The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-26
POLITICS IN THE PULPIT.
Rev. C. II. Strong Says Preachers
Should Not Discuss Politics.

Rev. c. H. Strong delivered an interest
ing sermon at st. Johns last night on the
subject of politics in the Pulpit" his text
being from 1 Corinthians ike.
The Americans are a very progressive
people, Mr.. Strong said. They have pro-
gressed so far that the pulpits are now
| filled with political discussions. He men
toned several recent instances where
bishops and archbishops had taken upon
themselves to issue letters, expressing
more or less plainly their views upon the
great political topic Of the day.
The most remarkable instances of the
participation of ministers in politics, he
said, was when 100 ministers expressed
| their views in last Mondays issue of the
| New York World Mr. Strong proceeded to
condemn the bringing of politics into the
pulpit in the strongest terms. 1t was
wrong in principle, he said. The preach
ers are of all men the least qualified he
said, to direct the people in political mat
ters They are no more qualified to do
this, he said, than they are to direct the
business affairs of their church members
on to pass upon scientific or other ques-
tions with which they were unfamiliar
The whole training of the preacher I'M
fitted him to pass upon such questions, he
said Their training led them to be dog
matte in expressing their views and their
lack of experience in practical every day
matters was so notorious as to daily in
crease their danger of earning the ridi-
Guile of the pews
This disposition of the preachers to dis
cuss matters, of which they had no
knowledge, he said, was not confined to
politics It had been frequently seen in
their discussion of scientific matters,
where often lamentable ignorance had
been displayed.
The business of the clergy, he said, was
to discuss religious and theological sub
iects for which they were especially quail
flied by their training. Laymen, he SAID,
had shown an equal lack Of wisdom in
presuming to discuss theological subjects.
The newspapers were great sinners in
this respect, he said, attempting to dis
pose of great theological questions in
of settling the whole matter
for all time. 1t might be that
the clergy were only getting their revenge
for the invasion Of their province by the
laymen.
While politics should not be brought
into the pulpit, he said, it was right that
the pulpit should be carried into politics.
There were questions affecting the success
of no party or faction, he said, questions
Of morality and religion, which might
properly be discussed by the pulpit. The
pulpit should condemn anything injurious
to public morality, anything tending TO
arouse one class of citizens against an
other, and to destroy public peace and or
der.
Rev. Mr.. Strong referred to the pulpit
denunciations of the A. p. A. as on this
line. He said something of politics him
self towards the close of his sermon in de-
claring that this was no time for public
improvements and that the party or fac
ton which declared in favor Of reduce
ton In taxation would meet with the
hearty endorsement of the people. Taxes
we're too high, he said, in such times Of
general impoverishment, when thousands
Of men do not know where they will OBJ
tain the means to keep a roof over their
heads or Of securing bread for their fami-
lies when what they have Is consumed.
This, he said, was one Of the questions
not affecting political parties, which 1t
was proper for the pulpit to discuss.