The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-14
PoLrrrcs IN THE PUI.PTr.

LEEOIu the W washington GOSI.I
The Post took occasion early in the
campaign. when the premonitory symp-
toms Of abnormal heat began to appear,
to suggest that it was not advisable for
jealous clergymen on either side to
make their pulpits a part Of the politi-
cal machine. The Post believed then,
as it believes now. that political preach
ing is far more likely to get politics in
to religion than to fnfuse religion into
politics. If we had the ideal political
conditions, politics would be so pure
that the admixture would do no harm.
But taking things as they are, appar-
emily. destined to be for years to come,
it is not desirable to politicalize the
churches by turning the Sunday ser
vices or the weekday prayer meetings
into campaign rallies. There is time
enough and opportunities are ample for
all the political discussion that is need
ed without devoting Sunday or prayer
meeting evening to that use. The av-
erage churchgoer finds in a religious
service-in the song Of praise the voice
of prayer and the spiritual counsel of
the preacher-a blessed relief from the
noise and turmoil of a campaign. And
to such a churchgoer a political sermon,
following the hymns and the custo-
mary address to the Throne of Grace
is as offensive as If the meeting had
been opened by a campaign song and
prayer had dealt mainly with ''16 to l."
Last Sunday, in New York city, the
Rev. Thomas Dixon, jr.. preached on
The Political Crisis" and he preached
in such a manner that he was "roundIy
Kissed" Many of the auditors left the
church in anger and disgust. One of
them unfortunately lost control of his
temper so far as to stand up and call the
parson a liar. OF course this is just
what the preacher desired. He was
seeking notoriety and a shower of stale
eggs or dead cats would have been vel
come. But who can imagine that any
good cause can be promoted by turn
ing the sanctuary into a pandemOnium?
And who does not know that religious
work and progress gets a setback when
a so-called minister of Christ works up
a Sunday scene like that?
Last weeks issue of lions Herald
contains a symposium on the campaign
and the path which ministers should
take in it. President Harris. of Maine
State college, says the present political
situation is a dangerous one for the
minister and full of temptations. Eco
nomic problems are complicated, and I'M
til the minister is sure of understand
ing the entire subject The had better
not dogmatize" And he thinks that
the moral and spiritual influences Of
the church must not be sacrificed to
forward any economic movement, how
ever important" And another writer
says: Il have known the life to be
driven out of the church by incessant
harangues on prohibition, etc" This
is evidently a time" observes Bishop
Huntington, when smart sermonizers
will find easy opportunities to make
themselves ridiculous in the eyes of
their most sensible and sound thinking
hearers and to mortify their wisest
friends"
But there are other contributors to
the symposium who are far less con-
sentative. When vital questions are
submitted to the decision of the voters
mo patriotic preachers tongue says
DR.. Cuyler, should be muzzled." After
the campaign he can return to the
transcendent duty of prOclaiming Jesus
Christ and a full salvation DR.. Mac
Arthur insists that the Gospel in
cludes every interest of the human
race"
It seems to US that the "transcendent
duty should not have vacation in or
der that the preacher may discuss po-
HticaI issues. And the theory that the
Gospel includes every interest of the
human race" is not a good warrant for
pulpit campaigning. It is practicable
to preach the Gospel and exhort men to
apply it to all their acts, without turn
ing pulpit into stump.