POLITICAL REFORM by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 8, 1876

POLITICAL REFORM.

By Uriah Smith

The different religious denominations, some of them at least, are introducing in their Conferences resolutions to the effect that only Christian men should be put into office. And the object of this is to avoid the political corruption that is threatening to swallow up the very question. This would do very well if the religion of this day, as generally professed, was of such a nature as to furnish any guarantee that he who professed it, was any more trustworthy than others. In the late Methodist Conference the following was introduced:—

“Whereas, While it is not the policy or purpose of the Methodist Episcopal Church in any manner to connect the Church with the State or to bring politics into our religion, yet, in view of the impiety, unfaithfulness and corruption which has come in many instances to prevail in places of public trusts, and in view of the fact that the Christian graces have had so little prominence as qualifications for official positions, and being profoundly impressed that all the blessings of civil liberty which we so abundantly enjoy are due directly to the enlightening influence of the Christian religion, therefore, “Resolved, That we, the delegates to the general conference of the M. E. Church in convention assembled, at this the dawn of the nineteenth century;

in the infancy of our freedom, do most earnestly recommend to the members of our church throughout the country that they endeavor by all just and proper means to place in all the offices of our Government only such men as are known to possess and maintain true Christian characters and principles.”

The Boston Sunday Herald thinks this will do no good and refers to Belknap, Pond and Barlow, as “religiously inclined,” “exemplary,” and unexcelled in “exhortation or prayer.”

The Presbyterian national convention in New York had under consideration a similar resolution, in reference to which an exchange remarks:—

We do not remember whether the resolution was adopted or not, and it is of very little consequence; but the fact is patent to everybody that society will not be likely to fare any better with the most rigid observance of such a rule, so long as hypocrisy forms such an important element in the characters of office-seekers, or “the livery of heaven” affords the most serviceable apparel for the servitors of the devil.” U. S.