The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-14
The POLITICAL PREACHER.
The People Object to His Adoption Of
Policy to the Neglect OF Principle.
Communicated

|. Communicates.
" herever prohibition becomes q real issue
YOU may liaten for q cry TO he raised against
the preacher going into
Reformed Presbyterian.
Right you are, brother. The great majority
OF preachers, az long as they preach the Cos
nal of temperance, righteousness and Judg-
ment 10 come are In their legitimate sphere
and nave the respect OF all mankind. After
they collect pastors salaries and When tney
neglect their pastoral duties to bedrasgle
their skirts In the filth and slime OF politics.,
that is quite another matter. 1t Ia astonish-
Ing that good men, as our preachers are,
should lend their personal influence 10
bring about q condition th At must re-
sult In the worst Imaginable state OF de-
moraliZation. It is Just such mistakes as this
which must result In blind tigers. and which
Ill advised efforts must bring alienation If
not disrespect, between preacher and people.
Such q course lessons the faith OF the people
In the wisdom Of political preachers.
II preacher makes blunders In politics, OF
which we may know something, shall we
doub BIT his knowledge of theology?
As a rule, preachers have much to lose
when they 20 into politics, and we believe
they lose nine times out OF ten. And nine
times out OF ten the consistency or the SINGER
ity OF the advocates OF q political system
which must necessarily result In clubs, blind
tigers and liquor running at large Is best
shown or proven by their preaching temper
ance before this political question was raised.
The readers of the Press and Banner remem-
Der how faithfully ministers preached
temperance last year, and the year before,
and all other years before the question was
raised as to whether we should have the dis.
pensary or blind tigers and free liquor. Isn't
it strange, too, that all those political preach
ers should aligu themselves on the side that
will bring blind tigers and a repetition ofthe
worst state Of generalization that the city OF
Abbeville ever knew? Isn't it also strange
that those who would i%naugurate a sys-
tenn which must incidentally bring lawless-
ness, drunkenness and decentralization should
PUT on airs OF boiler than thou? Their action
is accounted for only on their ignorance.
They are good men at heart and would no!
Intentionally injure the country.
A preacher who has proper respect for his
Office and whose salary Is paid by members
Of q congregation, which members are not o
| OuO VI o W pAO uAO "oJ Va Sh'h6'A W.
drunkenness. Injuries his usefulness when b.
uses his pulpit for political purposes or tc
make schisms by arraying one against an
other.
There is not, l assume, a man In all thit
land who would not be gratif1ed by the etfor
OF any preacher, or of any newspaper, to In
still temperance principles and to faster
temperance habits on the life of the people.
But when 1t comes to taking sides on
question, to say the least. which is OF doubt
full expedlency, then the preacher to som
extent Injuries the church and lowers tn
degree Of respect in which the people shoulc
regard theil spiritual adviser. When he as
sumes the role OF political dictator they will
talk back.
There is one reason which should foreve
keep the preacher out of politics. He ha
studied theology, or he thinks he has don
SO. In studying theology he has {
course neglected intercourse with met+sntI
be knows less OF bis hearers thar he know
Of the writings OF some antiquarian. He can
not possibly be a political leader. No better
proof OF this was ever seen than was giver
( by the recent "mass meeting at Abbeville
The names Of five men appeared to the cal
one OF whom has left US, and another ha
given notice that he will 60 at q later day
Three tailors Of London, we believe, sent
petition to Parliament: 1--WE, the people @
England" etc.
While the preachers who called the meetip
are as good men as could be found, ant
while they are as forceful and as effectlv
preachers of the gospel as any one coulI
uIcb vat ifnhev hsd had mora tact and ha
q little more experience as politicians the
would have sought the support and coun
sci OF at least a few. of their lay brethren
While I am not certain OF any Individual
:. vote, yet Ithink 1t perfectly certain that tn
conduct OF. that meeting destroyed the las
vritage of hope for the Inauguration OF the
> reign Of the blind tiger in Abbeville county