PULPIT=POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 5

PULPIT=POLITICS.

» NOT WANTED. NEW NONCONFORMIST ASSOCIATION. TO COMBAT SOCIALISM. (BY TELECIUnt— rBESS ASSOCIATION—COrYKIGnT.) London, April 4. An Anti-Socialist Association is being forme:! among tho Nonconformists to combat Socialism in the Free Churches, and to discountonanco the introduction of politics into the pulpit. Tho executive of the association includes the Bows. Arthur Mursell and J. G. Greenhough. POLITICAL ACTION CRITICISED. The use of the pulpits of Nonconformist Churches for political purposes has been keenly discussed for somo time past. A Noncon ormist minister has recently published a book entitled " Nonconformity and Politics, in which ho states-.— ■ , . , "The main idea which tho writer desires to omphasiso can be easily set down. It is simply this—that modern Nonconformity, in making corporate political action bulk so largely upon its programmes, is forsaking its first ideals, substituting a smaller thing for a greater, and committing itself to a course of action which entails upon Nonconformity a heavy loss in all the things most essential to it if it is to be faithful to its original call. " The political Nonconformist of to-day, when he insists that the corporate political action of his religious organisation is necessary in order to provo tho practical character of religio.i, talks as if his religion had no native and unforced power of producing practical results, and as if it were a mero theoretical creed whence an artificial bridge must be made over to the practical sido of human life."

THE OTHER SIDE. On a recent occasion, the Eev: J. E. Rattenbury, superintendent of the West London Mission (Wesleyan) gavo the other point of view. He stated that he himself took part in politics simply because he had nothing to do bnt save souls. The Free Church Council had been called a Liberal caucus. "Well," exclaimed Mr. Kattonbury, "I am a member of the cutive, and lam not a Liberal. Why, it sometimes takes moderate men like Mr. Silvester Home all their time to keep some of the more advanced members of tho Free Church Council from separating themselves from the Liberal party on the slightest provocation. Wβ must use what political instrument we can, and use it for spiritual ends: I cannot understand how any church can do its work without social service. It. is love that buildeth up—knowledge puffeth up. Outward activity is the greatest help in the building up of character. We must fight against every force that debases humanity." Speaking on tho samo occasion, the Rev. Sylvester Home, another prominent Nonconformist, stated that some critics had said that there would be a split in the Free Churches. "If there is to be a split," said Mr. Hornc, "I would rather see it come over a great moral issuo than over some trumpery point in theology." ' Tho Rev. J, G. Grecnhough mentioned in the above cablegram is a leading Baptist minister. He was president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland in 1895, and has also been president of the National Free Church Council. He is a forcible speaker, and is also well known as an able preacher and author.