Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-10-25
THURSDAY EVENING. OCT. %, 1900

Four years ago some Of the divines
of the different denominations in the
land, especially In the city OF Wash
ington, undertook to trail their sacred
garments in the mire OF party politics.
There were two or three bishops en-
gagged in this unholy business. The
great body OF the Christian clergy hon.
orably sbstsined from public utterapces
or meddliug with politics. 10 private
life they have the same right to vote
as other men and to express their opin'
ions: but the best men among them
seem to realize that if they fairly de-
vote themselves to their sacred calling
they will have little time to be giving
poltical instruction TO others who are
nrobsbly better informed and more
competent to express opinions GU pc
litical topics than themselves. As the
election day approaches some OF the
clergy. who are anxious for Dotoriety,
are again pitching in" They are
naturally for Mckinley aud his policy
of blood and rapine iu the Philippines.
One of these gentry is a Catholic bish-
op, another an Episcopal bishop, who
was heard from in 1896, and another,
bishop OF the Northern Methodist
Church. There is not one OF these men
who has ever shown any marked ao'll'
ty even in theology, and their effort to
shape q Presidential election borders
on impudence. The great body OF good
Christian people look on such Intrusion
into the field of politics with regret and
disapproval. II these frocked parsons
would turn aside from the political
stump long enough to read sacred his
tory they would fnd an example
long ago OF great Teacher who
spoke as never man spoke. He said
that his "His kingdom was not of this
world" An attempt was made by bs0
men aud intriguers to entrap him into a
political declaration by asking If 1t was
lawful to pay tribute to Caesar. He
saw the snare, asked for penny 10 be
brought him. and said "whose image
has it?" The answer was Caesars"
Then said be, "reuder unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars and to God
the things " hich are Gods" The moral
is too plain to require explanation. The
bishop who Processes to speak in
Christ's name might surely be willing
to copy His grand example. But "iools
rush in where angels fear to tread"
Let no democratic clergyman disgrace
himself by such political meddliDg.
Let him leave it to the clerical pander-
ers to wealth and power, the parasites
of the rich, the fashionable parson who
amid intervals snatched from dancing
attendance on evening parties and din
ners, hsrspgues in the pulpit on poll
tics, tells his flock 10 solemn phrase the
ethics of the Presidential contest and i,
If they still have doubts after seeing
his uniform and weighing his words,
that they can consult him in his vestry.
The question is not new one. 1t is
the old, old story. 10 the days OF the
Saviour there were professors of re-
ligion who cringed to wealth aud
power and called out ''orucify him."
In every epoch since then there have
been good and faithful clergymen 10
whom it was mission and JOY enough
to speak the gospel of Chris, and, uu
fortunately, there were others who es-
poused the cause Of tyranny and des-
potism and were for the kings against
the people. The great political phi
losopher, Edmund Burke, always true
friend of religion and morality, said
that the clergy had nothing of politics
except the bad passions they excited
by their interference. Perhaps it mig bit
be we'll to have day of fasting, hu-
initiation and prayer for the poli'iI,a
psrson, that he may repent nd mond
bis ways.