The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-05-02
ENGLISH PuLPITs AND POLITICS.

ENGLISH PULPITs AND POLITICS.
One OF the extraordinary features Of
the political revolution which swept the
conservatives out Of power and in
stalled the present British coalition in
control Of affairs was the part played
IN politics by the nouconformist min
istcrs and churches. The nonconform-
lists have always been in sympathy
with liberal politics TO a large degree
Just as the Established church has
found its interests naturally identified
with the conservative party The az
citations Of both are entirely natural,
because one represents the old order
and the other stands for the revolt
against a state religion and control of
opinion by government authority.
II happens, and most naturally too.
that the participation Of the noncon-
formists in politics and the social move
ments attending political activity have
reacted on the pulpits until the charac-
ter Of ministerial activity has changed
remarkably in the past decade. Instead
az the old-fashioned evangelistic
preaching Of the gospel which had its
origin with the Wesleys and continued
on down to Surgeons day. the modern
British nonconformist minister has
become transformed into a political
agent. his church into a center of social
reform through political means. AS
one Of them has put IT, they propose to
brins about the kingdom of heaven on
earth, and do it by political action.
I'm a comprehensive study or this
change in church conditions one of the
London correspondents cites some in
stances In point. Surgeons successor
as the leader Of uonconfOrmity in Eng
land is Rev. DIT. John Clifford Of the
IadGineton G.ondon1 chapel. There
could be no greater contrast between
TWO men than there is between the late
and present leaders OF the free
churches.
Sturgeon was a great preacher. who
had the power 20 move mems emotions
and TO win them to Righteousness. DIT
Clifford is also great platform orator
but his style is not emotional He is an
organi GER and director of religious
movements. and he is an avowed social
ist. At the recent meeting of the Free
Church congress at Swansea, he said:
II was born a socialist. I have always
been a socialist ana WI be a socialist
in the next world" Nothing further
from the spirit Of Sturgeon could be
imagined. 1t is probable that he never
gave a thought to political questions.
His whole life was devoted to making
men saints"
Another exponent OF the new move
ment in nonconformity is Rev. L. J.
Campbell of the city Temple. London,
the head and front of the New Theol-
ogy" movement. Campbell is also an
avowed socialist. but with the difference
that ne works with the Socialist party,
while Dr.. Clifford devotes himself to in
nuencinE and .-permeauns' the LIBERAL
party. other political parsons Of note
among the free church ministers are
Rev. F. B. Meyer. who is the present
oecupier Of Surgeons pulpit. and Rev.
Joseph and Sias X. Hooking. brothers.
who are. perhaps. better known as
novelists than as clergymen. Rev. 10
seph Hooking started discussion all
over the country by a bitter attack on
the church Of Rome at the recent Free
church congress.
These men have a large following. e
course. among the less notable minis
terS Of the free churches. but there isl
also strong party which Is opposed to
the new tendencies Of nonconformity,
hut which has been until quite recently
voiceiess. The most prominent eNpou-
cnt Of this view is Rev. Guinness Bog-
ers. who is known as The grand old
man of nonconfcrmity. and who de-
clared emphatically at the end Of the
last meeting Of the Free Church council
that il ought 20 be abolished" Later
he modified this statement somewhat
and declared that what he meant was
that its constitution ought to be radio
ally reformed. Tt has become a mere
political caucus he said. and it is not
representative Of tho best and most
spiritual elements in nonconformity
The business Of the pulpit is TO preach I
individual goodness and not politics
Principal Forsyth. n. D.. Of the
Hackney theological college. and DR..
Walter T. Adenev. principal Of the Lam
oash're independent college. have also
declared against politics in the pulpit I
within the last few weeks
Not only is the situation Of interest IS /
afecting politics. bur 81 is significant in 1
It's bearing on the development OF /