The herald., 1896-08-29
POLITICS IN THE PULPIT

occasions, or the conventionalitles OIL
places. they say or do things which are
neither appropriate nor tasteful.
The tendency to perpetuate that which
is uhtimely or inappropriate is probably
never more manifest than during a
period of political contest. AT such
time a large proportion of the people ap-
pear to be minus the faculty of reason
ably intelligent discrimination and will
ing to pass over all lines and limits in
the espousal of their convictions or, what
is too frequently the case, their preJu-
dices.
The latest instance of the disposition
to mix things of a dissimilar character
is found in the concoction of theology
and politics some divineS are giving us.
The prime issue of the present political
campaign has invaded the pulpit and
from the vantage of the latter men or
dained in the service of Christ for the
salvation of souls according to His gos-
pei. seem to have undertaken the saliva
ton of financial policies The righteous
ness or unrighteousness of the free coin
age of silver, at the ratio proposed, has
become the subject of clerical scrutiny
Bishop Newman, at present of the Meth
odist church (the bishops career sug-
gests that he holds somewhat to the
theory of rotation in religious beliefs,
led in the Introduction into the pulpit
of a theme that most emphatically does
not belong there. Others of the cloth
have followed in his wake either is ad-
vocates or antagonists to the side he
espoused. The bishop opened the ball
if such a term may be used in designat-
ing the initiation of discussion of the
financial question in the pulpit-with
sermon opposing the free and unlimited
coinage of silver on stock grounds and
some other grounds that have not even
the merit of being stock. In the course
of his pulpiteering into the sphere of
finance he evidenced the effects of his
long and varied Christian training by
referring to the supporters of the silver
movement as robbers, repudiators an
archists and a lot of other mean and
nasty thing And before he finished, as
might be expected, he lugged in the
commandment, Thou shalt not steal,
and held it up so that it might be seen of
all men, to the end that those of his
flock tempted to stray from the golden
paths of rectitude-acc cording to New
man-into the tents of the ungodly sill
verites, would be restrained. Incident
ally, and waiving for the time any con-
sideration of the merits or dement's of
the side OF the question Bishop Newman
stands for it can be said that in so far
as men of his kind are concerned, the
goldites have a right to plead for saliva
ton from their friends 1t is notorious
that the bishop is one Of the most astute
toadies of his day He has seduously
cultivated the acquaintance and COM
panionship of the rich and powerful, and
there has been a broad suspicion that
the very changes In his theological affil
iations for which he is noted were in
spired by a desire to facilitate the at
tainment of certain associations rather
than by altered convictions. There will
be a strong inclination to believe that
the bishops foray against silver coinage
is not dictated by conscientious belief
that such coinage would be what he
says, so much as it is by the thought that
he is tickling the fancy of the wealthy
people with whom his lot is cast. The
chances are good. however. that in the
minds of the intelligent of these very
people, he suffers distinct depreciation
for thus nisuslng his pulpit and position.
In emulation of Newman, but on the
other side of the controversy, the pastor
of a church in the suburbs of Lincoln,
Nebraska, has emerged from obscurity
into the light of fame, albeit some shad-
oWs of condemnation are thrown across
the said light. Most zealously has he de-
Tended the cause of silver against the
assault Of the wandering bishop. Moved
by the same tolerant and Christian
spirit which distinguishes the discus
sions Of the other ecclesiastical digni-
tary, the Nebraska dominic stigmatizes
opponents of silver coinage as pluto
Gratis, enemies of the poor, betrayers
OF their country and destroyers of the
peoples prosperity with malice afore-
thought. There can be no doubt that if
Mr.. Bryan could have his say regarding
this probably Well-intentioned but mis-
taken Clergyman he would advise that
individual to return to his ministerial
mutton and while in the pulpit, to keep
off the grass" Of finance.
Right here in Los Angeles mas the
fever to illuminate on the financial issue
from the pulpit taken hold. The pastor
of one Of our most popular churches
last Sunday discoursed with vigor if
not logic, on the enormity of the scheme
to rehabiltate silver as standard
money metal And the worst is not yet.
The same minister has intimated his in
tention to hew along that line until the
end of the campaign. In good faith and
a kindly spirit it has been suggested by
persons who have heard the clerical
gentleman discuss economic subjects or
divers occasions that if he would keep
safe the reputation thus far acquired in
the pulpit he will stay out of the field of
finance and taxation, the leading issues
of the present campaign. Sometimes
even a minister cannot teach in all
branches of knowledge.
Now we submit that men of all shades
of political opinion will agree that thi,
business OF taking the battle of the
monetary standards, which can prop
erly be fought out in the secular press
ON the stump, at the street corner ana
in the club room, into the ediiices con-
secrated to the service Of religion is not
in accordance with the eternal fitness
of things and should stop. The services
dedicated To the worship of God and
the glorification Of Christ should not be
featured with discussions of politico-
-.