The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1886-09-24
Ghe lemorrat- Sta,
Ministers and PoBtie,
Central Christian Advocate.

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Central Christian Advocate.
Ii we are to form our iudoma.
from the past it seems imposslhlaa'
separate the minister from poli,i,o
The political managers have NY
tested in vain. And the reason
that God has Instituted civil @of
ernmeut for moral ends as snreiy
he has established the church =, ~
spiritual culture. Right goyoaO
meut does not fulfill its func,ioa.
in the conversation of civil rigL.S
and privileges it is a consfant
seeking after something better sn1
this better condition always 90"
taIns moral elements. The mor,I
obligations OF governments are NJ,
different from those of the indiviG
ual. The minister, therefore, fnds
in politics a proper sphere of a.tivi'
ty. He can not, If true TO bs
pledges, stand by, an uninterestpJ
spectator, when wicked and disbon'
est mel are in authority, and i'm.
purity aud fraud bave become lbo
rule. And uDGer a government
like ours the weighto OF responsibilitv
can not be brown off, no. can tha
conscience be satisfied unless evils
OF every kind aud form are assailed
The mail engaged in evil doing
of whatever kind asks "a alone
He invites the minister to5outine
himself TO preaching, toa.noral sua.
sion as he calls t, which il is rs.
serted is his proper vocation. He
wrongly accuses The minister of
wishing 10 make men conform 10
bis religious faith and opinions.
He demands that the pulpit shall
be silent IN regard TO vices of men;
that It shall no. criiIcise the con.
duct Of those in official position.
nor make inquiry of the moral
character OF candidates. This OK.
treme sensitiveness Old the part of
tue pOlitiCian grows Out of his rela.
ton to pu0lic matters which will
not bear Investigation. He has
no interest in politics except so far
as they furnish aim facilities for
profitable transactions. Municipal
politicians as "A general rule make
no pretense of honesty aud the
public welfare; they do not believe
that the government Fan be con.
Quoted with thorough honesty.
They sheer at purity in public al
fairs. They favor the licensing OF
vice of every kind, OH the ground
that vice aud minor crimes may be
controlled but not prohibited. They
want no interference of santimo.
NOUS idealists who think that we
can have a heaven on earth, and
they warn them out OF the pOlili-
cal precincts as Impractical inter.
meddlers, "who know nothing
about politics, and who never learn
But the minister does not accept
the invitation to vacate the premi.
Indeed, 1t is the last thing
that he thinks OF doing. He can
not keep quiet it he would ; and he
Is wise IN asserting that his rights
in civil affairs and politics arc
neither more nor less than those OF
any other citizen. He intends TO
say just what his Judgment and
conscience prompt OIL any question
" hich interests himself aud those
with whom he is associated. But
he sometimes makes the mistake ut
advocate of a party
when in his place in the pulpit,
instead of illustrating and defend.
certain principles that he con
OF the almost Importance for
tue welfare of the community. Ii
no part of his business to become
political manager or to assume
any responsibility for Il party.
if he should steer clear of par
.isanShip, yet his aims would be
niSrepresented and his usefulness
rs a minister Impaired. Aud lie
may stand as firmly for principle
without taking a place ia the coun-
ills OF the party that represents his
principle as if he we've a party lead
II. But let him be bold aud
'rompt in the advocacy OF princi-
pie aud refuse to vote for any man
whose character is not above suspi-
AS a minister be must demand
nure men as well as right priBci-
Iles. He can not vote for bad men
because they have been nominated
1y a party. His only safety, there.
ore, depends in not entering into
Ultimate association with political
managers.