Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-30
RELIGION AND POLITICS.

There is great deal of misunder-
standing in some places as to the true
relations between religion and politics.
Some are apprehensive of disastrous re-
suits, IL the two are permitted to come
jim contact. Or. w. A. Hobson. OF
Jacksonville. Florida Is not one of these
apprehensive souls. In a sermon which
he preached not long ago to a large
audience, he urged Christians to take
an active part in politics, to save the
city from the tyranny of the un-Chris-
tian element, The sermon as reported
by the Florida Times Union. Of April
IS, contains very much of general in
terest.
The speaker pointed out that the citl-
zens are under the necessity of fight
ing the lawless element, il they desire
10 secure good government. He de-
scrbed this element:
1.-THE saloon Is a mighty factor In
politics. 1t was never more active than
at present. Flushed with Victory Il now
seeks to entrench itself in the strong
holds of power and control the law
making, as well as the w-abiding
powers. The saloon is the chief cor
has distinct moneyed interest. and,
having a moneyed interest, II COM
mand5 money and talent to carry cleo
tons The free ballot has suffered much
from the organized saloon interest. Men
are hedged in on every side, and every
means. fair and foul, is used to com
manl their support. The saloon Is
the worst enemy to political freedom
that America has ever encountered IL
gathers the worst element OF our citi-
zens about IT, and on the day Of cleo
ton II throws this volatile and danger
Gus vote against the moral. social ana
spiritual interests Of the commons
wealth. Is II possible that the saloon
type. the purchasable ballot the graft
or the law breaker. the man who has
no regard for God or man II he van
only ret gain. is 1t possible that virtue
and intelligence must be ruled by ig-
norance ana greed? Well-that de-
pends"
Then he asked:
should the church take any part in
politics?
The saloon says, No! The politicians
gay No!
SHOULD the pulpit take any interest
IN politics? No, say political bosses Let
the preachers stay out ut politics. keer
the churches out keep the clergy out
th0y are sacred functionaries, they are
Spiritual agencies. An nut VINO are
these that hold such high ideals up foi
the church and the ministry Is It be.
cause they have such supreme an.
stainless regard for the house OF prayer
aud the men of the ministry Ar,
these men Of the cup and the .on {,
dictate the place and the policy o
church and clerical activities Is thu
motive which prompts their protest Low,
and devotion TO the cause for which
tho church and the ministry stand? II
40, their lives lie I'm the opposite drec'
don 70 their motives. The politician
and his political boss-the saloOn--kn1N
that SO long as they can keep the min
ister locked up I'm his castle and thl
church with Us robes drawn closel!
lest they should be soiled by tho dir
of politics. so long can they contrn
the elections and dictate the laws 81
long as the pastor stays out ~ polite
and his pulpit is silent on the question
the church people OF the communrj
viii take little or no Interest In poll
tics"
The speaker continued IN this strain
He expressed tho opinion that tn
church has the power 20 control TN
politics In any city In this country, an'
'if We he said stand on, or walk OF
the other slide, while our unfortunnt
N.'other suffers from the hands Of tn