The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-16
NEW YORK HERALD.
Ssctarian Christianity-uar. Websters Argu.
ment In the Girard VIII Case.

New York, rrfdsy, Hebruary 10, 1874.
sectarian Christianity-mr. Webster's Argu
,nent in the Girard Will Case.
We have had variety Of sectarian controversies
among the various sects in this city and throughout
the country during the last few months-sometimes
the Episcopalans, then the Roman Catholics, then
the Presbyterians down even to the Mornons and
Millertes but one of the most curious and orlgi-
nal fances upon the subject of general religion that
we have seen, is the recent argument ofMr. WEEP
ster in the United States Supreme Court against the
VALIDITY of the will of Stephen Grard We nave
had this argument reported full LENGTH ana IL mas
been circulated 10 the extent of many thousands all
over the country; clergymen'and religious persons
of all descriptions have been perusng witha great
deal of attention some with extraordinary symptoms
of admiration, and some not knowing what to think
oft
The argument of Mr. Webster is certainly curl
ous affair and the manner in which it is introduced
is equally curous but in order to understand the
original question, and the arguments applied to that
question by Mr. Webster, II will be necessary to
give an extract from Mr.. Girards will-the passage
upon which the whole controversy turns
EXTRACT FROM THE WILL OF STEPHEN GIRARD.
Ienjoin and require that occlesiasc, missionary,
srcss any station or duty whatever in the said college
nor shall any such person ever be admitted any pur
pose or s visitor within the premises 70
ton, do not to cast any reflection upon any sect
person whatever but there is such multitude OF
sects and such Diversity Of opinion amongst them de-
sire keep the mind OF the orphans who aroto
derive advantage from this bequest free from the excite
are 80 apt to produces my desire that all the instructors
and teachers In the college shall take pains to inst into
tv 80 that ON their entrance into active life, they may
from inclination and habit evince bene towards
their fellow creatures and love OF rutn soDriey am
industry adopting at the same such religious tenes
their matured reason may enable them to prefer"
This passage, to a person of common sense, |
would seem to create nsnperable difiiculty-to |
indicate no irreligion and infdelty-ne violent or
concealed antipathy to Christianity or Christian
morality in the broadcast sense Of the term. Yet
strange to say, out of this common sense clause,
based upon facts in the history of religious and sec.
tartan quarrels which are crowdng all around us,
in all ages and IN all times, Mr.. Webster has
framed an argument which is purely sectarian in
its purposes and as narrow it is possible to have
been invented by any bigot, and as unchristian in
its results as any argument which he denoun- |
ced, or any opinion which met with his with |
ering condemnation from the French volumes Of IN
fidelity.
Mr.. Webster's three days argument before
the Supreme Court may be comprised in a nut
shell. 1t is true it flies off in this direction, and
runs away in that direction, and goes round and
round about in every way but after all, its wind
ings and Its mrnings, it may be compressed into
the smallest possible compass.
The only ground of objection to the vail
dity of the will of Stephen Girard, and the
principal ground, as presented by Mr.. Web
ster, is the exclusion of all clergymen of the
various sects of religion in the world from ever en-
tering that college, or approaching the tender
minds of the children until they have reached
tain age when it is to be supposed their own judg-
ments will be able to guide them. Mr. Girard's
exclusion embraces all sects of all religion not only
the clergymen; he will admit no eccesasic,
minister or missionary of any sect whatever. Now
it would appear from Mr.. Webster's view of this
matter, that he considers the clergy to be
Christianity itself-that the clergy embrace
the whole of Chrislianity-tO be its length
and breadth, and nothing else This is GER
tainly viewing the subject in the narowest pos
sible manner, and combining the benefits of re-
lgion to very narrow circle indeed, and certain
ly corresponds nUt with sfAs asisiass establishment
of the church of Christianity we find it in the
New Testament under the authority of its founder.
The facts upon which the views OF Mr. Girard
were founded, are indisputable. What have we pre-
ssnted to u.s. in the plainest day, by the various
cesiastics, ministers and missionaries of the vari-
Gus sects Of religion among us? Look around, see
the controversies which have been deluging
the world by Catholics, .Presbyterians, Episco-
palians and all other sects, and upon what? Not
single point of morality, not the elucidaton of
single element of mind, not single thing that
benefits society or advances pure religion has been
touched by them, but it is all merely about the dis
r Al IL oC ,crn
sect can best maintain their own particular powers
against the clergy of another sect. In all
ages and in all countries, we see the same
discreditabe and dsgraceful discussions among the
clergy; while, if we want to find where pure Chris
tianity resides, have to go TO the private house
to those who make no pretensions to superior mi
nistrations from heaven-to those who read the
Bible, who study the pages OF the New Testament,
or who gather their morals, their religion, and
their Christianity from the four gospels but not
from the impudent, and tyrancal, and ambitious
clergy. For nearly seventeen centuries have the
clergy, by their ambition and by their rivalry, by
their hatreds and by their antipathies, kept the
world in a state of turmoil during the whole time,
creating discomfort, breeding war, and stirring up
nation against nation, and people against people
This certainly is contrary to the maxims of the
gospel, and contrary to the principles promulgated
by the founder of Christianity, upon the mountains
and in valleys of Judah.
1t will be seen, therefore, that Mr.. Webster's ar
gument misses Its aim completely when it POUNDS
itself upon the position that ecclesiastical mission
aries and ministers of sects form the great body Of
Christianity, the models the principles Of Chris
tianity enjoy exclusively all the purity Of the gospel
and the influences of the Holy Spirit, which was
to continue with them to the end of the world. 1t
is recorded prediction that wheresoever two or
three are gathered together in His name there He
will be in the midst of them and whercsoever two
or three, or four thousand, or any number of men
and women, are collected in one community, and
that community, or society, draw their precepts of