The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1910. CHURCHES AND POLITICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 914, 6 September 1910, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1910. CHURCHES AND POLITICS.

To those people at this end of the world who have been astonished during the last two or three years at the part the Nonconformist Churches have played in the 'politics of Great Britain,, it will not be surprising that, on the authority of the' London Horning Post, there is amongst the Nonconformists "a growing . feeling of unrest at the political activity of their religious leaders, a feeling that the grandeur of their mission is neglected for meaner ends, a consciousness that both the desire and the capacity to do their real work are failing. Thousands of Nonconformists," the Post further reports, '.'are alive to the danger. With the keen instinct of simple piety they realise that the nobler eallo'f their Church is being subordinated to a •lower aim. They are oppressed by the hot and dusty atmosphere of politics, which now pervades tho chapels where once they found comfort and refreshment. The distinctlyreligious utterances of ministers, who on. week-clays are absorbed in political speaking, sound with,- the hollowness of an interlude in their real - lives. Their Sunday, appeals to live in charity with all men ring false to the ears of a hearer who has listened to their daily' attacks on classes whom he 'knows by experience to be kindly neighbours." If this is true—and the repute of the Morning Post, forbids the thought that it is not stating facts, even though it is generally opposed to the politics of the Nonconformist leaders—it is a matter for general regret, J'or Nonconformity was born .of''.'a"pas-sion-for spiritual ideals," and aimed above all things at the making of saints. . To achieve/its spiritual ends it had. in its early stages of growth to wage war on temporal fields, and therovunfortunatoly appears reason to fear that in maintaining, its; character of militancy its leaders have concentrated thoir best energies on causes neither religious nor' spiritual. Thore are, of course, some burning political issues, in which • the .. Nonconformists'- are deeply concerned as Nonconformists,, but these are insufficient to explain the. general Use of the pulpits' and the meetings of Nonconformist bodes to make Nonconformity a nakedly- political force. "Political activity" is placed in tho forefront of the reports of the National Free Church Council. Even' the tariff issue is, treated-as an- issue involving - the Free Churches.: In' .September,- 1909, for example, ,'Dit.' Clifford wrote to the public .press saying: /."The'. Passive Resistance League are not strong- enough; of themselves to fight proposals of fiscal reform.. For this purpose all Nonconformists must be : rallied and led. 1 have no hesitation in saying that the-Free Church Council will lake tip the work as a" Council." Nonconformity as a union of Churches, accordingly organised a big campaign ori behalf of. the Liberal -party. Countless leaflets wore, issued, and Nonconformist ministers by the score gave themselves up to the delivery of political; addresses. . Some' of the wisest Nonconformist leaders foresaw the danger of this political activity, as, for example, the late Dr. Dale, of Birmingham, who refusod to join in- the establishment of the Councils on the ground that political activity could only be pursued at the cost of a loss of spiritual ; .power..There have lately been many protests against the growing absorp-' tion. ..They have come, as 'the "Morning Post ■ points out, "from. Mansfield College, ; from Mr. Cadbhry, from the author of a striking article, 'Nonconformity and -Politics: A Word from Within,' and from anonymous letter-writers in the, public press.". In the Daily Chronicle 'of April 2G last there is given, as ! one of three explanations of the progress sive decline in tho number of the Baptists _ "political. agitation, iii which ministers, deacons, and members have undoubtedly taken a.great part." Perhaps, as the Post observes, the Baptists are.more sorely tempted than any other denomina tion at a time, when a President of a Baptist Union is Chancellor of the Exchequer.

It is. nowhere questioned that Nonconformity has not only exercised a purifying and uplifting influence, but has rendered magnificent service to liberty and to the strengthening of the national .character. So it is' specially doplorable that its good influence should be weakened by the,_ surrender of its leaders to the fascination of political warfare on purely secular matters. In New Zealand, fortunately, a better condition of' things prevails, although wo _. dare say a great many Nonconformists have witnessed with an uneasy interest some recent indications of a willingness on the part of their leadors_ to flirt with the, Labour - Socialist organisations. Though it would bo a very good thing if the workers' represented by these organisations could be brought into wholesome communion with-the Churches, nothing but harm can result from anything in the nature of a political entente between Nonconformity and Labour. The only safe course for any Church is to steer clear of general politics,' and this is a truth that needs special emphasis just now when we are being .told that the Churches aro "losing their hold on the masses." To surrender the position, and climb ■• down into the secular arena, _ is the very worst way of endeavouring to recover lost ground. Although it may Bound like a platitude, the Churches, of all denominations, should decide that it is their duty to remain aloof from politics. Let them seek to create the moral sentiment that will elevate the standard of citizenship, and so raise the standard of the Lcgisla- | ture and the whole tone of our i rjublic life.