The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-19
The Clerical Party.

Tho clergy seem to be entering into poll
Tics at this period more than ever before In
our history They arc not content with
giving moral and religious instruction,
leaving the laity to apply 1t In practical af-
fairs according TO their own consciences.
Instead OF this the clergy arc taking the
part Of active political leaders with specific
political designs.
The Reformed Presbyterian minister's are
circulating petitions to Congress asking that
GoD shall be formally recognized in tho
Constitution as the only Supreme Ruler /;
and they arc refusing to vote until their re-
quest is granted. Methodlsts and Prcsbyte-
rians In their general convocations demand
that religion shall be made q part Of the pub
lic school education, and society. made up
OF minister's chiefly, has been organized to
combat the supposed influence ofthe Church
OF Rome upon school legislation. They cry
out that the schools must be protected
against clerical influence and yet at the
same time they protest that tho seculariza-
ton OF the schools must not continue. They
seem to be DESTROYS Of bringing the religious
issue into politics, with the clergy as the
natural and inevitable leaders.
A large number OF ministers Of various
denominations have also been preaching SER
mons after an organized plan, declaring
that what they call civil service reform is
religious obligation. They have been en-
listed In the Mugwump army as political
leaders; and even the FREQ traders, though
they preach doctrine which does not go
beyond self-interest merely, have recruited
clerRymen to proclaim 1t as grand law OF
morals and religion.
The Rev. DR.. PARKHURsT Of the Presby-
ferIans DR.. ELMENDoRF Of the Dutch Re-
formed and Mr.. HEBER NEWTON Of the
Episcopalians have entered into the munic-
1pal campaign with great heat contending
that their ilocks must mako the task OF
changing the present municipal officers
profound religious duty. To that end, and
with the assistance OF Bishop POTTER. the
ministers of this mind are about to organize
q clerical party in municipal politics; and
the churches will probably be transformed
Into halls for generating enthusiasm in behalf
OF the movement The town will ring with
political sermons II this project works. and
the test Of orthodoxy and Christian principle
may be the support Of the clerical ticket.
This, OF course, Is likely to make discord
In the churches, for nearly all the leaders Of
the opposition are church members and it
Is improbable that they will change their
political course at the dictation OF their
pastors. For instance, In Dr. PARKHURsT's
Madison Square Church is Collector Err
AARDT who wants a straight Republican
ticket under any circumstances; and yet ac
cording to the view OF the clerical party, the
advocacy Of such ticket Is downright sin.
They want the field unobstructcd for their
al ,,,tNL IDy It.,
among the parishioners, and he may make
mp his mind that it Is bad politics to run
clerical ticket. Another OF Dr. PARKHURsT's
parishioners is Mayor SMITH ELY, faithful
in his attention to his religious duties, and
yet so sagacious that he may regard the
project Of the clergy as impractcabe.
Hence the plan Of bringing the clergy and
the churches into politics Is sure to lead to
much embarrassment, and it may provoke
dissensions which will be long in healing; for
no church would DO unanimous in Its views
of political duty and expediency. Some of
the congregation would be on the side of the
clerical party and some would be supporting
the regular Democratic or Republican nom
nations. Yet the pastor would be electioneer-
ing for the clerical ticket with might and
main, and preaching that it was Christian
duty to vote for 1t. and inferentlally sin
against COP to vote any other way.
Itseems to us, accordingly, that this move
ment Of the clergy is Ill advised and doomed
to exemplary defeat. When the Church en-
ters the political arena the great majority
OF the people will feel that their duty as cit
liens requires them to administer to 1t
q sharp rebuke as warning against any
TepettiOn of the exDeriment
In this republic Church and State must be
separated absolutely and always.