Morning Star

POLITICAL INTERFERENCE WITH RELIGION.

Should not be surprised if our readers should think that now for once we are out on a new subject. For whilst "religious interference with politics" has been discussed in some papers until all thoughts about it must have become stale, and the most common place matter, we do not now recollect as its correlative part, 'the interference of politics with religion,' has as yet formed the subject for a single article worthy of being considered any thing like a regular essay. We know not why it has been so, since the latter proposition, to say the least, is a theme affording as much field for fact and for argument as the former; why the one has been so neglected and the other engrossed the attention of so many quills, we account for in our mind only on the principle that many subjects lie as yet wholly undiscussed every way as worthy as those which have been discussed, that future writers may not in all coming time be destitute of original themes for their pens.

Not attempting to particularize, and not undertaking in our essay to award to each writer the credit which is his due, we recapitulate that the whole class of affirmative writers on "religious interfering with politics," have convinced some readers that these several following conclusions to which they have come are true:—that religious editors of religious newspapers should not take side with any political party—that the ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ ought not to preach in the sacred desk, or converse privately, on any subject that has any bearing on the politics of the country—the resolutions on the subject of peace passed by religious bodies are inappropriate while the nation has soldiers out in Mexico—that when ministers give utterance to the Anti-Slavery truths of the Bible, and plead for the slave, it is coming down from their appropriate calling—that all this interference of religion with political subjects has a tendency to unite church and state—that it is a reproach on Christianity in the estimate of political men: and therefore bad, O very bad! And a thousand and one other conclusions are brought by these writers equally astonishing as those we have specified, during their discussion of "Religious meddling with politics." Who then can foretell but that our new topic, "Political interference with religion," will evolve some ideas worthy of our time and the reader's attention.

We will detain the reader from our subject but a moment longer, just to tell him where he will find "Religious meddling with politics" treated of fully, and discussed in wordy arguments to his heart's content. Of course, in political newspapers, where ministers and churches get some pretty hard rubs, and religion itself sometimes an outright infidel slur. And also, here and there, in a few religious papers, that are neutral (?) in politics.

Political interference with religion. Here, then, after so much rubbish, we come to the theme of what must be but a short essay, having but time now to mention a few leading thoughts.—

For the present, as it has also been for years, politics have meddled more with religion, than it with them. Let us see if the shoe will not fit the other foot. Facts are stubborn things. Let us to facts then.

It is a fact, that politics (what the Jewish law would not allow to be done to oxen that trod out the corn) have muzzled the mouth of the religious press, northward and southward, from discussing freely and fully all truths vital to the best interests of Christianity to be discussed.

It is a fact, that the violent course and decided stand taken by the two great political parties of the country against the Anti-Slavery movement, has sealed the mouths of not a small portion of the Christian community against speaking and praying for, and remembering those millions in bonds as bound with them, according to the requirement of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is a fact, that the hard and overbearing course pursued by strong political men in the congregations and in the churches has been the means that has led not a few of the ministers at the altar, to be silent on those great truths of scalding rebuke to the sin of oppression and wrong of our land, which the Bible itself contains. God only can tell how many of his watchmen have kept back for fear of man. It is a fact, that within the recollection of most of our readers, political presses and political men within our own State, have gone so far as to advise the community to withhold their support, their butter and cheese, from such ministers and pastors of churches, as dared to be Anti-Slavery enough to preach the whole gospel. If this be not politics meddling with religion, pray tell us what would be.

Here we must for the present put a period, but just entering on our subject—satisfied that if we would give an essay at all worthy of our subject, it must be deferred to another chapter. In the meantime, let it be understood as our opinion in the matter, that Christians should not in any party be so political, as to make their religion bend too low to meet their politics.—P. S. B.