Pernicious Political Activity by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 1, 1908

Pernicious Political Activity

By Editor

It is a significant sign of the times that the great Methodist Episcopal Church is going into politics. Through its temperance society it has issued an appeal “to Methodists and other Christian temperance voters,” which, in effect, calls upon them to elect as members of Congress only such men as will pledge themselves in advance to vote against the election of Joseph G. Cannon as Speaker of the House of Representatives. This appeal is based upon Speaker Cannon’s alleged attitude on the temperance question, and his persistent refusal to bring before the House the pending bill which provides that liquor shipped from one State to another shall, immediately upon crossing the boundary, become subject to the laws of the State into which it is consigned. The closing paragraph of the appeal runs as follows:—

At least one member of the House Judiciary Committee has been defeated for the nomination on his record on this question, and we believe the time has come when our people who want to help secure this legislation must support for Congress candidates who will not only vote for this measure if they get a chance, but will themselves support for Speaker a man who will allow it to be voted upon; and that its present passage is improbable until Christian voters recognize this situation, and cast their ballots accordingly.

We believe in temperance, and should be glad to see the proposed legislation enacted; but we believe that the Methodist Church is seeking a good end by a wrong means. When any church, as such, enters the political arena for the avowed purpose of controlling elections in favor of those candidates who will vote in harmony with its wishes, a step has been taken which may easily lead to untold evil. The establishment of religion by law and the persecution of dissenters, is the logical outcome of just such a movement as this, as the history of the union of church and state in the past testifies.