The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-06-12
1.-THE PREACHER IN POLITICS"

preacher in politics.
The preacher knows no middle
ground, and either loves or hates with
all his heart.
Ever since the abolition of slavery
became a political issue in the Unit
ed States and got more or less mixed
up with the churches, the south has
had numerous occasions to feel the
unreasonableness of the preacher in
politics"
Largely from the misrepresenta-
tons emanating from the pulpit the
great body of the northern people
have an entire miscOnceptiOn of the
instincts, customs. habits and aspira-
tions of the southern people.
We were pictured as slave drivers,
wearing boots and a slouched hat, boot
ed and spurred with whip and revO!v-
er. and the whiskey flask an ever Goa
slant companion. The picture was a
base caricature throughout.
We are reminded of these things
in recently looking through some OF
our old files.
One Of these papers, printed just
twenty years ago, gave an account Of
Methodist missionary committee in
New York discussing the advisabili.y
of withdrawing from missionary work
among the southern whites. In COM
menting upon the same this paper
said:
We do not believe there is a radi-
cal politician, even in the heat Of
close canvass, who would have ut
tered such malevolent, false and afro
cious SANDERS as did these reverend
gentlemen who pretend TO be teach
ing the gospel. We are not surprised
that our local ministers, members of
the same denomination as these mis-
siOnaries, as well as members OF the
Methodist Episcopal church, south,
should express establishment at hear
ing such remarkable doctrines coming
from the mouths Of ministers, and
should hesitate TO believe it possible
that they should say such cruel things.
Had not these facts been brought be-
fore us as they were, we should NJ
most be prepared to doubt them our
selves. for we scarcely believed thai
so much sectionalism still survived n
the north.
"The whole missionary committee
seemed to be thoroughly agreed as to
the innate wickedness, depravity and
moral leprosy of the south, but while
one party favored a large appropria-
/ ton for missionary work here for the
purpose of fighting this wickedness
and eradicating it, the other wing, led
| by Bishop Foster, thought this a waste
of money, as the southern people
that is, the white people of the south
were so utterly bad that nothing IN
the world could make them any bet
ter. The bishop painted in glowing
colors a picture OF southern pride,
pauperism. ignorance and tdleness.
There was some slight hope for the
negroes, among whom a trace Of vir-
tue remained, but the southern whites
were beyond the pale, and had always
been and always would be. OF course,
he went back to the days Of slavery
to make this picture more impressive.
In fine, he INDUCED in violent, phar-
lisaical and hypercritical abuse of the
south and the southern peOple-and
all this under cover OF religion"
These preachers in the pulpits
gave out the idea that the principal
crop grown in the south was drunk
ards and hOrse-thieves.
And now comes good Brother Big
ham preaching against so good a man
as Albert Gilchrist, whose grandfather
was a great Baptist preacher, and
whose whole life has been one 81
temperance and for temperance. say
ling that he had rather vote for a
Seminole Indian for governor than
Gilchrist!"
These things, it seems to US. do q
positive harm to the pulpit, because
what does it profit a man TO lead q
: life of sobriSty and morality if his
character is to be publicly assailed by
: those from whom we expect fairness
: tolerance and the gospel of love.
Don't let the pulpit so conduct Z.
self that the common people will los
their respect for it.
Don't let it mix up with politics, bu
let it confne itself to picturing tn,
mission of the church in such viviC
colors as to draw the people OF the
whole world toward it and believing
it so holy as to phostrate themselye:
at it's feet.
: HAS KNOWN GILcHRIIST FROM