Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-21

ANOTHER OPEN LETTER FROM
ELDER SWARTz.

! 3. ID. -
| DEAR BRETHREN-I had not intended
to review your reply to my ''open letter
to Rev. J. D. Botkin," until l was in
formed a few days ago that certain par
ties were boasting that I had 'been
answered" by you, and that I had been
completely squelched." Well we shall
see.
What is the issue between us? Simply
this: l affirm that Rev. j. D. Botkin,
while pastor in the NJ. E. church,
should keep out of politics, as a candi-
date for political Office; or in case he
persists in making the race for governor
of Kansas, he oughtto resign his pas
torate.
This you deny, and claim that he has
the same right to run for political Office
that any other citizen has, and is under
no obligation, whatever, to resign his
pastoral relation while making this
canvass. Because I dare express my
conviction that he is doing wrong in this
matter, l am accused of making an
assault upon him. use the words
regret, protest" ''most emphatically
protest against what seems to me" etc.
Is solemn declaration of opinion, re-
gretfully expressed, an ASSAULT Surely
not. What can your purpose be IN re-
! sorting to such misrepresentation?
In reply to my ''open letter." and in
| justifying Brother Botkin's candidacy
| for governor, you submit this PROPOSE
ton, viz: "a minister loses no right of
| citizenship when he becomes minister
and of course may do anything that any
other good citizen may do, and hence
there is nothing wrong, per Sc, in min
lister accepting the nomination for gov
ernor on any party ticket he may
choose" What do you mean by min
lister? One WHO is duly licensed or
authorized to preach the gospel and adj
minister the sacraments! Or do you
mean a minister who is also pastor
one having charge of a congregation or
church, and whose duty it is to watch
over the spiritual interests of mis- people
and instruct them in the sacred doc
trines and duties of the Christian re-
ligion? If you mean simply a minister
who is not a pastor, you raise false
issue and practice pettifoggery in your
reply.
If you mean a minister who is also a
pastor, then l deny your proposition.
There are many rights, as citizens,
which would materially interfere with
pastoralsduties, and a such rights are
surrendered. In this position I am sus-
tanned by the discipline of the church,
which has ever expressed its judgment
in regard to the rights and duties Of
pastors. And this is especially true in
regard to pastors running for political
offices. l never heard of any annual
conference favoring anything of the
sort, and 1 venture to say no other man
ever did.
I admit that ministers may do many
things which would be totally incon-
sistant for pastors to do. To illustrate;
a minister may and often does, very
properly engage in mercantile pursuits,
but there is not merchant in Christen-
dom but knows that such business
would interfere materially with pastoral
duties.
A minister may own, and give his
personal supervision to a ''stock ranch"
Could pastor do SO without interfering
with his duties as pastor? A minister
might be soldier, might command
company, regiment, as you suggest.
Could pastor do so? No. And such a
thing never occurred in late war. Like
honest men we gave up our pastoral
charges.
The law of the church provides that
travelling preachers may be appointed
professors and presidents of colleges.
Will you please show me where it pro-
vides for running, even for the honOra-
bic position of governor?
The general conference may assign
preachers to the management of the
Book Concern" and indeed all our
vows are taken with the understanding
that the church may demand our SER
vices in these fields of labor, above re-
ferred to. Is there the slightest hint
anywhere in the discipline that we may
run for political Offices while in the pas
toral work? Not the slightest. When
any pastor is appointed to any of these
positions he must give up his pastorate.
How absurd then the idea that one
may continue in charge, as a pastor, of
some congregation; may prostitute the
sacred Office of a pastor in running for
some political office, for which the
church makes no provision and which is
absolutely inconsistent with the duties
of the pastorate, and yet not be permit
ted to hold any of these positions for
which the discipline of the church specif-
ically provides.
| affirm that every man of ordinary
discernment knows that it is utterly in
consistent with the duties of pastor to
run for political Office, and l challenge
you to deny it.
Referring to college presidents, profess
sors, book concern agents, etc., yon say
''they all took the same vows | refer to.
I am surprised at such statement, as not
one of them has done any such thing,
except those who were received into full
connection as itinerant preachers or pas
tors. Such statement is most miserable
pettifoggery, and shows your want of
information or of candor.
| protest against what seems to me
defiant disregard of solemn vows taken"
etc.
In your answer YOU pretend to think |
meant solemn Ordination vows. / will
not say you intentionally misrepresent
me. 1t is mystery to me how you
could fail to understand nee, when nv
quotations We're right there before your
eyes, referring not to vows taken at or
dination at all, but taken on entering
that peculiar body of ministers known as
travelling preachers, from amongst
whom pastors are selected, in the regu-
lar work of the church.
And these are vows taken under cir
cumstances of the greatest possible
solemnity. An oath administered by
any court of law could not be more So
These vows are taken latter solemn fast
ing and prayer" solemn mockery, if
afterward they are to be trifaed with. |
Then they are specific In their nature