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

buke. Everybody, including yourselves
knows that pastors entering these posi-
tons invariably give up their pastoral
charges. Let jeremiah D. Botkin ..ge
and do likewise" if he has the slightes1
appreciation of the proprieties Of the
case.
You state that the Southwest Kansas
conference never prohibited its members
from being candidates for political Office
etc."
In 1879. at the session of the South
Kansas conference held ct Hutchinson,
Kansas, of which we, now of the South
west Kansas conference, were all mem
bers, who were in Kansas at that date,
the'following was passed, viz:
Resolved, That we condemn emphar-
ically and unqualitiedly the engagement
of members of this conference in politics
as candidates for Office while holding
efficient effec!ivelrelations to the active
ministry" j. e. as pastors.
Again, following out the spirit of the
above resolution, in 1887 the following
was passed:
Resolved, That it is the sense (the
Judgment, not advice simply of this
annual conference that preachers in the
actual pastoral work should not under
any circumstances allow their names to
be used as candidates for any political
Offices"
These resolutions were passed unani-
mously, and my recollection is that
Brother Botkin expressed himself very
freely of, and voted for the latter one.
'Oh, consistency thou art a jewel.
You declare that 'these resolutions
were only advisory" and assume that
"the preacher may take the advice if he
chooses" if otherwise he need not.
How modest to ignore the advice Of an
entire annual conference.
Is Is not an attitude of defiance on the
part of Brother B. after his conference
has expressed its Judgment so unequiv-
ocally againstits members running for
political office to say as he did at Hutch
lnson: 81 have been preacher for
twelve q years, but l am going into this
canvass as candidate for governor, for
all it is worth, preacher or no preacher "
And yet he has prescribed to those
"Rules OF preachers conduct which
say, ''act in all things not according to
your will. 1t is your duty to en-
ploy your time in the manner which
we (the church, through its conferences,
annual and generaD direct in preaching.
and visiting from house to house, in
reading, meditation and prayer
. And doing that part of
the work which we advise, (Ah, he is
to follow the advice of the conference.
is he?) at those times and places which
we judge most for His glory. Para
graph 100. And every preacher says:
Il have studied these rules and will
cheerfully be governed by them" Was
there any mental reservation, Brother
Botkin, when you made that solemn
declaration? | pity the pastor whose
will quietly rest under such
promises while he goes into a political
canvass requiring more than half his
time. God have mercy upon the whole
outfit of vow-breakers and conference
defers!
kin's course by saying that 1.-The general
conference has committed the whole
church to the principle of prohibition. :"
What has that to do with Pastor Botkin
for office and yet holding on to
the pastorate? Can you tell me? Does
not that smack of the pettifogger's art?
The general conference did not make
provision for any pastor going into
for any political office what
evers More than that, it did not COM
NIT the church to political or third-party
prohibition, either directly or indirectly,
as you very well know.
You further say, the general confer
ence advises our people to cooperate in
all measures which seem to them (indi-
vidually) adapted to secure society
against the evils of intemperance, and
your wise conclusion is, therefore, Bro.
Botkin is justified in running for gov
ernor, while in the regular pastoral
work; regardless of the discipline, of
solemn VOWS, that he will 'Fdevote him
self wholly to the work of God, that he
will cheerfully be governed by the rules
for preachers conduct and do the
work when and where the church adj
vlses, regardless of the judgment of his
If you mean anything you
mean all this. Such twaddie!
You proceed. "When a Methodist
preacher (pastor) co-operates with a
measure Though it be to accept the NOM
nation for gOvernor) which seems to
him adapted to secure that end, he is
iOe W DO al iti VI d
newspaper" etc. OF course not; let him
snap his fingers at the law of the
church, ignore his vows, defy the iudg-
nent, the advice of his conference if it
1ares to express its judgment adversely
% his ''sweet will and through his
mouth pieces. coolly inform said con-
ference that he was not obliged to take
hin advice.
go, Caesar, on what meat hast thou
led that thou art grown SO great?'
Whatever influence he may have. has
come through the endorsement of the
church as the instructor and guide of
he souls of men.
Is it right for Bro. B. to prostitute
hat influence, obtained through so
grand a channel, and designed for such
holy purposes, to the gaining OF a little
political notoriety? What a coming
Town.
This course may accord with his
ethics in politics, but the precedent can
only be demoralizin2 to the conference,
md disastrous to public morals.
y. c. SwARTs.
The plans and purposes of the free
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