The daily sentinel., 1908-05-05

Sunday morning, IN his sermon at
his church in Denver, the Rev. p. I.
Ramsay, of the Methodist Episcopal
church, South, one of the ablest and
most popular ministers of the capital
city, declared that it is not the place
of the ministers to dabble politics.
/ This position he takes in face of the
| fact that many of the ministers of
the parent branch of the Methodist
church in Denver have come out
openly for the Republican ticket.
At the close of Rev. Ramsay's re-
marks every member of the large
congregation pressed forward and
congratulated him on the stand he
had taken.
These are the remarks Rev. Ram
say made at the close of his regular
sermon:
1--WE are in the midst of political
campaign and the situation is of
such a character that it is expected
of every pastor that he say something
relative to the campaign The posi-
ton of the Southern Methodist
church has always been neutral witt
regard to politics. 1t objects to its
pulpit being used for the political ad-
vancement of any one person or for
the advancement of any one political
party. 1t stands for the moral and
the religious advancement of the
communities in which its congrega-
tions are located.
"In this campaign there is one
matter under discussion that has for
its object the moral advancement of
the city and whenever the city is ad-
vanced morally it is advanced re-
! ligiously. / refer to the local option
question. Local option is purely a
moral issue. Both the political par
ties have pledged their candidates to
enforce the local option feature in
every ward and in every precinct in
which the citizens of that precinct
1 indicate by their votes that they want
: local option enfoSced. Thus both
the parties are back of this great
moral issue and / trust that every
member of this congregation Will
lend his or her influence to the en-
actment of local option in every pre-
cinct in the city in which it is being
submitted.
$50 far as your individual politics
are concerned and in regard to what
party or what candidates you shall
support, have no right to inter
fere. The Southern Methodist
church believes that If its pastors
teach its membership the true les
Sons of the life of Christ the church
need have no fear about the mem
bership not voting for what it be
lieves to be the best interests of the
community at large in every way
possible. If a pulpit is devoutly
devoted Sunday after Sunday to
Christ's teachings. its congregation
cannot get very far wrong and | am
willing to trust my congregation TO
vote as it's individual members see
fit and | know it Will vote for those
things that will make the city better
and for those officials that will ad-
vance the city in the greatest pos
sible degree morally with every sue
ceeding administration.
$50 far as your moral and your
financial support given to this pas
torate is concerned, it will not be
used for the advancement of any
candidate or any political party. This
pulpit will never be a stump for any
political stump speaker to use. Your
church believes in the teachings OF
Jesus Christ and when that is done
it knows its individual membership
will do what they deem best in the
establishment of his teachings in
governmental affairs through compe-
tent and God fearing officials.
"The pulpit was not made for the
advancement of politics. So far as
the moral and financial support of
this congregation to the pastor is
concerned, it will never be used for
the benefit of any party or politi-
clan. 1t was made for the advance
ment of the church of Christ and If
it is used for that purpose no one
need fear but that the individuals
will do what is right in the selection
of man for mayor"
81 don't want people to come to
this church." he continued, with the
idea that, if they didn't support the
views of the pastor along political
lines, they weren't welcome. Re
publicans. democrats, socialists and
everybody, regardless of political
faith, is invited here. 1t isn't the
principle of our denomination to ad-
vance partisan interests. / do not
want to preach for any particular
candidate. l am glad that both po-
litical parties indorsed in their plat
forms local option in the residence
wards, and, whatever party is elect
ed, we are assured of local option