The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-04
POPULIsM's STRONG MAN.
Rev. j. T. Botkin Says the Ministry Grow
Weak in Serving Christ.

Rev. j. T. Botkin Says the Ministry Grow
Weak in Serving Christ.
Rev. ]. D. Botkin, chaplain of the Kan
sas senate, makes q good Impress on
when he talks. He is always extremely
serious and impresses one as being sim
cere
1t has been less than year since Rev.
Mr.. Botkin espoused the cause of Popu-
ism, yet since then he has gone down to
defeat with the party, as its candidate
for congress in the Third district
He has extremely radical views on the
duties of ministers as we'll as church
members, and he believes in ministers
taking a hand in politics. "The minister
should be citizen of the country in
which he lives" said he to JOURNAL re-
porter. s'He should actively perform
the duties of citizenship, and to do this
he must preach and practice applied
Christianity. Most ministers seem de-
termined to limit the application of
Christian principles to the individual
life and only in manner TO prepare the
individual for future world.
81 do not mean to say that do not be-
lieve in preparation for future life. but
that preparatory work must be done
here and in such a manner as to fit one
for this life"
SIN what particular do the ministers
err"
"a mistake that many ministers make
is in supposing their only work is the
conversion of the Individual They
ignore sociological questions. They are
afraid of the crack of the politicians
whip. They shrink from the charge of
being political preachers, which is
always ready to be hurled at any faith
full, fearless minister who seeks to apply
Christian principles to the social and
Official life of this country"
What then is the minister's duty?"
THE minister's duty is plain. The
Bible declares that the kingdoms of this
world are to become the Kingdoms of
Jesus Christ and Jesus taught his church
to pray, Thy kingdom come which
proves that Jesus proposes to take a
hand in the governments of this world.
This can not be, so long as laws are at
variance with his laws, either in charac-
ter or execution. 1t is therefore plainly
the duty of the minister and the church
to enthrone the decaloge and golden
rule in the governments of this world,
and this can not be done without active
participation in practical politics. 1t Is
not a question of ministerial privilege;
it is a question of duty"
''You believe in ministers taking an
active part in politics?"
E'Yes STRIP Who has authority to say
that God has given a perpetual patent
right to the lawyers and bankers to run
the politics of this country? The pulpit
should assert itself and crush out that
spirit of intolerance that would paddock
every preachers mouth. Why some
! preachers are so timid that they not only
cover before the politicians, but they do
not have the courage to investigate pub
lie questions and are therefore ignorant
as school children about the social and
political earthquakes in this country.
They seem to be afraid that if they
should investigate they would find them
selves at variance with the old party
bosses in their churches and that would
bring on a fight and division in the
| church"
This thought seemed to bring back to
Mr.. Botkin the resemblance of his bait G
with faction of his congregation in his
| Wellington church last summer, caused
by his attitude on social questions, for he
continued with vigor:
Swell, such preacher is not loyal
American citizen. Suppose divisions dc
come to the church. African slavery
split the American church and / am moi
sure, but American slavery will split il
next Division is better than eternal
slavery, whether to southern task master:
or to organized capital.
stThe fight is on. The conflict is ire
pressible. Should Christ come to Amer
lea he would give attention first of al
to the Pullmans, the Carnegies and tt
the great oppressive corporations. He
would use his scourge and drive the
money changers out of the temple anc
feed, preach to and comfort the poor.
am profoundly convinced that every true
representative of Jesus will help to d.
the same. The ballot is the scourge anC
too many ministers are using the scourgt
to drive the poor into deeper poverty b.
voting with milIionaires and corporation
nartiea"