The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-17

.Text.-Matt. S2:l7 with John 1896:
things which are Caesars: and unto
God the things that are God's'"
'.Thy Kingdom IL not OF this world
The pulpit Is being asked to make
ito deliverances on new and ar almost
endless variety OF topics. b
ton. anti-Ssloon League: Civic Right
e~ousness: Good Citizenship; the Duty
OF a Man Ut the Polls: Labor and Cap
ital: Child Labor, and. as At late, a
prociamation by the President. re-
auesting ministers to preach on the
White Plague"
The sincere. earnest minister must
feel ~-essed: indeed. must feel con
fessed as TO his duty and the legiti-
nate scope of his pulpit work.
Recent careful study anew. has ciar-
shed one mind at least.
One conviction is that the pulpit
in not TO be used for exploiting all
or any OF the subjects named. or sub
J.cts OF a kindred character. the
ige-eminent work OF the pulpit Ia, We
believe, to be the incubation OF spir-
itual truth: and these subjects named
TO he handled as the Word OF GOO
handles them. II 10 not the plan or
OF any pastor to make their
DntDtt 81 place IDT N4EH uiSs
nor will a pastor consent to be LED ~
preach on any subject that a body OF
ministers or iayInan may select ana
petition ministers to preach thereon at
some specified hour. on some selected
Sabbath day.
Lei us be understood. We are not
opposed TO Prohibition. or any OF the
great movements for the hetterment
OF mankind-only this-the pulpit Is
~ Itt ~
things. The church is spiritual. His
work is spiritual. His commission Is
TO preach the Word OF God. She is
not a hastings OF to-day, nor of the
character with. the Erecian "porches
OF the past. No one can question, nut
there In the strongest tendency to-
day n call the church In as a powerful
ally ito fight the battle OF the state
Every day the temptation grows to use
the vast power and organization Oh
the church. not only for moral pur
poses, but for political purposes also
We must confess. that when one sees
tire complex character OF our Domestic
political, and national life; when one
calmly considers the evils that are
arising, the great moral vices tina
are evolved, there 10 a feeling that We
must do all in our power to help stem
their awful inyushency tide OF Gin anc
sinful practices.
But let US be thoughtful.
The church In aroused: She Ia seek
ink more and more to render every
aid 10 every wen meant purpose fo'
social AMI moral betterment. But she
must do this In the regular and proper
discharge Of her functions.
To give discourses arguing whether
prohibition, local option. high license
etc. are most esir~able--there ars
.A~uu AA~s --n h&ffAxsn AA nnt h&
long to the church Of God. and are moi
to take the place OF the sincere. ear
rest preaching of the Word of God
That q preacher Is 10 rally his mem
berehip on the Sabbath and TO lar
ranxue then, as 70 how they are u
vote. is absolutely out of place In th'
pulpit, as we understand IL. As a citi'
zen. a minister 10 to awe his irnu
enes always. and at all times for tina
which ts pure In politics, hones II
government. sober In life and charac'
ter: but under the garh of his minis
tsr,al calling. we feel that IL 10 little
short OF a prostitution OF his sacred
once. for him 70 seek to marshall hi
members into .'fying squadron" e
storm the falls or to badger men a!
to the choice OF their candidates,
In this thought, we are simply stat
ing our own position. sincere ans
eanseerated men will think and &C
differently; and. OF course. we pretend
to think only for ourselves. But tn US
the church has no right, as a church
to 20 into politics. 10 decide this o'
that question. The church is spirit
ual. Her work Is spiritual. The pas
tor of your church o vote for pro
hibition and suppose that all hi
church members would. but when vi
do these things. we do them not al
members OF the church but as citizen'
OF the Commonwealth.
Your pastor 10 a citizen, as well al
q preacher. He votes according to tn
y DEBATES of his conscience.
Further, IL Is our solemn judgment