Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-11-15
GARNErr, KANSAS, NOVEMBER IS, 1895.

count of heads it may number but one or two
in hundred. No matter! The minister o
gospel who values suprenely the approval o
God, and honestly breaches i'll fact what the
church stands for in theory-ju justice, mercy ant
truth; however much his ministry may have
been honored of God in the building up of the
church; though the PEOPLE in the church and
and out of it may love him and approve of his
work-tlat man is marked for ecclesiastical
slaughter The putocrat i'll power, whose sins
are sure to be rebuked where the gospel is
preached i'll its funess will, by the most
diabolical Vaccinations directed in secret if
that will succeed, openly if it will not), pro-
ceed to make that minister's life literal fore
taste of that place to which ministers of the
gospel are not supposed to go. Before long,
therefore, he will resign "on account of his
wife's health" or some other reason equally
convenient; and when he has gone (cruci6ed by
Pharisees as his Master was), one will be gotten
to take his place with whom winked-at
understanding is had from the beginning that
he will sing softly tothe plutocratic conscience,
while church that is dying TO all that a
Christian church should stand for accommodate
ngly rocks the cradle and joins in the chorus:
"Husli, my dear, lie still and slumber!" There
are many exceptions, to be sure, especially III
the villages and rural districts. But this is the
rule. TO relate in detail all the facts illustrative
of it that have come to the writer's personal
knowledge would require volume.
Now ministers are but human. They too
have stomachs and backs Put them where
they must choose between slow martyrdom and
ministerial mugwumpery, and what will result?
Martyrs there will be, martyrs there are, who
with both eyes open walk into the fire for the
sake of being true. They suffer shameful
abuse (of course secretly admnistered) gaunt
poverty, sometimes cruel and slanderous mis-
representation by those whose sin they have re-
buked, heart breaking ingratitude, and per-
secution that is worse than scourge pillory
This they do for Chfist's sake, 20 keep clear
conscience and to preserve their self-respect
The blood of these martyrs is still the seed OF
the church. But unless church history is
record Of lies, and human nature has become
something else, the majority will not be MAR
TyRs. No man naturally likes to be voted
failure. Therefore, make success" in the
ministry Synonymous with gathering ga
wealthy and fashionable congregation instead
of congregation of CHRISTIANS; and need we
be surprised if the preaching consults the con-
Yenience OF the putocrat rather than the needs
Of the parish? Need sensible people be dis
appointed under these circumstances, if they
hear sermons which aim at nobody and nothing
and hit their mark? Is it any wonder if the
preacher "gives it, to the Pharisees who
crucifed Christ, and then, two thousand years
ago, died (ther one meritorious act), and
somehow, fails to note the Pharisees of the
present day (who by many are still believed to
have weakness for "the uppernost seats i'll
who are doing virtually the same
thing? When the minister, even the minister
of the gospel, KNOWS that if he ignores the
unchristian distinction of caste and class,
honestly tries to "reach the masses" puts
moral cleanliness and spiritual power above all
personal and worldly considerations in the
church Gas Christ would do), he is more than
likely to pay for the privilege with his ecclesas-
teal head, at the beck of plutocracy whose
piety would not sell in any market for fifty
cents on the dollar; when he knows that his
ministerial brethren-some of them-will be
among the first to cry, Cruelty himl Cruelty