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Clergy Censure Governor

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 25, 1909

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 86, No. 47.

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Clergy Censure Governor

By K. C. Russell

K. C. RUSSELL
The Washington Post of October 26 contains the following interesting and suggestive paragraph:—
“INDIANAPOLIS, IND., OCTOBER 25.—At a meeting of the Methodist Ministers’ Association to-day, Governor Marshall was severely criticized, and a resolution adopted censuring him for the following utterances at a meeting of the Associated Charities at Columbus last night: ‘When the average man joins the church, Mrs. Millionaire looks at him with her turned-up nose, and says, “He can not sit in my pew; he does not belong to my set.” When the average woman joins the church, her standing depends on the cut of her gown and the style of her hat. If the church of the living God would get back to where every man and woman were a brother or sister, the churches of the State would soon be filled with communicants.’”
To the mind of the thoughtful reader there are a number of queries that naturally arise as he reflects on the foregoing statements. He would probably wish to ask those who censured the governor, “Do you think the governor’s statement incorrect?” If so, it is nevertheless in fullest harmony with the utterances of many of the most faithful, talented, and discerning ministers of all the denominations. Then why censure him? We do not recall any similar rebukes for the men of God who have frequently and freely given utterance to the same scathing accusations. Was it because such words from so eminent a layman are more apt to offend the rich of the church and reduce the flow of finance into the sacred treasury?
If not for this reason, was the censure because the governor’s words were a reflection upon the clergy for their failure to preach against the rapidly growing spirit of pride and worldliness which is so alarmingly prevailing in many of the popular churches of the time?
To the careful student of God’s Word, the utterances of the governor are but too true a verbal portrait of a condition that is to exist in the last days among those who make a high profession of religion. That Word says that “in the last days . . . men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, . . . despisers of those that are good, . . . having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
At the time when these things are to exist, the charge to the gospel minister is, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, . . . Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come [has come] when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” This scripture has its application to our own time, and we see its fulfilment to-day.
In view of this, then, let no one—much less a minister of the gospel—attempt to silence the voice of one who has the exemplary boldness to speak forth in no uncertain way against the worldliness that is sapping the very life of the professed church of Jesus Christ.
Takoma Park, D. C.