Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-27
THE PREACHER IN POLITICS.

hL dGLLLA Nv O4~L 4 w.
The ethics of the pulpit North and
Soulful we may be allowed the express
gion-diGer quite peroeptibly, judging by
the case Of Rev. D. c. Kelly, recently
disposed Of in 8 somewhat summary
fashion by the Nashville conference of
the NJ. e. Church South. Mr. Kelly
permitted, as the conference thought,
his love for souls TO be oyerborne by
love OF the excitements and allurements
OF politics, and forgetful of his obIiga-
tions and duties as q minister of the
word, threw himself as a leader of
forlorn hope into the midst of hot poli.-
ical cam paign. It was decided by the
conference that in becoming the nominee
of the Prohibition party for governor of
Tennessee, and assuming the leadership
of the party, he forfeited fpSo tdcto his
standing in the conference and his call
ing as a minister, but in view Of "miti-
eating circumstances was only sus-
pended for six months from the ex-
ercise Of all ministerial functions. it
is said that Mr.. Kelly thinks himself
hardly used and Will appeal from the de-
cision. If the appeal should go against
him, be ought to be philosopher enough
10 endure it, as in all probability by that
time, the period of his penance will have
elapsed, and be will be allowed to re-
turn TO the pulpit. But if he insists on
full and complete vindication with no
prospect of getting it, there is nothing
for him to do, but to embark in politics
for livelihood, or else do as many of
bis clerical brethren do, when too severely
disciplined for infraotions of religious
ordinances that is start ''little church
around the corner" somewhere, a plan
that is sure to succeed if he he a man of
auy parts or personal magnetism.
That is probably what Northern
minister wonld do, if the case was his
own. But it is not very probable that
minister would be called before an ex-
aiming committee in a Northern state
for taking hand IN politics. 1t is be-
coming so common for clergymen up
there to dabble in politics, and even
to run for office, that it is
no longer regarded as heinous
offense against the canons of the church,
or a stain upon the cloth. Ever since
Henry Ward Beecher set the. pace q gen.
alton ago for the preacher in politics, he
has taken more and more kindly to it,
and now does not scruple upon occasion
10 choose political question for text.
A case in point is that of the R5v. Dixon
of New York, who few years ago fell
under the ban of his ecclesiastical supe-
rIors in North Carolina, and refusing to
knuckIe to them as required, went to
New York where his stirring and capti-
waiting eloqueuce has brought him prom
inently to the front. At present he is
flashing the Doodle officials of Gotham,
ard delivering political harangues at
will.
The man whom Dr.. Harrison chose as
pension agent for Missouri, Kansas and
Nebraska, " as at rhe time OF his ap-
pointment, presiding elder in the |
Methodist church at Emporia, Kan.
He secured the place with salary of |
$4,000 year because of his power In poll |
Tics wherein he was one of the most |
active workers in Kansas for many years. |
His political elevation, and his party |
work at caucuses and conventions, at |
which he is an adept, SO far from |
damaging his standing in church circles
or in the pulpit, has on the contrary, but !
eclat to his desu tory illustrations aud
preaching, and added greatly to his in
fuence in conference to which he never
fails to have himself appointed as Il dele
gate. From these and many similar
cases that might be cited, it will be seen
that the connection of the pulpit with
politics is, apparently ut least, much
closer in the North than in the South.