Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-05-22

their fellow-ciizens, and by reason of their Office
precluded from the functions of ordinary citizen.
ship. With civil distinctions between !. CLERGY
and laity," the old world and other ages have been
Il FAMILIAR But the only attempts to create such
;. distinction IN this country that have come to onr
knowledge, are that of the journal above quoted,
and that OF an ambiguous parsonage in this city
who advertlses himself as ''clerical tailor" and
who informs the public that In order to make his
business better understood, he has divided it into
two distinct parts, namely, Clerical and 'Citi-
zens" Department. The Clerical Department em-
braces the following articles, to Clerical Frock
Goats, Waist Coats or Vests, Gowns, Surplices,
Cassocks, Spencers, 'for Midsummer Scarfs
Bands.-The Citizens Department embraces every
article requisite for gentlemsn's WARDROBE
According TO this division clergymen are sepa-
rated from citizens and gentlemen by their dress
being limited TO frockcoats and vests of peculiar
pattern, and denied sundry articles usually deemed
requisite for genteman's wardrobe while accord
ing to the aforesaid journal, they are separated
from all the public rights and duties of citizens. bv
their vocation-being restricted to preaching and
prayer, and denied certain privileges usually deem
ed essential to the liberty of manhood The one
division is as rational as the other
A moments reflection will show how false and
dangerous IS that theory of the Christian ministry
which would debar the members of this profession
from the common privileges of citizens. Who or
what is minister of Christ, that he should be for
hidden to discuss questions of public and national
interest-to speak, to act to vote on political af
fairs, according to his own Judgment and prefe-
renee, like any other citizen? On what ground is
he to be precluded from the exercise of rights
which have been purchased at the price of blood
History teaches US that the power of the cIerpvI
has been dangerous in proportion as they have
been elevated into class too sacred to ming in
the common affiirs of life. The moment the idea
| 10 off. -, TO- A.
ister, that moment he becomes dangeous man.
So long as he is in and of the people, mingling in
all their interests personal social and public. SO
long he may be respected and loved as relinious
teacher and good man, but he is never feared as
one having authority. He has influence, but not
power. But whenever he is looked upon as having
certain mysterious sanctity, as being clothed
with divine prerogatives, as officially separated
from the common interests of men, then the way is
open for spiritual despotsm to the extent of his
own ambition and of the peoples superstitous re-
gard A minister of Christ is a simple citizen who
by the appreciation, express or implied, of certain
of his fellow-cltlZens, exercises among them the
Office of religious teacher, Just the LAWYER the
physician, the editor, the merchant, the mechanic
exercise their several vOcatons. He loses nothing
of his character a citizen by assuming the office
of minister. To render his ministry most prof.
table to others he should devote himself to its du-
ties with sngeness of aim, and should not secula-
rlze his mind OR IN any way compromise his Chris
tan character.
But it does not follow from this that he is to
withdraw himself from all participation in secular
and civil affllrs. He is to act citizen, being
| careful in all things to maintain-not fictitious
official dignity, but consistent Christian charac-
ter. We submit that minister has as good ripht
to vote as an editor, and as good a right as any
man to sign petition to Congress for the reduc-
ton of postage the abolishing of slavery in the
territory of the United States. In some States
ministers are by law excluded from all political
office. In exchange for this unjust usurpaton they
have the trifling immunity of exemption from mill
tary and jury service, and to extent from tax
alton. But such exemption, if granted at ALL
should not be based upon official character, but
upon gratuitous rendered to the public in
various ways-of which every city minister does
his full sharesand which as in the case of the
physician, fully compensate for the privilege
None of these things should cause ministers to be
regarded class separated by Office from the |
practical concerns of life. Such view of the mli,-
istry is unjust TO them, and if acted upon by the
people, is injurious to the public veal. The surest
way to promote .this country the dreaded combi-
nation of Church and Staten is dssociate min
isters from the common interests of the people, |
from the sphere of common men, and give to them |
fictitious sanctity which IN time would grow to
be spiritual power, capable of being welded for
political purposes with force thousand fold |
creates than all the influence of ministers as pri-
vate citizens
But the aforesaid journal is apprehensive that
these ministers intend TO bring the subject into
their pulpits." Indeed! And what if they should |
apply the principles of the Gospel to national af-
fairs and to the interests of mankind at large:-
What if they should endeavor to convince men that |
selfshness and Mammonism are as culpable in a |
nation as in an individual, and will as surely be /
visited with the dispeasnre of God? On this sub I
iect the following remarks of the Rev. Dir. Skinner,
who is neither Congregationallst nor an abo-
litlonist," are just in point
Though the Church in this land be separate /
from the State, there is no power which can be |
brought into action favor of the nations happi
ness equal to that of the pulpit. The energies of /
this vine means of every good to man, are greatly
increased with US, by its disconnecton from all /
civil advantages and aids. If it receive no support
it is under obligations but those of love. If it
stand alone, yet it is Independent and free; while
there is place near or remote, no person high
low, no subject matter, whether of politics. tegis
tation, morals, religion, science, art TO which it
may not boldly apply its appropriate influence un-
der protection of the government, so long it vio
lates no ones civil rights
We presume the Congregational ministers of
New York and brooklyn will not be deferred by /
the stale cant of eChurch and State from using /
their earnest endeavors both in the pulpit and out 4
of it. to persuade this nation to act in all internal
and external affairs, upon the principle of justice
and in the spirit of christian love.
From Hunts Merch. Msg.)