The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-27
nPoIitics in The PuInit.v

Editor Morning News-The sermon of
Rev. Mr.. Strong, relative to politics in
the pulpit, like everything from him,
bears the impress of good, sound COM
mon sense. Politics is the science of gov
eminent, but in its ramiications it covers
not only the business polity of people,
but the moral status also. The old Mo-
sale law omitted nothing, and the bust
ness and the morals of the people were
subjects of legislation. SO in all govern
ments, but to draw the line in our form
of government is nice one. Liberty of
thought, feeling and action with us covers
an immense quantity of ground.
To talk politics, pure and simple, in the
pulpit to- talk such questions as tariff,
bank, money, railroad. which would be
all wrong. The pulpit would be turned
into a political forum. But when ques-
ton of morals is injected into politics and
it becomes a question of good or bad NOR
ais, the pulpit is but doing its duty to
advocate the moral side OF the polucal
issue at stake.
Our state election made such an issue
when the populist party advocated pro-
hibition. 1t was a question of good or
bad morals so far as the saloon was con-
cerned. The saloon and its influences
N
the saloon develop men into drunkenness?
Was it a wise political measure for the
state?. The question turned upon the best
policy how to treat the drink question,
and, of course, there was division of opin-
ion. Suppose the question should be pre-
scented to our legisla ture to license gam
bling houses and houses of prostitution,
would the pulpit be silent because such
questions might be logged into politics?
BY no means for the pulpit would be
reereant false and an apostate to It's high
calling The pulpit is the Waterman upon
the tower to give alarm, and if need be
make an assault to arouse the people, to
guard the morals of a country.
Saint Paul is considered pretty good au-
thority as to what a minister should
preach, and he wrote and preached as a
minister who had a tremendous issue to
make as to morals, faith and belief. He
knew thing or two about the manners
and customs of the people he preached
to. He knew how morals fitted or I'M
fitted men to do their duty in this world,
and the results to follow in the next.
Hear him:
"Know We not that the unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be
not deceived; neither fornicators, nor
idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves, nor thieves, nor
liars nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor re-
vilers nor extortioners shall inherit the
kingdom of God" 1t will be seen at once
what Saint Paul thought proper to write
and preach about.
That which creates or makes evil is a
subject of legislation Morals are al
ways in order in the pulpit, in the legis-
lature, in municipal affairs, for upon the
morals of a people depend good or bad
government. Strange as it may appear,
Saint Paul never had a word to say about
gamblers, horse racing, theaters, dane
ing, or general amusements. He was for
good morals in trade, business and social
relations. He saw no sin or harm in one
enjoying themselves in a rational way,
which worked no harm to themselves,
neighbors or friends. Jesus had not a
turned his moral battery upon hypocrites
\ and priests who extorted money from the
people through fear, working upon their
| ignorance and supeIstitions.
AS to the press taking a hand in
theological discussions, 1t belongs to them
as a general educator of the, people If
the people had to look to hide-bound Sec
tarians or school men, or doctors OF d.
vinity, with their many creeds, faiths,
etc, we'll might the people exclaim: Lord
have mercy upon our souls. for what
must we believe amid this contradictory,
conglomeratlon of churches, faiths and
creeds Theology is metaphysical didac-
tics according to the mental build of the
teacher. Pure religion is to do good, act
good be good. Prayer Is the souls COM
munication with God. which needs no
middle-man, in any sense of the word.
Be It said to the credit of the Roman
Catholic church, II never talks politics in
dts pulpit What the bishops or priests
may think outside OF the pulpit, is their
individual opinions, binding no one
r. NJ o.