The New York herald., 1851-12-25

the 0ortootureo OF udfbres OF 70 % sWeyeo by the
witty oouplet Of tourist of che time, who ssys, that
In his travels, he saw Puritan a..a
@Hsngus his cat on Monday,
For killing Of . mouse on Sunday,
Even the gentle Shakespeare, whose words never
paerosely gave offence to any, and who was so par
ticularly resPectful 70 the Roman clergy, that IL
was suspected ne was secretly inclined to their faith
did not omit to to have rub at the Puritans But
If we read steadily that portion of history which re-
fers TO them We will find that the central idea of
puritanism is region-he Christian reli gion with
standing, and standing, and struggling, and fight.
from whom puritanism never received much ia.
vor, as we were reminded most felicitously last
evening, BY our orator, admits that the great prn-
ciplss Of English liberty struck their roots deep
puritanical absurdities - but cannot 20 further
than the accomplished orator has done in llustrat
ing this point, and have only to apologize for
my interference in it, They have been accused Of
only was that intolerance pardonable, but believe
II was at that time providentially necessary for
their seGpreservation-it was just to them like
hedge-row Of thorns, which the farmer puts about
his field to keep out the ~horns and hooves,'
while the grain is striking root. 1t was like the
rough and prekly husk Of the nuts which in my
boyhood used to gather on the New England
time Of growth, but when it was % ripe the Susf ali
dropped off, and fell to the ground by atura al
process. 1t our pious duty this occasion, and
on all occasions to excavate the acts of fathers
out of the of history and raise them and hold
them upon their lofty pedestal, to view and review
them in the light of the sum- to study them seriously
and catch whatever 10 inspiriting in their burning
spirit, and keep whatever is good in their good
ample: .lApplause) In various times, in the his
tory OF New England, clergymen have been az
cused of meddling too much with political affairs
Al ofs. can RENE mber the thanksgiving sermon
e. the Ms Psos and the inn
disturbers Of the State We'll, in later times, clsr
gyman. seeing something in the aspect of the coun
try which excites their thoughts, prepares dis
course appropriate to it; and because the senti
ments which he utters may not be altogether
tasteful to majority of the people he is publicly
accused Of meddling with what does not belong to
him. and is seriously informed that the white robes
Of his office are stained by the views which he has
announced from his aulpit but if he happens to
utter something tasteful, and which fits the public
then sss vSss Of duty are chs and
perform their work" and they publicly begin to
congratulate themselves that their ministers are
alive to the affairs of this life, and speak with
inconsistent. 1t would be strange pendulum
which could only swing one way, and thus some
men think that the proper duty Of the clergy is to
stand aloof from the affairs Of the country, while
Others imagine tha. they do not sufficiently sway
the public mind: Twill give you bit Of history on
this point. When our fathers came to this coun-
try, there were no newspapers: Eighty four years
nss sSs ~as ct hS d ssy ss1y the 5
therefore, of those facilities for communicating in
telligence which now give such ubiquty to thought
The people were accustomed to meet at the house
and the meeting house was the tsngential point
where the sympathies of the people met and the
pulpit was the medium not only of forming but Of
expressing public opinion, and com municating
men Of sagacity, filed with the indomitabe spirit
Of political and religious liberty. Any one
who Is acquainted with the history, Of the
country, knows how, during the old French
sion that the united forces Of the French and
Indians would sweep away all vestiges Of free
dom and re.igiontrom the new world. The pulpit
then showed its sagacity and hrmness. need only
mention the name Of one man-Samuel Davis, OF
Virginia-a Presbyterian Clergyman, whose acts
are now matter Of traditio u the Middle States.
ltwas he whose remarkable ooldness was shown by
preaching before George the Second, in St. James
chapel where he publicly rebuked the king for 10
witty, because he and his coarters could not restrain
their expression Of wsnder, at the Puritans out
stripping in eloouepce the Bishops of the king. Pa
trick Henry was noted for his eloquence it was
that man who at the tine when il became cues.
tion by great part OF the colonies, whether they
could hope for any success in their revolutionary
struggle; Ten days after the defeat Of General
teers OF the country on patriotism and religion as
being essential to the formation Of q good
soldier, and encouraged them to fight frm-
eroachments Of inimcsl power and In that
sermon, preached ingl755, occurs the remarkable
prediction concerning George Washington-" As
an evidence (says he) that God has difased men of
this patriotism through the country, ] cannot but
refer to that heroic youth, then I3 years Of sge,)
Colonel Washington, whom | cannot but think that
Providence has preserved in such manner for some
remarkable service to his country" (Cheers.) /
come down now to that time when the country be.
gan to prepare for the great struggle for American
Independence. Almost to q man, we find tha. the
Presbyterian and Congregational ministers with few
who dismissed for his politics in l776 Che was
accused Of toryism, and tried by special court, be-
cause he continuedto pray for the king, and had
sentry placed over him, so that he was accustomed
ed,'(-Qsughter, )-I sayItha. the clergy stood on
the side Of American Independence and preached it
through and prayed il through. Tney did more
than excite yalor in the hearts Of the people, for
they gave them that confidence Of success which
springs fro the feeling Of Gods presence. Sir two
days before tie first bloody struggle at Lexington,
VIC End John Hancock and samuel Adams in the
house Of Rev. Mr. Clark, at Lexington, projecting
measures for the safety Of tho country and we are
reminded that the evening before The battle Of Bun
hers Hill, Mr.. LaDgdon, President Of Harvard
University, offered prayers for the Of that
expedition. But II IL not possible to dwell on indi
viduals when all patriotic; but the one thing
which we must bear in mind is, that the ministers
of religion, class, In favor OF revolution,
and the country thought that not only they not
uanscendlng TIE outiee OF their ofce, but, on the
contrary, thought tha. they we're right, and so do
we think now. Let rs bear this in mind When look.
ing at other periods. During tha. time, when the
prejudice Of tie New England ministers ran high
against the aco binism spd democracy Of that day,
and they regarded it, existence the most tremen-
dous peril to the country, very peculiar sermons
were preached sgains. Thomas Jefferson. One Of
the texts preached from BY minister in the pre-
sence Of Jefferson was What, have We come to
take shelter under a brsmble;'' and another was
from the 1O5tt Psalm Let his days be few, and
let another take his ofise" (Laughter) At that
time child was brought to an old minister 20 be
baptized. He asked the father what he should be
christened, and he was told in q whisper, 70 name
him "Thomas Jefferson" The old clergyman
having come TO thst part Of the ceremony, said.
/" The child's name is-John" (Great laughter.)
He would not desecra.e his Office by utte-ing that
name in tAe house Of God. well recolleot sray.
discussion between two venerable men, whether a
jacobn could be saved and know felt the i'm
preston 10 my mind that men Of ths. way Of think