utterances, and mixes in
the heat and bitterness of the contests OF
the non'religous world, the public natur-
ally is shocked. Especially is this the case
when the minister's utterances and conduct
are those of a partisan. IL Is not so bad,
and, indeed, may be a part of his work, il
he will only apply the general principles Of
his creed to the general articles of popular
faith, or determine the value of general
principles in politics ard commerce and
society by their conformity to the precepts
and demands of the higher law which his
business II is to eXpound, but to become
from his pulpit, and as II religious or
Christian teacher the champion of polti-
cal party, or n commercial scheme, or any
other matter Of purely secular interest and
scope is inexcusable, i'll bad taste hurtiul
to religion and discreditable to both the
religious sincerity and intelligence of the
preacher. We have, however, had two very
notable instances of late of this gross aud
contemplate departure on the part OF
ministers of the Christian religion from the
proper path and scope OF their duty. In
the municipal elections in Chicago, Just
over few days since, the pulpits thun.
dered forth in bitter terms, we are told
against CARTER HARRISON aud the demoC.
racy, and on the occasion OF the recent
Massachusetts fast day the ministers of the
churches by the dozen took occasion to dc.
liver political harangues instead Of religious
discourses, although GOVERNOR BUTLER
in his proclamation has particularly
requested them not to allow poll
tics to enter into their dis.
oussions. In Chicago these preacher poll
ticians were very properly rebuked by the
result of the election, and it Is pity that
the populace in Massachusetts, did not
have an opportunity to rebuke their minis
ters. The precedent thus set is bad one
and one that can have no other effect or 70.
suit but to mix the churches and religion
up with the disreputablc practices and
conflicts in the politics of the day IL was
one Of the grand aims Of the founders of
our government to keep church and state
forever apart, and it ought to be con
slant effort and desire on the part of the
people of every community to see to it that
those whom they select to manage their
spiritual affairs shall not become of the
character and style of the ward politician,
and leave Con to serve either the demo.
cratic or republican party. 1t is to be
hoped that the public and press will speak
out in such condemnatory terms of the ex.
hibition made of themselves by those Chi
cago and Massachusetts, ministers that
their folly will not be repeated.