The Irish standard., 1901-04-13
POLITICS IN The PULPIT,

POLITICS IN THE PULPIT.
In our remarks on the outcome of
the Chicago municipal election we said
that whenever "the God-and- morality
party" in that city called upon the pas
tors of fashionable churches to de-
city Offices, the men so denounced in
the interest Of pharisees were sure to
be elected by the people. The other
day q Chicago preacher reprimanded
his brethren for their rabid attacks OH
Carter II. Harrison and advised them
to keep out of politics in future. The
con-conformist ministers of England
seem to exercise more influence in poll.
tics than the Protestant ministers of
the United States. When they espoused
the cause of Gladstone, the Liberal
party usually won: but when the pluto
cratic ministers of this country drag
politics into the pulpits the people re-
sent their partisanship by voting the
other way. The Chicago Chronicle re-
fers to the matter as follows:
The Sunday previous to the late city
election the occupants of dozen or
more pulpits Numbered resonantly
against one Of the candidates for may
Or They reiterated the ISLANDERS
against Chicago contained in partisan
newspapers and in the stump speeches
of candidates. Not one of these
preachers had credible evidence to sus-
tain his charges.
AS has been previously remarked in
the Chronicle, it is not popular to cal
umniate the city in which you live,
which furnishes you with your sup
port and the protection of your home
The result Of the city election showed
the folly of the experiment. The pull
pit did not influence hundred votes
in the city.
The pulpit should be great intlu-
ence for good. 1t is such an influence
except when it interferes in politics
and other matters with which it should
have nothing to do. The preacher is
not the keeper of consciences. His Of
flee is advisory only within the limits
Of the faith which he represents.
When he turns politician he goes out
of his walk in life. AS in this case,
when his lack Of political influence is
shown it impairs the force Of that
wise, proper and just influence which
lie should exercise. \
A striking illustration of these facts
is at hand. During the recent munich
pal campaign in st. Louis, which was
quite as animated as that in Chicago,
the various clergynlen were asked to
advise from their pulpits the members
of their congregations how to vote.
Some ill-advised preachers, like those
in Chicago, gave rank and repulsive
partisan advice to their hearers. The
great majority, however, respected the
advice which they held and refused to
participate in the political campaign.
Among this number was Rev. Daniel
Leary, pastor Of the Holy Rosary
church, and one of the most distin-
guishcd clergymen in the West. He
announced that he had been request
ed to deliver political sermon, but he
had refused. He then denounced the
slanderers Of his home city. He said
that never before had he seen in any
political campaign truth violated so
often, so Systematically and so flag
rantly. He warned his hearers to re-
gard no lies and added:
LET me now entrcat you to cast
your votes influenced purely by the
dictates Of your own consciences, and
not by what any other person may say
of the different candidates. This you
should do in the interest of religion
and Christian morality"
Good Christian priest! Wise and
pious spiritual and temporal adviser!
Such is the man who from the pulpit
advises the members of his congrega-
ton to vote as they choose, not under
his dictation, but in accordance with
their intelligence and consciousness!