The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-05-02
CHURCH IN POLITICS.

CHURCH IN POLITICS.
Rev. c. B. Dalton, pastor of the
First Methodist church of Boise, has
thrown off all disguise and boldly an
nounces that the church should take
an active hand in politics. We may
now expect the Rev. Dalton and
Apostle John Henry Smith to join
hands in a crusade against prostitu-
ton, gambling, the liquor traffic, and
corruption or incompetency in official
positions. If churchmen endorse the
position taken by the Boise minister,
they canot question the right of Nor
mons to do likewise. The Boise min
lister claims that the church should
not attempt to Influence men to re-
else its influence to enforce the laws.
There is a distinction without a diff
ference. The enforcement of the law
depends upon the officers, notwth-
standing our theoretical idea that
any citizen can see that the laws are
enforced. They can but they do not.
No one objects to the church people
exercising all their privileges and
rights as American citizens; but they
do object to the church officials using
their ecclesiastical positions to influ-
ence political affairs. 1t would be
all right If ministers were inspired
with an afflatus. But too frequently
they are not. Having no experience
they are easily duped by Machiavel-
liam politicians. Not being inspired
in political matters, another objec-
ton arises in that the minister or
priest cannot throw off his minis
terial or priestly garb, when he as
sumes to enter politics. There could
be no objection to Joseph F. Smith
as a man, advising his friends to
vote the Republican ticket; but there
are strong objections to Joseph F.
Smith as prophet, seer, and revelator
and president of the Mormon Church
doing such. There is sanctity, in
the eyes Of the churchman, which
hedges their priests. No matter how
good the intention, priestly interfer-
ence exercises a baleful influence.
II the people could bring themselves
to think of their priest as a minister
of God while in the pulpit, and as
a politician while on the stump or on
the street corner, 1t would make no
difference what he said or did To
Illustrate how this works let us give
an example. When lawyer or a
merchant or a politician Is introduce
ed to an audience he is introduced
as Mr.. or Hon. John Jones of Jones'
vile, but when a minister Is intro
duced, 1t is invariably as Reverend
or Bishop John Jones of Jonesville,
no matter what the purpose of the
meeting may be. To add emphasis
the denomination to which the min
lister belongs is usually given. There
Is no use in pretending that the
church movement has to do with
only such forms of immortality as
gambling, drunkenness or prostitu-
ton. 1t is certainly as immoral to
steal as to gamble. Corruption and
incompetency in high places, have
caused untold misery. If interfer-
ence, as church, is justifiable in one
place it is in another. We cannot
say thus far you shalt then 60 and
no further. The real antagonism to
the Mormon Church is not polygamy,
but the alleged fact that the Nor
mon people are not free moral agents
in business and politics. A Methodist
hierarchy would be as deplorable and
un-American as Mormon or Roman
Catholic hierarchy. So long as spiri-
tual guidance comes thru priesthood,
so long should they refrain from DO
litical activity. There are a sufficient
number of laymen who can accom-
plish the political regeneration of the
world
THE RIGHT STAND.