The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-28
ETCHINGS FROM
CURRENT TOPICS

Regardless of previous opinions as to the
reasons and causes for a declaration of
| war with Spain, each state is furnishing
her quota of soldiers with a promptness
that speaks volumes for the patriotism of
the people.
| The fighting will be done as much by men
who deplore the Inauguration of hostilties
as those who have been crying for blood.
! blood, Spanish blood" since the Cuban
question was brought vividly to the atten-
ton of the country several years ago.
Each section has determined to do its full
| duty, now that the issue is squarely made
with foreign foe and whether the strug-
gle, shall be long or short every American
regards ultimate victory as already as
| sured.
| All crises, such as this country is now
| passing through, have a tendency to de-
| velop cranlSs, and freaks, who add to the
| prevailing agitation by unseemly conduct
| Perhaps the most noticeable, prominent
form of this development at the present
time is the sensational preacher, who de-
livers from the sacred pulpit an exciting
spread-eagle speech, accompanied by all
the incidents of Fourth of July GRAFTON.
! even to the clapping of hands, and the
|
approval of his belligerent utterances.
| These pre-supposed messengers of Peace
in a number of instances have become full
fedged meters of war, and the advocates
| of carnage and death.
1t is unquestionably within the rightful
| province of every minister of the gospel, no
| matter to what denomination he belongs,
| to speak bravely and fearlessly upon every
| question which is in anywise connected
| with the welfare of humanity Especially
| at a period like this is a preacher expected
| TO take his stand courageously upon ma
| tional questions but in manner in Keep
| ing with the sacredness of his profession.
| He has a right to his opinions, and shoutu
have the courage of his convictions; II ne
| is a coward in any matter, religious, moTai
or nolitical. he Is unworthy of the office he
fills
As a huma itarian in the broadest, widest
sense, a clergyman, no matter how conser'-
alive. is necessarily called upon to oeal
with every subject that touches upon the
condition and the well-beng of the human
| race.
Every thinking man and woman is in
accord with this proposition, but every
one who esteems the church as the temple
of God, intended for the comfort and wor-
ship of mankind must deplore the ten
dency of such a gifted minister as Rev.
| DR.. W. w. Landrum of Atlanta to use
| Gods house as a place for patriotic adj
| Dress intended to arouse the passions or
| men, and which was greeted with rounds
| of applause!
Such demonstrations in churches are,
| happily, very rare in this section of the
| country. So
| They are not novel in other parts OF
| the republican that period when the north
was stirring up enmity and wrath against
the south to excite the prejudices of other
| sections against the Shareholders of this
region, it was the northern preachers who.
Sunday after Sunday, GRATED and ragged
like crazed lions concerning a people of
| whom they knew almost nothing. Thelr
political harangues from church pulpits
were greeted with wild, enthusiastic ap-
plause, and the war of 81 to So stands
largely to the credit of such religious
fanatics as the Beechers, etc.
| But this kind of preaching 90 is, happily,
| new thing in the south, and 1T is to be
| hoped that the example set by Rev. Dr.
| Landrum last Sunday night at Atlanta will
| remain conspicuous because almost COM
| panionless. When a clergyman hungers for
| the audible, noisy applause of men when he
| desires to relieve his pent-up patriotism in
a Fourth-of-July fashion, there are many
convenient halls where such things are APP
| propriate and enjoyable. An eloquent ora
| ton always appeals to the average Ameri-
| can, regardless of his political or religious
/ views; but there seems to be still in the
| hearts of southerners a desire to separate
| the preaching of the gospel of Christ from
| spread-eagle speeches in Gods temples
|
| DIR. Landrum is a man of unusual ability,
| broad culture and Christian, whose daily
| life attests the genuineness of his religious
| faith. He is also one of the very best
pulpit orators in the south, but his grafton
| Sunday night at the First Baptist church
| at Atlanta savored suspiciously of an I'M
| fortunate sensationalism, novel and unde-
| sirable in this section. His speech was
| roundly applauded in the church by the
| large audience present, and next day both
| the Constitution and Journal of Atlanta
| published it in full. AS an GRAFTON on the
| side of war DR.. Landrum's discourse may
| be rated as complete success leaving as
| he did nothing unsaid that could incte the
| pugnacious instincts of men. AS sermon
from a minister of Christ, delivered to men
| and women, who need more than polltico-
| historical instruction in Gods house, it was
| a sad and dismal failure.
| The necessary discussion of great public
| ouestions by a clergyman is one thing; SEN
sationilism and war-like harangues are a
| far far different matter. BALL.
UNCLE SAM TO GOMEZ.
| From the New York Sun.
| I am coming, Brother Gomez, am coming
with by boats,
An my boats are rammed with thunder,
| yes, street.
An I'm goin to speak a11ttle piece think