The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-26
TUESDAY. JULY go. 1898.
RELIGIOUS cRUsADEs AS WELL

RELIGIOUS cRUsADEs AS WELL
The hold which the moot question of
Imperialism has taken upon the pulpit
is quite natural, for aside from all of the
considerations which favorably influence
the statesman, the politician, the pro-
Queer and the exchanger of commodities,
the minister of the gospel Of Christ cruel
fed is inclined to interpret events as di-
vinely appointed and in furtherance of
his mission of world regeneration. Time
and space are measured by him with
different yardstick. Washington's fare
we'll address ought perhaps to influence
him more strongly than others, for IN his
chronology 1t was delivered only last
week, while the Monroe doctrine was but
an inspiration Of yesterday. But he looks
further into the shadows of a legendary
past-back of Washington and Column
bus and the birthday of freedom-and
reads his duty in the ultimatum that Is
sued from Sinai, and that has since been
laundering down the ages. He sees ~
the distant islands of the sea that are to
come under the domination Of this gov
eminent myriad peoples of pagan lin
cage to be brought under the banner OF
the cross, and the dangers that bestrew
the pathway leading UP to moral and
spiritual regeneration appall him not at
all.
The privilege Of participating in the
discussion of the new doctrine of foreign
conquest, territorial acquisition and
commercial expansion may not be denied
the preachers. The exploitation OF the
policy is to them an instrumentality for
better and less sordid achievements. On
that ground, at least, they may JUSTIFY
their interest and find warrant for their
assertiveness.
"The highest function of the minis
ter" declared Rev. Burt Estes Howard
last Sunday, sis not to arouse sluggish
interest in the affairs of some other world
than this" but rather "to act as the me-
diator between principles of righteous
ness and the business of living in this
present world" He holds that the pulpit
fails to fulfill it's function, If it does not
interest itself 'in the whole range of
matters that affect the life of the peo-
ple."
The contention is neither local nor ex-
elusive, and it begins to be apparent that
the pulpit is to exercise powerful in
fuence in the shaping of governmental
policies with reference to the lands con-
quered from the Spaniards. And what
is lacking in consistency in pulpit utter
ances on this theme is more than likely
to be compensated for in religious fervor
Illustrative of this Is the sermon of Bish-
op Samuel Fellows, of Chicago on Sun
day last. He referred to the incredulity
with which the old world accepted our
declaration of a strictly humanitarian
object in waging war against Spain, and
declared that it will yet see that we
were thoroughly honest in our state
ments." But he followed this up with
the declaration that wherever the Amer
lean flag now waves, or wherever 1t
shall wave hereafter, at must never be
taken down until another flag, which
shall represent the same glorious ideas
shall take it's place"
This is the precise doctrine shouted in
the Ohio Republican state convention re-
Gently by General Grosvenor, with polit-
ical ACKNOWLEDGMENT as the motive. 1t
is almost identical with the assertions
of Senator Teller, with possible thought
Of new markets for the silver of his be-
loved state.
Another Chicago divine, Rev. J. H. o.
Smith, was at the same time assuring
his congregation that at Is part of the
divine plan that the United States shall
extend it's protectorate over other lands. :"
And this enthusiast does not propose any
halfway measures for the regeneration
of mankind. He pointed out that al
though England has for years stood for
the principles of Professionalism, Amer
lea will stand In the parliament Of the
world for the principles of nonsectarian
Christianity" and he declared that eff
an Anglo-American alliance Is formed,
It must be upon the American, not the
English. platform"
Rev. II. Atwood Percival, of the same
city, declared that we must as a nation,
take our share of responsibility for the
rest of the world" and that the part of
it which falls to us now, unexpectedly
and unsought, but still providentially,'
must be accepted and cared for "as a
answer to God and to history
And still another Chicago pulpit thun-