The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-13
THE PREACHER
AND POLITICS
Dr. Johnson Reads Prayer Before
the Ministerial Union.
RICHMOND ARD NORFOLK
Anniversary Service of the Bible Society.
Or. Evans breaches to Knights
Templars-other Re-
ligious News,
RICHMOND ARD NORFOLK


IL johnson. D. D. pastor of Laurel
Street Methodist Church. read an e1-
oeedingly live ana INTERESTING paper on
.'The preacher and Politics" He pointed
out four great political evils, which, he
za4d- existed IN Virginia to-day. and
,showed wherein the preacher should en-
s1e- tha arena and do battle for the side
OF Righteousness and, morality.
Before the close OF the N Getting move
ment developed looking to the closing Of
the different stores IN the city earlier on
Saturday night An effort will probably
be made to have the City Counoii order
that the markets stop work earlier than
they do on Saturdays. Some suggestions
were also made concerning the opening
OF the postoftice on Sunday.
THE MEETING IN DETAIL
In the absence Of tho president, the
Rev. Carey e. Morgan, the Rev p. a.
Cave called the union 10 order and pre-
sided throughout the session. DR.. r. P.
Kerr reported the great success of the
annual May festival, and expressed it as
his opinion that the institution had
come to stay. DR.. S. K VIM was elected
a mez1ber Of the union. A resolution. Of
fcred by DR.. Kerr, and adopted, en-
aorsed the r NJ. C, A. and commended to
the Different congregations the movement
on the part Of tEe association to pay o.
the entire Indebtedness on the building
and 10 raise additional means FOR needed
imp: overlda:s.
Tho paper t.y DR. Johns-n followed. and
ut onuc gripped the interest of the
union. Attic. touching upon the delicacy
of the relation Of the preacher 20 publie
affairs, DR.. Johnson went on to show
wherein the minister of the Gospel should
exert his influence in political matters lie
declared, generally, that a preacher
should not be a partisan, but ought to
mako his influence felt on the side of
right in the political life of the State
When grsat moral issues are pending. he
said, silence is disioyaltv To God How
ever, the pulpit should not become
pinoe foS stump speeches. bat should be
carefully guarded from decoration. The
elev Ion OF man TO the ministry does
not relieve him OF the duties OF citizen
4 ship. He is a public character and as
such ought to be public example which
VII make himself felt in all moral is
sues.
CONSCIENCE In POLITICS.
The State OF Virginia. d.. Johnson said.
is suffering from many evils bat there
! are four greet needs in which the rrea CHI
er car furnish aid. The first and pro-
l<oUndest of these needs is conscience in
:.,chtics-conscierce which Will make
man hate meanness and raScallty.
Preachers. he said, fail too largely to ed
ucate political conscience. They should
do more to teach men to vote righteously-
The second great need is the leadership
a educated men-nen who have been
educated morally as well as intellectu-
ally. Dema gogism is one of the fear
full curses of the day-a compound of ig-
norance cunning, and mean ambition
The preachers owe it to the State to be
the leaders of public sentiment in the
political life of the community.
RICHMOND AND NORFOLK.
The arraignmcnt at the bar of public
opinion of official unfaithfulness was set
forth by DR.. johnson as the fourth great
reed. The party will often shield the trail
Tor. and hence there can be no more dis
agreeable duty to the preacher than that
of calling public men to account. In
great city. however. where the entire po-
lice power is submerged beneath briba-
~. and gambling houses and saloons
ale running seven days in the week.
4here must be some rebuke. He called
attention to what John the Baptist would
have done in such case In this con-
pection he referred particularly to Rich
xnond and Norfolk, and to them not be-
cause they were worse than other places,
but because he had lived in them The
duty Of the preacher in such cases is I'M
nc pular and perilous but it must be car
1icd out. II the preachers do not inject
religion and morals into politics the lat
ter will become rotten.
The remaining need. DR.. johnson de-
olared to be the emancipation of the
voter from abject slavery to party. Es
scored the men who would vote the par
ty ticket nc matter how dirty it might
be. This he declared to be the root
of political corruption. What is needed
Is the Independent voter. who will stand
Cor the right regardless of party. and
1, IS the duty of the preacher TO Guilt
fdte this emancipation.
In summing UP DR.. Johnson declared
that the preacher should preach a
crete sermon-a sermon put into action
He should walk up to the ballot box
and do that which is right and do It so
openly that his example will influence
others He cited Instances of preachers
who had taken part in public affairs and
referred to Dr. McIwaine and DR.. Dun
away In the recent Constitutional Con-
rention.
SHORT DISCUSSION.
A short discussion of the paper was
engaged in by the Rev. Mr.. Cook who
spoke in the highest terms of Judge S.
B. Witt. of this city, declaring that he
and others were on the side of righteous
ness and would do their part if the peo-
pie did the same: by Dr. Du Val: and by
by DR.. John Harmon. The latter made a
humorous speech, which convulseG the
Union in laughter.
EARLY SATURDAY CLOSING.
.7ust before adjournment. upon notion
OF ut. f1dnnon, committee COILS
of DR.. Jere Witherspoon. DR.. Robert
Orange. Rev. w. B. Beauchamp. H.. j.
e Hawthorne. and Rev Carey Z. Nor
gan was appointed to consider the adj
visibility of inaugurating a movement TO
ha vc the stores and markets close earlier
on Saturday nights, that the employees
nay have more time to prepare for Sun
day The statement was made that il
the City Council could be gotten to close
the markets earlier the others would fol-
low Some suggestion was also made
eoEcerning the closing of the postof!ice
on Sunday. The whole matter went over
until tho next meeting, when the COM
nittee will submit report.
The eishty-ninth anniversary of the
Bible Society of Virginia was celebrated
Sunday night with a special service held
at the Seventh-Street Christian Church.
The address for the occasion was delsr-
cred by DR. F. D. Power, of Washington.
and was an eloquent discourse upon the
subject 1.-THE Perfectness of the Scrip
lures" The annual report Of the Board
OF Managers showed that the collections