Politics and Religion

Politics and Religion.

“Suppose a thousand Christians should march through the streets with torches, shouting at every mention of their Lord, and bearing banners and transparencies inscribed with passages of Scripture? The Legislature would vote another palace hospital for the insane this winter. Suppose all the houses should be illuminated along the route, and adorned with bunting and banners. The papers would talk of a city gone mad. Suppose that man yelling yonder at the very squeal of his voice over a stirring forthsetting of his favorite candidate, should hear the stranger in his pew next Sunday say Amen! in a ringing way, over some stirring forthsetting of the Lord. He would probably ask the sexton to show the disturber of public worship the way into the street. Boston will be warned again and again during Mr. Moody’s visit, against excitement, and told the necessity of making one’s calling and election sure by calmness. We confess this political campaign has made us long for even something sometimes called fanaticism in religion. In real enthusiasm the devil beats us out and out twelve months in a year.” Even the New York Sun has this sensible reflection: “When any body goes crazy over religion there is a great outcry about it. But we have no doubt that more people have been sent to the mad-house through the excitement of the late election than have been put there for a year on account of religion. —Christian Statesman.”