Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1892-11-10
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
EDITED BY JoNEsBoRo W. c. T. U.
MRS. KATE B. SIMPSON, Superintendent
of Press Work.
THE PULPIT IN POLITICS.


a subject may not be expected, there
are, nevertheless, common rallying
points in our political battles where
Christians should stand together, and
where the pulpit should be high in their
midst. On the following points, we
suspect, there will be instant agreement
among all Christians.
There is a distinction between policy
and politics. The former relates TO
principles, the latter to methods. A
patriot adheres to principles; a partisan
adheres to methods and machines.
If a man ought to vote as he prays,
it is his privilege, if not his duty, to
pray as he votes. If he votes his princi-
pies why not preach them?
There is a difference between ''politics
in the pulpit" and ''the pulpit in poll
tics" The former is abhorent. The
latter, well let us see.
1t should be observed that the great
preachers of former centuries have used
their pulpits as a platform from which
to teach civil duties. John Wesley
rode all one day, a cold, severe day,
from early in the morning to seven in
the evening, that he might vote for a
member of Parliament. 1.-THE gentle
man for whom | came to vote, he saws,
was not elected; yet l did not repent
of my coming" Religious as he was,
devoted as he was to the church, IVES
ley never forgot his duty as a citizen.
Calvin and Knox are conspicuous ex
amples of men whose pulpits were the
centers of Unreasonable influence in
guiding national policy. In our own
political history the pulpit has always
been the first to proclaim the Christian S
conscience concerning subjects of po-
litical morality. 1t is sufficient that on
Lexington Green stands a pulpit with
an open Bible in stone. A historian of
the revolutionary period observes that
1.-THE pulpits of Philadelphia Numbered
and l%ightened, and John Adams re-
marked after Mayhem preached his
famous sermon on the Stamp Act, that
"he fired the morning gun of the Rev
olution." Perhaps there is just now
too much nervous apprehension lest the
minister compromise the dignity of his
holy office by preaching secular or SEN
sational sermons. But it seems to us
that, after all, it is the professional pol
itician who has most to fear, and who
is, therefore, most opposed to the pulpit
in politics. Is there not a little danger
that in the preachers zeal to render
unto God the things that are Gods he
omit to give Caesar his duey Caesar
stands for civil government, and it is as
great an obligation to pay taxes as it is
to pray. 1t is, therefore, the preachers
duty to instruct the conscience in civil
as well as religious duties.
But how, lit may be asked is the pull
pit to escape antagonism and sensation
alism and divisions in the church? Sup
pose flew subjects forpolitical sermons
be suggested.
Preach arbitration instead of war as
a method of settling disputes between
capital and labor, and between nations.
Preach the Christianization of wealth,
the sanctiication of money as well as
of muscle.
Preach patriotism until our country's
flag is unfurled from every school house,
parocbial and public.
Preach an equal standard of morals
for men and for women. Call vice by
its right name.
Preach against official malfeasance
and misfeasance. When sure of facts
name the offenders as did Parkhurst.
All such discussion should have a re-
ligious or moral, and not a political
favor. 1t should be entrenched in
Scripture. A THUS saith the Lord"
should support every statement. If
such preaching carries the pulpit into
politics, so much the worse for polite
ians; but the better will it be for poll
tics, the better for the people and the
better for the pulpit.-The Interior.
The women of one State alone. Mass
achusetts pays two million dollars tax.
Should your boy become a drunken
frequenter of saloons because taught
by your party ballot he sees that you
are the protector of saloons, what an
swer will you give for the influence of
that vote when you meet the lost soul
of that son at the great Judgment DayY
Funny, isn't it, that the man who
would be ashamed to travel the streets
munching q slice of Wholesome broad