Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-07-08
The Church must change her Policy

The Church must change her Policy
We commend the following excellent extract
from the Boston Reporter, to serious considera-
ton. The church 'muSt change her poGcy, -
The speakers at the great religious anniyersa-
ries referred to, can be eloquent about everything
else but slavery and concerned for all the tribes
of men but the slaves. And even some men
who call themselves abolitionists, when within
the charmed circle of such platform will ma
npvre as skillfully to avoid pronouncing the|
terrible word sla0ery, as they would to dodge al
ghost in the intricate streets Of Boston in a dark
night. When shall there be nation of men?
ut is singular fact that in this city and state
of the Purtans-those who seriously entertained
the project of making their government theo-
cracy and who usually did legislate upon ques-
tions of doctrine and duty-t has become al
prevalent sentiment of the christian community,
that religion is too sacred thing to be introduced
into the arena of politics. From the same sources
of political influence to which we have referred
-''some Central Court of high commission,
some Star Chamber of political dictation''-the
edict has gone forth, that, party politics are of
too worldly and questionable character to be
entertained by christians, especially by christian
ministers, as subjects of grave discussion and
deliberate action, as in the vrew of God and
their christian character And the church,
with all its ministry and religious press, has,
with noble, but marked exceptions, submitted to
the dictation If question Of national policy
is before the public, no matter howpregnant with
the most important consequences to the interests
of humanity and truth, the Pulpit must keep 81
Ience the Press must be muzzled while the intrg-
uing demagogue and the unprncipIed adycnturer
are left to mark out the work they call us to
sanction and we with unquestlonlng confidence,
confirm by our votes what, in the "mystercs" of
the political conclave they have decided shall be
DONE Others beside our correspondent ga sub
scriber," noticed the singular omission in the
anniversary exercises last Spring, both devotion
al and oratorical, of all alIuson to the annexation
of Texas, slavery or the Mexican War Why
were such evils of our land and day entirely over
looked, in that week, of all others set apart for
contemplation of the sins and suferngs of a
fallen race and the duty of the church in relation
to them Why have they been nearly as much
overlooked this year? We would not mpugn
the motives of our BRETHREN nor accuse them Of
a time serving spirit and lack of moral courage
| We doubt not they were conscientious in what
they did not do as well as in what they did. AND
we believe that the omission there resulted from
the same honest but mistaken notions that has ST
long closed the mouths and paralyzcd the cncr.
ergies of good men; that it is incompatible witt
the spirit and best interests of religion for its
professors to discuss political subjects or call in
question whatever has become involved with the
party issues of the day-a notion that has made
the church, with 500 000 voters exert so little in
luence upon the governmental policy of the ma
ton as seldom to have the honor of rebuke, from
the most rabid politician, for intractabeness ant
want Of subserviency to party dictation. Fit
millions Of dollars were paid in the "Louisianij
purchase" for territory, from which slave State
might be carved, at leisure--t6c Cherokee L1di
ans 1oere driUen from their hOme-the Missouri
compromise forged new shackles for the bond
man-tory millions were paid for the Floridj
war, with no other object than to catch runaway
negroes and render slave property more secure
Texas has been annexed and the terrible war nov
in progress forced upon the nation-all to strength
en- and perpetuate the institution of American
slavery and yet the church, as a body, although
distressed in view of these outrages upon tn
spirit of our free institutions and the gospel o
Fl the blessed Savior, has stood silent and inactive
because to oppose these high-handed schemes 0
: violence, oppression and blood, would be inter
fering with the party politics of the day and civ
ing offence to those who had adopted such meas
ures as part of their political creed If thei
reasoning was good then, it is good now, an
should Gen. Taylor with all his slaveholding pre-
family and the blood Of Monterey and Buen
4 Vista-or Scott with the blood of the unofendn
/ women and children of Vera Cruz, or the delit
: erately planned Sunday battle of Cerro Cord
5 be forced upon the nation as Presidential car
= dldate, christians and christian ministers and &c
s itors must remain silent because these are part
If men and party measures. We believe tn
a Church is the hope of the world-we believe tn
= Church is the hope of our country but mu.
If she not change her policy before that hope sha
i be realized We have spoken with freedom an
" earnestness but it is because we believe the time
If and exigencies demand it."