The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-12
Politics and Pis;y.


Politics and Pisty.
The Asbury Presbyterian church III
Washington square, was well filled yes
tetdav afternoon by a congregation
which was DESTROYS of hearing what
the Rev. DR.. Howard Crosby had TO cay
ON the subject of Christians versus
Tammany, says the New YORK hera'u
of Monday. .,
The services were begun with an an
nouucement that there would be
number of addresses made by DIR. Cros-
by ON social and political topics, which
that gentleman would not ordinarily
Think of discussing from the pulpit
Dr.. Crosby began by saying: ANY
one who has come here expecting 10
hear a political sermon will be most
egregiously disappointed. | understand
mat an erroneous advertisement has
been publishe which has had ten
dency % deceive the public. l shaiI
dwell simply upon the proper attitude
of the Christian toward politics. 1
shall. however. indulge in no personaii'
ties in my address. Some time al u
proper time and place, may aliude 10
individuals. but not in this address,
Such illusions and such addresses are
eminently proper at times, but never
on the Sabbath day does WORD escape
my lips except for Christ.
There were men of the olden time
who left the world and, practically, be-
came hermits. They did not interest
themselves at all in the questions OF
the dav. IT Is certain that they did not
benefit themselves by such a course,
and equally certain that they benehted
no one else. ] believe in the saying,
Let your light shine before men,
I'VE do not live in Russia, where one
man does the thinking for sixty MIL
lions, and where dissension OF opln-
ion means Siberia. Neither do We live
in Turkey under the authority of Sui
tan. We do live, however, IN Amer
lea, where every man Is sovereign
This statement makes some people
smile, but it is none the less true that
with us each man is an integral part OF
the government. Altogether we have
The best government on the face OF the
earth England has so many old ex-
elusive privileges that she can hardly
be compared with us.
"Our commonwealth Is the pest
commonwealth since that Jewish com
monwealth instituted by Christ himself.
1t seems to me that it would be just for
God to punish us for not taking the
trouble to do our duty, though we are
blessed with splendid prosperity, and
relegate us to some form of m0narchical
government. and | wish / could say
that in the ears of thirty thousand
voters in this city who never cast a
vote.
The man who refrains from casting
his vote is guilty of sin against God.
1t is not merely matter of conven.
fence. OfteDtimes it is question oil
morality against immortality or between
right aud wrong.
Then there comes the question, Is
it sufficient for the Christian to cast his
vote? Is that the extent of the power
which God has conferred upon men!
Il hold that it is not. God has
given me voice. If l know that a great
public wrong is to be penetrated have
no right to keep my lips closed. Ii
friends are to be alienated by my tax
ing such course. let them be allenpted.
Ii the roughs of this city will be led to
attack me, let them do SO. God is on
my side.
After man has voted and spoken
on the subject of politics, does that end
his responsibility? One of our first du,
ties is to try and have quiet city aud
a quiet life. Our third duty, then, is TO
be watchful in this particular.
How often have | gone to Christian
men aud asked them to testify against
persons and places which they knew to
be amenabIe to the lawl Their one an
swer has been. oh, could no. do that:
the case might be postponed and l
would lose my time. That Is Christian
principle. One half the houses Of evil
in this city could be closed to- day were
il not for the refusal of Christian men
to testify.
I'm thirty-fiye blocks on Fifth avenue
the residents cast twenty-one votes.
AN afraid there were a good many
Christians among them, but they sat
there with folded hands and let evil
have its sway. In my capacity as presi'
dent of a society which has merely the
good of the city at heart | have FIRE
quently been 10 men whose yearly an
comes amount 10 millions and they
would not give me dollar.
"If we are to be overrun by hordes Of
infidels from Europe, and allow them
TO run our country, we certainly de-
serve to take the consequences.
1T is plain truth that in all the de-
partments of our city government there
are dreadful customs. The day will
come when it will not be safe for you
to live in your own houses. Christians
should 90 into politics, and should take
part in the primaries. have often pre-
sided at primaries myself, and when a
minister presides the meeting is orderly
enough.
Public men should avoid PERSONAL
ties. When one of them alludes to an
opponent roughly one loses his respect
for the man who makes the allusion.
He simply soils ms own garments.
Again, we must not be afraid of cur
We have our pious dali
lies, which give us all the gossip about
actors and actresses, as well as all the
latest tips about the betting on horse
races, and then way down in some cor
ner publish an item to the effect that
clergymen should not NEEDLE with pol
tiles.
"A man who gets through life and is
not spoken against is not a friend of the
Lords. We must expect certain
amount of vituperation. AS far as l
know | have never lowered my own
influence in the Church by taking a
deep interest in politics. !"
Piles Pilesi Itching PLEA!