The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-04
PASTORS IN POLITICS.
They All Think They Ought to Be
There
JUST As MUCH As THE PEWS.
aHInfatera or the city Discuss the
onentaon 90 TheLr w eekIy Meet1nE

lOrs.
The attraction was the announcement
that Rev r Wake would read paper on
"The Preacher in Politics"
Dir. Wake said in part: There are
four varieties of opinions ahOat In the
church and comm unity as to the relation
a minister properly sustains to current
political affairs
There lib an opinion which still fingers
a. a relic OK a bvgone period which IN
aista that the calling of preacher is 90
entirely sacred, and his duties 50 purely
spiritual that he ought to feel 10 interest
in matters so thoroughly secular as the
politics Of the day. His sole work 10 the
world Ia 90 prepare men for another ard
future state or being and he therefore
cannot but soil his cloth when be med
dies in politics.
San idea a little more liberal is that
the preacher has the right to exercise
the elective franchise. and quietly deposit
d vote for the party he prefers but this
he must do a private citizen and IN no
way allow his political preferences to be-
come q matter Of public discussion. 10
become speaker on the stump IN q
political canvass is entirely out of keep
ing with his calling and he cannot out
in lure his influence with his people.
"Tne minister may not only vote, but
be has all the rights Of member Of any
profession to advocate his political views
on the stump or elsewhere, provided he
keeps the discussion Of political matters
out IF the pulpit The sacred desk must
be kept solely for the treatment Of sacred
themes Men when they 20 TO church
desire and need spiritual refreshment
only and should have their minds led
away to the contemplation Of things that
have 70 do with religious experience and
future destiny To discuss politics IN
the pulpit is a PROCLAMATION Of the holy
place and sacred day.
"a few hold that the preacher has q
duty To perform in relation to political
concerns: that il is his province to in
struct bis people ia all that pertains to
human duty; aud as there are grave du-
ties Involved in citizenship, therefore
the pulpit ought To deal with political
questions that the people may be made
to meet their governmental responsible
ties in the fear of God and under the con-
troll of the highest motives"
In discussing the subject Dir. Wake
said .sIhe preacher who in his minis
fration confines himself to theology and
to such themes as bear solely upon eter-
nifty, has not half learned his duty to his
people We are met with the objection
that 70 preach politics il TO offend the
pews, and to interfere with a mans USE
fulness ia the pulpit 1t is even affirmed
that the preacher is the servant of the
church. and is therefore amenab1e to
the pews for the doctrines he pro
claims.
This idea so far prevails that a church
who should be Republican If a
church be merely a club and if the min
lister is called by the pews instead Of by
God to The work Of the ministry. then he
ought 70 do the bidding Of the people,
but If he is called of God into the sacred
work, then the pews have no right to
dictate what he shall or shall not teach.
"lo shut the preacher out Of the poll
teal arena ia to give politics over to
Satan"
Rev. Dir. Wakes paper was discussed
by almost all Of the ministers present
Rev. j. Blakesley said he endorsed al
most all that the paper contained and
that preachers should preach politics
but not partisanship. He did not agree
with Mr Wake that If preachers were
shut out Of the political arena, politics
would be entirely in the hands of Satan.
lie said there were many good people
outside Of the ministry in politics.
j. W. Dill said. Il say amen to the
Rev n F. McKirahan said: ST the
2.OJU pits Of Kansas had taken up
the question Of prohibition last spring
when the political conventions lodged III
things might have been different. but [
fan TO see how We would have been any
better OF If the present administration
had been retained in power with all its
evils, lite joints and saloons l can't see
how We would have been any better OF.
Rev. il H. Smith-AI believe We should
of the paper, but / am a little afraid of
its Interpretation. The man who is
afraid 70 speak out on the moral cues
lions has no business in the pulpit
Rev. Stewart Sheldon-.sWhen tha
leading politicians say as they have
been saying lately, that there is no such
thing as mixing religion and politics then
it Is about time for Us preachers to be
taking hand in the matter and speak
out this subject"
Rev J. B Thomas-"I endorse tba
whole paper, and I believe there never
was a time when We had as many manly
men IN the pulpit as today. We have no
right under any circumstances to talk
PartIsanship ia the pulpit but talk prin-
ciple from the pulpit, and when out Of
the pulpit talk as loud as you can for
party"
Rev. J. @ c. Ovvsns-@I endorse the
whole paper Don't turn politics over to
the pews for the devil il in the pew for
the Lord found him there
Rev. G. Minear-@1Nh every hoax- Is
. Christian we viii have no saloons. The
preacher should get people converted. 1
lave little rear o. man who is really
Christian but somehow / have noticed
tAal when man is born again and be-
comes new creature. that somehow
mere Is seldom any change made in his
politics- A mans politics is kind O. born
in him.
rev. 4. J. Ream said: 1T il impossible |
NJ IN strictly partisan and preach nrfn-
ciple The trouble is that We nreacbe-s
- Iou weigh quite enough, and il seems !
Nuat IN Kansas We don't weigh quite as
-nucl As the German league. all because.
now cur mouths have been closed1 /
WOULD sEAroN BE sPEAKrR.