The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-21
THE Pulpit AND THE GOVERNMENT
Rabbi siivermnn Defines the Proper Limits
or Mlnlsteriai Criticism.

OF ministerial Criticism.
Rabbi Joseph Silverman Of the Temple
Emanu-El. corner OF forty-third street and
Fifth avenue. lectured yesterday on The
Relation OF the Pulpit to Municipal Govern
ment" lie said in part:
Ny friends. We will try to-day TO take u
sober view OF the relations between tho pulpit
and The Government. For centuries past the
Church and the State were SO closely bound to-
gether that neither could have existed with
out tho other Experience. however. taught
the world that such n coalition was detr-
mental to the interests both Of religion and Of
government and. therefore. n dissolution had
to take place But it did not take place until
| the congestion Of conflicting interests caused
| such an upheayal as TO make further union
impossible. 1t must not be supposed. though.
that religion and government can forever DO
| separated. There can be no good government
without religious influence, and there can be
no religion made manifest In the world with
out tho INTERPRETATION of the Government.
Politicians naturally look with distuvor on
any attempt Of the pulpit to interfere with
Government affairs They insist that Govern
| ment and pulpit should 40 perfectly divorced.
| They do not maintain that standpoint until
| the pulpit undertakes to condemn and attack
some OF their particularly ncfarious schemes
Politicians arc perfectly willing that pulpts
paisns they. would be perfectly wiiIine to nuke
mo one will question ths rights OF min
lister to engage in political affairs As citizen
pulpit in connection with political affairs. then
certain considerations arise which must be
,lat 10 preach politics IN the pulpit is a VIC.
lation of good taste, and nrnpriety., an us
n% shsaa anu never Se at w
TH;ritsaashin The pnlrit should start from
the character Of nation. ,.
Pulpit POLITICS also tend to divide men in
need OF further division to add spice 10 lie.
cludcd from certain societies. not because Of
their character. but because they are not
trodnec politics into tho pupit Would ie 10 in,
troduce politics into rongregati onal life. and
wfn srS .. s Hdy
be opposed to the rsii't' Of tho pulpiit to make
government affairs: II the rulpit has the right
TO teach thr.. relations that should exist BE-
ln.nt affairs. II it has the right Il, teach What
should have the right to teach what is true
and pr1per IN G1 , aiars say how
uc TIL, T@ea should sntHs S
Utica measures or Legislative acts from COM
fnerehial or poIlteo @ Icai ,stondE9'lnt
economy. Lnt it should ,cal. il it deai ut MI. |
Will, Legislative acts and measures from the
law. To preach thus is not to preach politics. |
but to preach tho highest interests of hu.
- Whcna class OF the community that oh.
tains power seeks to pery-rt these eternal
may make an application Of its principles TO
that particular party or class or Legislative
ali sm sa w w%rs Of tie
regard ing some political measurStho pulpit
may rise above al personal ambitions into
may preach the cause .: the lahorer who is
Temperance and lust: may plead for the abb
lition of such disastrous things rs Il lottery
degrade society and the nation. Butt preach
this is not preaching politics. but preaching
Vow. there AFRO objections oven TO such
powers Of the pulpit ana the most important
is that the prenelfIr, is unable to Eass true
not m educated. scholarly gentleman. as
every miniSt: E Is surossd f. t.. be- be able TO
ence Of n measure rs we'll AS the lawmakers.
especially thos. from the rural districts:
tLe"osi$ai and Bo ,i G Questions " about
which they surely know nothing. with more
ef1rontcry than any preacher ever discussed
The nulInit." Dr. slysrman went on. lis
the only pnblis ment tss. Il The press OF to-day
tive acts. Agnostics cannot do it. for their
time Is tnken up with dtsputng the words OF
Tho Bible. Therefore out Of sheer necessity
it remains FOR the preacher to take up tho
tnko nm pn m NJ and no,iny and NOT mum
II The preacher does becono hold enough to
make charges against individuals by mnme.
hen lct him hay facts nnd not gucsses.
legitimate testin,,nny; no, hearsay testimony.
Il would thar DR. pntkhurst We're wrong.
pray that he MAJ: be wrong. hut. right or
wrong. n, one cnu doubt the purity Of his mo
tivrs or the sincert OF his zeal should he in
apy, way bring about reform whore, it is need
liz IN IN n a VII ntlIf.,
his memory in front of the new City Hall and
will you not all join in placing on that monu-
The Madison Square Presbyterian Church
was crowded Yesterday morning. good
many city officials We're there out Of curiosity |
but they were disappointed II they expected to
hear u diatribe against Tammpny Hall. pr.
ing for his text the healing of the lame man:
interest was tho taking Of Il collection to meet
. ecrlesiias'icni expenses" DIR. Parkhurst di!
not explain whether the money that he II suid |
TO have spent during his midnight adventures
would come out OF this fund or not.