The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-08-21
FoR THE PREACHERS.

doris from heaven and to point out any
dereliction in your duty to man or to
give advice as to the way you can more
completely perform that duty is be-
yond the sphere of a layman. But
when we come to reflect on one uni
versal fact that the rebels and kickers
of the world have raised the world to
it's present political, moral and re-
ligious altitude and these rebels and
kickers more often than not Of low de-
gree, we are Iembolden to say a thing
or two.
In the days before 1860 the minority
took sides pro and o on the slavery
question. Were they wrong in doing
500 If they were wrong it proves that
the minority can universally r and
in support of a wrong under social and
sectional pressure. If they were right
then it would be right now to take po-
litical sides. To admit they were
wrong is to admit they are subject to
the same prejudices as other men and
not the moulders of public sentiment
but the slavish followers thereof.
What do we gather from this9 That
the minority is subject to social pres
sure and pecuniary interests. Not
every one but as a class. Tracking
history backwards we find this true of
all sects with exceptions here and there
quoted now with admiration. These
were the rebels and kickers. Rome
always acquiesces in the political
status best suited to her interests. Not
unfrequently other sects do the same.
Now we assert that the present po-
litical status of American politics is
corrupting and demoralizing, the laws
are oppressive and the poor are not
protected in their rights against com
binations and powers. Which side will
the preacher take-against the present
status of American politics or in favor
of it, or do they think it a duty TO let
the subject aloneG You cannot well
take a neutral course for the people
will be oblivious of those ministers
who do not prove friends. Eighty per
cent. of the people of the United States
are without homes and poor. These
are they to whom the gospel is o
particularly sent. These are they who
will lose faith in the merits of the Cos
pei through the dement's of it's dis
penser. They will think those who are
not for us are against us. Silence gives
consent to the present order of things.
Suppose they favor the present pc
litical conditions. They at once form
a league with the monied portion of
the community. This will give eclat,
good salaries and fine congregations.
Every influence of money will be
theirs. They will swim no doubt for
the time. But what will become of
their religious and moral condition9
When money is the highest law all
other law goes by default; then comes
anarchy, desperation and destruction.
Those ministers who do not inveigh
against the rule Of money now existing
in America are sowing the seeds of
social destruction.
They say 1T Is not u business to
preach against political sins to preach
against the sins Of factions and combi-
nations-against the sins of govern
ment. We preach to individuals the
saving grace of the gospel. But you
do more than that, you endeavor to
train him in the way he should go
that he should not go in bad company.
How are you going to keep him ont of
bad company when politics is bad-his
government bad his party bad. W.
take it for granted that a minister's
duty is to preach against all classes of
sin both public and private. Noah
was sent to preach against the sins of
a nation as a whole. 1t took moral
courage to do this and Noah finched.
1t is the duty Of a minister to preach
against the sins of a nation-a party
a clique or a clan-against the Scribes
and Pharisees.
Then a true minister has got to take
a stand-not a stand for a party-but
a stand against all crime and sin both
public and private. And in doing this
he naturally takes sides with the op-
pressed, and will ALLEVIATE sometimes
the ~favorites of fortune-his best pay
ing members. Then he will become
the leader of men-an Agamemnon in
camp, and not a follower in the wake.
The people say we want to dance. The
minority says it is permitted unto you
to dance. The people say we want to
wear costly apparel and gaudy jeWelry.
The minority says it is permitted unto