The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-12-09
Preachers In Politics.

From the Village Record West Chcster)
1t appears the ministers Of the gospel
have been enlisted in behalf OF the phla-
delphia merchant for United States SEN
ator Indeed, some Of them have so far
forgotten their sacred calling as to stoop
TO the plane Of the practical politician IN
order to create n sentiment among their
flocks for MIR. Wanamaker The other
week n Philadelphia clergyman visited
ministerin the southern part of this county
TO induce him to take hand in the dirty
business. He returned to the city appar-
emily satisfied with the result Of his
political mission, and few days later
wrote the Chester county minister q letter
on the subject, from which we are per-
mitted to make the following extract
with the understanding that the names
would be omitted at least for tho present
Hon. John Wanamaker, who made
such brilliant record as postmaster gon-
sral under President Harrison has been
brought prominently before the people
and very strong sentiment in his behalf
has been aroused throughout the state
There is every evidence that the move
ment will be an Irresistible one.
Upon the occasion of my call you were
kind enough TO indicate your approval of
the movement discussed by us and write
to ask what steps, if any, you have taken
with view to creating a favorable senti-
ment in behalf of the principles and plans
In question. Can you not present the mat
ter to your friends and particularly to the
members of your congregation, with a
view to having them see or communicate
with the Republican members of the leg
islature in your county in order that the
views of the latter may be ascertained
prior TO the election to the United States
senate, which takes place in January,
1897? l shall be pleased to have an early
line from you, your convenience permit
ting"
The people have great deal of respect
for the ministry, but when some of its
leading lights go SO far out of the way to
sway or influence their congregations in
order TO promote the inordinate political
ambition of liberal contributor to the
church, the fact that considerable scepti-
cism exists as to tho sincerity of many Of
the expounders of the Gospel is easily ex-
planned. No minister can serve God and
play the role Of the practical politician at
the same time, and no better or more eff
| fective means to disintegrate the church
can be invited than to mix religion with
/ politics. No minister who has any respect
| for his profession, or who is inoculated
with the true spirit of Christianity, will
seek to coerce the members of his congre-
| CATION into his way Of thinking in matters
| political, and it is to be doplored that there
are some who have so far forgotten their
sacred calling as to bring this rcproach
| upon 1t.
Whatever sentiment there is for John
| Wanamaker for United States senator has
been created in this way. Whatever de-
mand there is for him to fill this position
has been systematically worked up Not
only have the newspapers been subsidized
through advertising patronage, but the
ministers of the Gospel have even been
bribed to "create n favorable sentiment"
for him among the members of their con
gregations, while at the same time the most
corrupt methods were used at the primary
elections throughout the state to nominate
Legislators favorable to him. But for these
questionable influences, which have Gre
ated something of false sentiment the
name of Wanamaker would never have
been connected seriously with the United
States senatorship, and we venture the
prediction that before many days, when
the Wanamaker boom is laid bare in it,
true hypocritical light it will collapse as
suddenly as in iniquity it was conceived
and fostered.