The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-22
PULPIT AND POLITICS.
Their Relation Discussed by the
Unversalist Club.
WHAT GOVERNOR LADD SAID.
Many Men Prominent I'm Church and Poll
teal Circles Present-An Agree That
the Church should Not Hold Aloof
From Politics But should Try to
Purify Them.

The regular meeting of the Universalist
Club of Rhode Island was held last even
ing at Tillinghast's Assembly rooms, and
was well attended, about $50 being present.
The guests of the club were Gov. Ladd,
Lieut.. Gov. Stearns, the Rev. Charles w.
Biddle, ID. d., North Cambridge, Mass,
Sanford Fl. Dudley, Esq, president of the
Universalist Club, Boston, and the Hon.
Francello G. Jillson of this city.
At 1880 a collation. was served and after
enjoying the good things for about an
hour the speaking began. The subject of
discussion was "Church and Politics..
President Adm B. Capron presided, and
after a brief address announcing the
question for the evening, introduced as
the first speaker His Excellency Gov
Iadd who spoke as follows:
''The subject you have selected for dis
cussion this even ing seems To me so broad
as TO permit of only the merest scanning
fits factors within the limits that must
bound what we have To say, and for my
self must admit To considerable perpleX-
ity in arranging consecutive line OF
thought from theme so prolific OF sug-
gestion.
"Our religion is something that should
enter into everything in our every day
life. politics included, il seems to me; and
we have long ago abandoned the idea that
our ministers should divorce themselves
from human interests so far as TO hold no
political opinions or be restricted in his
expression of them. While To my mind
the pulpit is the place liberal expression
ofliberal thought as well as for the ex-
pounding of doctrine, do not feel that II
is the function of the minister 10 express
his political opinions or the political opin-
inns af "A majority mlnOritV of his
flock in the pulpit.
There is IL seems to me- no question that
the church should, through its splendidly
equipped organization and its spokesmen
in the pulpit exercise the greatest care
least 1t approach what is called "dabb-
ling in politics" The church of to-day is
too great a power for good, working in
lines on which all mankind may unite.
These are days of liberal speech from the
pulpit and IL sermons that bear closely on
seems TO me, should be confident that,
while his theme may be of contempor-
aneous interest, his methods of discussion
and the principles he expounds should be
broad enough TO cover more than the situ-
ation which exists to-day and is changed
entirely or dropped out of Importance to-
morrow.
"a believe. however, that there are prin-
ciples in politics as broad as the principles
of our government, and the principles of
truth and justice. There are glaring evils
in politics as there are in everything that
man undertakes where sellishness finds "A
place. And herein, it seems TO me, there
Is abundant material from which the
minister may draw his sermon and the
organized church may follow him and sus-
tain him unitedly.
"The church can do no better work than
in behalf Of good government and OF
pf'riotism, which are indeed part of
eN>sy mans religion aud politics. The
record of the church in America in this
respect is a splendid one; and / can but
feel that in times Of crisis, when the nation
needs the support of our Christian ministry
and OF organized christianity as il has
needed that support in the past, that the
power and influence OF our church will be
no less effectual IL il steadfastly refuses TO
pause in the great broad work it is doing
for humanity to participate in the contents
on the field of politics as they arise every
day.
DR.. Henry W. Rugg was the next speak
er. He said: II would give nothing for a
church that stands just for name. IL
must be living church. IL must stand
for use as we'll as ornament and so il
seems TO me that the church must have
something TO do with politics. Politics is
the giving of good government and
so i believe that there are mat
ters relating TO the public inter
ests which are proper TO bring into the
pulpit. What Is needed, both in the
church and In politics, is more of Christ
ian manliness.
Sanford ii. Dudley was next introduced.
He spoke in substance as follows: "Relig-
ion-What do we mean by religion /
doubt If one can find definition of relig-
ion favorable TO himself. We have differ
ent religions and yet while they differ in
many respects, yet they all agree in the
vital principles of christian life.
Politics-No matter 10 what religion we
belong, we all agree on some things and
those things on which we agree go to the
common veal of the whole country. IL
has been said he serves his party best
who serves his country best and think
il may be said he serves his party best
who serves his church best"
+. Il. Gomez, of Woonsocket, was the
next speaker. He said $50 long as
there is dishonesty in politics, the influ-
ence of the church is needed The church
is the great regulator of the mighty en-
gine of civilization. We see in politics a
vast need Of the purifying influence of the
church"
The Rev. Charles w. Biddle was intro.
duced, and spoke as follows: 81 have
been wondering what l was down here
for You have not needed anyone else
from the old Bay State since we sent
own Roger Williams. Yet we have
always had a warm place in
our hearts for little Rhody. II
Is said That Chlckering was like
his pianos, grand, square and upright, and
all should possess these three virtues We
are as manly when we do right In one re-
lationship as in another. Whether we do
right AS a minister or a man IL stands as
well in the sight of God. A man who is
corrupt in politics is corrupt in every re
lation, or liable TO be- l know by the
samples Of public officers in this State
that they are clear and Christianlike in
politics as in the church"
John X Gladding was the next speaker
He said that the relationship between the
church and politics had always been very
close, and that the church members, If not
the church, was in politics.
Lieut.. Gov Stearns was next introduced
and in substance spoke as follows Chris
tian men have neglected their duty i'm
politics. This / honestly believe, and this
/ think will break down this great expert
ment of ours OF governing ourselves. 1t is
absolutely necessary that We should have
politics, and IL is the duty of Christians
TO make them clean politics. Ifevery man
would do his duty at the ballot box he
would do the best work that he could do.
Olney Arnold said he believed that
women should be allowed TO enter into
polffiee