The morning call., 1894-08-27
CHRISTIAN DUTY.
Pungent Suggestions
From the Pulpit.
DR.. HEMPHILL'S PLAIN TALK.
:. Good People Should Take Part in
Politics.
THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE.
Rev. George Edward Walks Sermon
at Trinity - Discourse on
the Lords Prayer.
THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE.

a sermon upon a pertinent topic was de-
Iiyered by the Rev. John Hemphill at Cal
vary Church last evening. 1t was called
political Purity. the Christian in Poll
ties" and was repete with sensible sug-
gestions and points.
For text the reverend gentleman Sc
lected Philippians iv. 8: Finally. breth-
rem, whatsoever things are true, whatso-
ever things are honest. whatsoever things
are Just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are Of good report, if there be any
virtue. and if there be any praise think on
these things"
In referring to the subject which he had
chosen for the evening the speaker said it
had the merit of being timely. There is
an old saying, he added. that religion and
politics should be kept apart. and as a
matter of fact they are. Religion has
little TO do with politics in America.
1t was not right though, that things should
be that way. The sphere OF religion should
not be coDfned to keeping the Sabbath
day and paying devotion in the sanctuary.
Religion should be the feature of mans
whole life. A mans home, his business
and his politics belong to religion.
1t should be a mans duty on election day
10 plhJ ltlf61li1 Eudb IOuCot
men may be elected to Office and to admin
lister the law. Then be should go out and
vote for the best men. IL a man spent
election day in his house praying he would
be negecung his duty. Religion should
not be put on or taken off like cloak. A
man should take it home with him, have It
on the street, in his business and in the
arena of politics. In this way 1t would
perVade ana govern every part Of a mans
life.
1t is grave mistake to think that poll
tics are too common and unclean TO feel
the sanctifyiog touch of religion. If the
question IS asked, what kind OF men are
wanted in politics tue answer should be,
men who are just pure. true. honest
lovely and Of good report. According to
the text, could these qualifications be ap-
piled to the politicians of America, of
California? No. The text should read,
Whatsoever men are unjust, untrue, dishon-
est, impure and unlGyely. These are the
kind of men we elect to make laws and
administer them II is because Of this
that American politics have become cor
Tupt and are a byword among the nations
of the earth. What is the cause OF il?
Because the Christian men of America
have left the care of politics to corrupt
politicians. The devil never invented a
bigger lie than when he started going that
saying that religion should have nothing
to do with politics.
Mr.. Remphn then referred to Moses,
Elijah, Jeremiah, Nehemi iLand others of
che leaders in Gods cause in ancient days
who had fought in political causes for the
good of their country. In fact, he said, it
was impossible to find one servant of God
named in the Bible who remained silent
when the well being of their ma
tiOn was at stake. Even Christ told
the Jews that because of their politi-
cal Offenses their house should be left
0laTn ha
concerned In all that relates to mankind,
to his country, and especially TO the COM
munity in which he lives. Now that the
country was being agitated over the
question OF SURPRISING the liquor traffic,
OF having pure politics, of regulating the
relations between capital ana labor, the
Christian must pause and consider how
they must be dealt with. Reform is in the
air, and If the right sort of men do not
take hold of these matters in moral
reform the wrong men will. The Ques.
lions must be decided by the Christian in
politics. He must not wait until they
have been decided the wrong way by
corrupt politicians. Nothing can be
more c0waTdly and unchristian to say
that the cause OF christianity has nothing
to do with filthy politics. Every effort
should be made 10 make them clean, sweet
and wholesome. This is the mission of
the Christian in politics. 1t was not the
goody-goody, weakened sort of Chris.
tion-one afraid to go into the arena of
poli'ics-that was wanted, but strong,
sturdy ChriStians-men of girth, nerve
and force; moral sledge-hammers who
would tight political corruption and deal
it blows thai wound send echoes down the
ages. In conclusion. he again urged all 10
take an active interest in politics, and thus
elevate il above the saloons and slums and
take it out Of the hands of the corrupt