The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-01-28

charges, and, when explained, refused to make
generous amends for the injury they had done.
Degradation OF the Pulpit.
"Why Is the Pulpit not more inhuential7 Why
is not this great agency eectua in restraining
instructing, and reforming men?" These are ques-
tons which must frequently suggest themselves to
every mind that takes the trouble to reflect at all
on the condition Of society in the present day And
yet they are questions which appear TO be- almost
altogether overlooked by those who affect to IN
form, and guide public opinion, through the instru-
mentality of the press. We endeavored, some
time ago, to furnish some answer to these queries,
and showed in a manner which brought conviction,
at least to some minds, that the ineticency of the
Pulpit, as a means of popular instruction and re-
form, was owing in some measure TO the want OF
TACT knowledge of human nature, Just conception
of the sphere and character Of the Pulpit itself, and
the want also Of adequate talent in the great body
OF tn use who presume to minister in holy things"
and perform the functions of spiritual guides and
leaders Of the people. We return to the subject
now, and mean to point out some additional causes
of the comparative failure of the Pulpit in the great
work Of making men better
And one of the very chiefest Of these causes has
been the wide diffusion, amongst the clergy of all
denominations, of the spirit OF schism-of contro-
versy-of wrangling-of fierce and bitter disputa.
ton. In every section of the Christian church we
find large numbers Of the priesthood constantly
going about, raking up the Goals Of strife from the
ashes Of the past, and retailing the acrimonious
controversies of departed bigots. Every where We
find men, ia the garb Of ministers of peace, who,
like him of old who burned the temple of Diana,
that his name might go down to posterity, are
ready TO envelope the church in the flames of contro
versy rather than die without notoriety Differences
of the most trihing character divide the Christian
world and the different tribes, can safely say,
appear to hate each other with perfect hatred.
Religious feuds are proverbal for their Bitterness.
What then can be expected of the Pulpit, when its
occupants, instead of preaching the simple and
powerful doctrines of Him who came to proclaim
good will amongst men, and whose first command
ment to his disciples was that they should love one
another, are engaged, Sunday after Sunday, in
hurting against each other fierce and vindictive
anaihemasl How is the world to be converted,
whilst they who profess the name of Christ are
rendng his raiment into pieces, and Transforming
them into badges for the contending factions, who
have carried their warfare even 10 the foot of the
cross, Invoking that name only as the watchword
Of strifrl
Another fruitful source ofthe degradation of the
Pulpit, has been the descent Of many Of the clerg,
into the filthy arena Of party politics This hai
been manifested particularly of late years. Tot
many of the clergy of this day seem to have LOST
almost altogether, the high sense of the dignity o'
their oficc-its solemn responsbties-its lofty
elevation above secular affairs, which certainly, IL
a former day appeared to be generally impressed
the minds Of those who ministered at the altar
The political partnership of a clergyman excites
now hardly any surprize We have seen even dig
nitares Of the church coming from the sanctuary
and amid the fumes Of tobacco and strong drink,
belching forth violent political Understanding
the minds Of the people with all the vrulence Of
party hate, and actually assuming all the airs, ant
practising all the low, disreputabe acts Of the COM
mon political demagogue. The effect Of this has
been most disastrous TO the interests of religion.
Not only have they who thus degrade and disgrace
their sacred calling, destroyed all their influence
as teachers of morality and virtue but they have
degraded the Pulpit itself-they have hardened the
profane-they have cast reproach upon religion
they have practically led many to believe thai
Christianity is all mockery, a system of hypoc-
risy aud humbug.
Contrast with all this the ministry and the lives
of Christ and his Apostles The founder Of the
| Christian faith went about continually doing good
1t is impossible to read and study his sermons
the mount, without being convinced that they con
tain the best, the purest, and the soundest system
| of morality ever propounded Even infdeliiy it
SELF in all the darkness and prejudice of its
lief must admit that the precepis Of Jesus of Naza
reth altogether unexc eptionable-that they ex
hbt the true acknowledgements their faithfl,
observance must make man just, honorable, wist
and happy And with what mildness were ahes,
precepts taught both by Christ and his Apostles
No Kissing discordance OF bigotry and ansn
mingled with the silvery sounds of Christian love, al
they were uttered OH the shores of Galilee, or il
the streets of the holy city. Ana never can Chris
tianly fourisfi-never can the Pulpit fulfill it,, higl
office until there be return TO the spirit and prac
tce of the first promulgators of the hiistlar
faith.
IMPORTANT PROM ALBANY.-We learn from AL
bany that wing legislative meeting, or c,lucus
was held in that city las, Wednesday ev ,ning
which nominated to the Convention Henry Cha,
Tor the Presidency recomm ended Milard Filmor'
for the Vice Presidency; and appointed the Ma
ionsl Intel'igencer and New York Tribune III,
party organs, in and out all the -ssccal communi
ties"
These movements are important in their wav.