The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-11-25
useful Lessons for the Church
From the Politicians

From the Politicians.
The following extract is from sermon
delivered by the Eav. John NEE moyle
pastor of the E,kton Presby terrain Church,
on Sunday, Nov. IL. Luke 16, Is.
A difficulty in the interpretation of this
parable of the unjust steward" is the appar
ent COMMUNICATION of piece of unmitigated
roguery. Christ seems to point Christians 70
piece of sheer rascality and says, do like
that" Closer inspection shows, however,
that it is not the roguery that IL cJmmen-
d4d, but certain amirabie qualities, pru
derce, foresight, keen appreciation of a sit
ua:ioB, what ought to be done. wise adap-
tation of means to an eud, and prompti.ude
in execution. These are all excellent tr ats.
Iu them the children of the world excel
This text gives us ample scriptural war
rant for introducing our politicians and
statesmen into the pulpit teachers from
whom the church may learn many useful
lessons. | have said politicians al d states
men. Unfortunately the latter have be-
come almost unknown quantities, and poll
ticians are about all We have in that line.
There is a wide and broad distinction
between the two. The politician is a man
of temporary expeilents; the statesman of
eternal principles. The politician thinks
and plans for HIMSELF the statesman for his
country. The politician feeds upon his
country; the statesman dies for it. The
politician surveys the state from the benches
and through tie fumes of the beer saloon
and whiskey shop; the statesman climbs the
watch tower of truth loving contemp lation,
looking before and after, and learning from
the past how to guide the ship of state in
The future. The politician thinks he owns
the country and that it exists for him; the
statesman deems himself houored in beng
allowed 80 serve il and looks upon himself
as the country's servant. The politici an is
inspired by love of polf and impe}led by
convenience; the statesman by loyalty TO
principe and conscience. The politician
looks upon the government as a wealth
creating machine; political place in the
hight of its opportunities for subscribing
individual cupldity; public office as fur
nishing facilities for speculation, peculation
and plumber. To him the country or city or
state is simply big goose to be plucked
and plucked again, until sibilant and shrek
ing i! tears itself from his grasp-but poor
thing! it is likely to be only exchanging the
frying pan for the fire,as it is but question
of time until it is caught by Other spoilsmen
and plucked to the tail anu pin feathers.
The politician is not therefore, usually a
mode. either in character or in methods.
There are to be sure politicians ard politi-
ciana. But good and bad, they are wise in
their generation, and exemplify many traits
and qualities that the church might with
great advantage to itself and the world
initiate. We purpose naming and emphasiZ
ing two or three of these lessons which the
poitici ans teach the church.
First-The power of simple purpose
placehunter fixes his mind upon the object
of his ambition. He thinks about that,
dreams over il, works for it. He bends
every energy to its accomplishment. He
prepares for the primaries, lays his plans,
secures adherents and sympathisers. By
bamboozlem ant and bull doing and means
of every description, he seeks to gain his
point. The power of a single purpose We
admire it n the politician. 1t is a noble
sight, that Of concentration and conse-
Grafton wherever it is displayed. Fine
trait that! 1t stands the ganeral-iu-chiei
upon the field. clad in the iron mail OF
resolve, ready to wage war for its object.
1t marshals into array all forces, draws
them mp in living lines, coirpacted into
solid batalliOns. Not an atom of power is
lost, every energy of body and mind is
brought into the ranks, each where it can
do the most good. Here is model for the
church. Our grand aim and purpose she
should ever have before her and that she
should pursue with pauseless persstency
What is tEai? The world wide diffusion
of the gospel. That is Gods plan, for tina,
the world is kept in being-for that the
church exists. The christian or the church
that lives for any final aim but that, fatally
misses its true destiny and mission. All bus
prises, engageme nts, as christians should be
| purposely pursued as contributory to that,
| otherwise we areliving selfish life and tn al
on stolen time The aim of every Christian
ought to BE- to help the gospel to win its way
The strong qualities of manhood, WON an :
gentler graces; 'childrens glad hosannahs
wealth and poverty, all should see to it tina
Gods plan for the evangelization of The
race be the great business of their lives.
Secondly-The power and value 0
enthusiasm. This is no slight lesson thu
church may learn from the politicians
You know how earnestly this enthusiasm
is worked up. The poitca! club, the stuml
| speech, the mass meeting, the band, thu
torchlight procession, gin and genius, al
are laid under contribution. How earnestly
and energetically the candidate tries t
persuade his follower that his candidacy i.
inseparao oily ;--.erlinked with their highes
interests; that the success OF his candidacy
means their political and SOC ial and indus
trial salvation, that his defeat imports ruiz
and disaster to every interest of the com
nupity. By these and other ways the poll
tician works up enthusiasm. Again, | say
| admirable. Enthusiasm is not fauatiCiSm
1t is the soul on fire with consuming pur
pose. Here the politician should bring
blush 10 the christians cheek. As christ
ians, we seem to prefer our religion iced
The great want of the church is the want o
enthusiasm. Give us the fiery arder of th
politician, the enthusiasm that has char
acterised every great worker in every field
whether politics, philosophy, morality o
religion, the enthusiasm which has been tn
infusing spirit of every movement tina
ever swept with power this globe of ours
Let that thrill and throb in every christian
heart and soon the banner of our holy fIitl
will wave above all the fl ,gs of all th
nations of the earth.
Thirdly-The practical politician is
splendid example and illustration of til
power of thorough organic alton and pei
sonal hand to hand work. He does he
rely upon mass meetings or campaign enth
siasm. He becomes personally acquainte
with individual voters. He is interested i
them, in their affairs their families. Whi
a cordial grapple in his hand. His palm
like certain clouds, often with silvt
lining, or padded with greenbacks, whic
. is about the same. He has his lieutenant
thay their IDENTITIES and they their subO