Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-11

Preachers. - . Ssay. Tsktsx rass is
PssssseAi YfEsf.
Ze he Editor Of the Dspafeh
] cannot but think that recent meet
ing Of some "forty-odd ministers"
telc for the purpose, rs ] suppose, OF
bringing the influence Of " the Church p"
to bear on q political fight nos going
O. II the State, was . very crave error.
il cannot be denied that the matter OF
granting licenses is one belonging
to the state .s 6 civil government, and
i tina; be 80, then Il is clear that as
ministers Il would, ! think, have been
better for them had they not acted
a. body. as was done. II Il IS
right IN ministers to eoiesEor TO bring
the influence Of the Church - sPi-
ritual organization TO bear II Iaatters o.
State, then Il is not true that The Church
md the State should be kept separate
] had supposed that the great bulk o.
the ministers n the South a. least
held strongly 70 the doctrine that i was
best 10. 10 ELK Church and state.
That. you know. is the MAN difference
between the Northern aud Southern
Presbyterian Churches, the latter hold
Ing sgxinst acting On matters political
aid the former having very much
mixed Up matters Of State with their
Church deiiveraDces. II does seen 20
ne that a. Protestants N 0ur country
should realize that il was best not 20
NIX up things spiritual with thinEsten-
po-.l. certainly was under the IN
preston that the command =" 70 preach
NJ Gospel" meant TO proclaim &" glad
tcings'' TO sinners who b.5 souls 70
save OF lose.
rscolect, also, such words Is these
q Nv kingdom Is not Of this world. "
- There Is. says Solomon, "a time
for al things" u preachers think the
tine has come when they should use
their influence Il behalf Of Temperance.
then Il would appear to me their pul-
pits were tie proper plsoes TO utter Their
news on the subject. n 50 fsr as
i might concern their cO1gre-
cations spiritually. Looking Al
the matter Of granting licenses
20 sell liquors as one belonging
70 the STATE a. temporal government,
] doubt 4 II If right for ministers 70 en-
ter the political field OF one SIDE or tbs
other. FOR L they can rightfally do SO
ou any question Of State government.
why cannot they do the same on a.
other Questions The srrsyIng them
selves a. ministers OF any side n pO-
litIcIl fight Is bound 70 weaken their
influence as " preachers OF the Gospel. "
Il appears TO ne that they should have
seer the thing II this hghtsDd 50 avoided
p-oclsiming 70 The world what
some ~forty-odd Of them are SAID
70 have recently done. No matter how
va-u they may be for prohibition
IS citizens, ] an constrained 70 think
they committed 5 grave error when. as
q BODY q ministers. they took the &C
ror referred 70. That action ! sub
mt. Is not calculated 70 bring sin-
ners 20 tire foot Of he Cross. nor =
Il The doctrine they were commanded
Is 60 preach by their Grea. Captain.
before closing permit ne 70 express
ny regret 81 me bitterness some few
ministers have shown 4 discussing the
question referred 70. ] fear rbeT
yea Is carrying them beyond The
bounds Of reason. Surrey they must
ADMIT that those who d. not view 3
matter concerning the government o.
temporal kingdom as they DO have IS
much rlght 70 theIr opinions a. tkey
hGve-esperialy when Holy WIT as
su-.s Us thai the children O. this
world are Il their generation wiser
th1n the children Of light" On spirit
"a matters 7 Ehould mold the reverse.
and o. ! believe he latter are Of far
more importance than anything else II
tins world, J do not wish 70 see those
whose privilege Il Is 20 proclaim such
things engaging II bitter light as
minister's, about . purely temporal
natter. Il nv humble opinion. TIE
question o. granting Licenses should be
settled by he voters Of the state, WHO
really desire &c see Temperance ID" Il a.
-hIngs prevail.
Frankly W. SAY that J DC rhlrE
one can De temperate. = gentleman.
patriot. GDd : Christian. and yet vote
OF he grazing Of be- lsuor Lcs--ses pa
.ust a. be NAV choose. As Z would
be wrong f0r citizens % 1G11 them
selves together to PIT 1OTn ary one o.
he different Church denomIaa-
cons existing Il the state. 50
co ! conceive Z wrong t9r
the REPRESENTATIVES Of me Churches 20
0Enc themselves together II or-er 70
bring the influence Of ne churches
representing spirl,us. thing 70
bear upon IN decide ma
fer EpDe-,GinlDg 70 he Affairs o. the
Stsse Is worldly government. II me
world Is ever % be converted and
brought 70 worship GOD. Z must Gnd
car Only be done d the wa clearly
ilio down Il lie Holy Scriptures. and
that way IS. ] III satisfied not Dy IT,
1er-akIng 70 ruD temporal governments
g accomplish the purpose. TO ny
minC the whole thing IS expressed Il
he simple remark Of the Saviour
De tu render uut0 Cesar ne shIngs winch
are CasRr's. gnd unto SOC lie shIngE
which are Gods" IL other and palmer
language, the kingdoms Ct the TWO are
as vice apart rs any two Things car
possibly De. Nov. az one Of the king
dous vii sOon pass away, wElle the
o-her VII exist forever, L does seem %
NE thEt q minister VINO believes these
things has q ample SUB ject 70 LAKE up
a. ms time, and 50 leave % Others Int
sguRbble Lbou; things Of temporal
character. {. N. 4