Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-04-20
Pulpit Politicians,

Ane iOHo"i"g Criticism upon the New Encs
land clergy remonstr by the Richmand
Christian Advocate is characterised Iyv .orea.
c0gency of argument and no little seaeritv of
censure. Coming as h does frum Journal
devoted 10 religious subjects; and being ore Df
the organs Of the Methodist chBrch, it Is enri.
tied TO particular consideration. II will be
found that IL condemns in unstinted terms the
interference Of clergymen ii politics. Abiding
to the remOnstrance Of The New England clergy
the Advocate says: .f t9 rsai-u7 alArrs-o
tFhisiis sad affair; nor for lhe country, bnt
for Christianity, so shamefully outraged in The
house Of its friends professionally, we can
not be supposed 10 feel indiferently towards
the ministerial character. When in their
place, engaged in their appropriate work, 40
class OF men in the country is more highly
esteemed than ministers Of the Guspel. But
when they turn aside from their holy employ-
menis, and descend into the arena Of party
political strife, they deie their mission, and
lay their honor IN the dust Instead Of wash
ing their hands in iunocency they soil them
with worldly filth, and stain them with crime
against their country's peace. They richly
merit the rebukes administered by gentlemen
Of the Senate, and must blame themselves if,
hereafter, they find themselves shunned as dis
turbers Of the public peace, and the religion
they profess and teach suspected Of having toe
much to do with the world that now is, and
too little with that which is 70 come MY
kingdom is not Of this world, said Christ If
it were, then would my servants fight. We
write more in sorrow than in anger when we
express the belief that this furious conglomera-
ton Of every shade OF religious opinion and
ecclesiastical Poity against the Nebraska bill
has more Of earth than heaven, of time than
eternity, in lis elements aud objects, and has q
higher veneratiOn for mems judgments than
for Gods. notwithstanding their seeming i'm
preston that his judgments are subject to The
impertinent and vindictive movements Of their
own. They can consort, agree, and act with a
massive oneness in this case, but if the question
concerned the sending Of missionary to con-
vert the Chinese, they could not be wuued into
the same bu;idir 9 together, or brought within
bow-shot Of each other, without vexairns, dis4
putiEgs, and sectarian wranglings. We uttef
this opinion with profound humiliation, but
with as profound conviction Of its truth and
Justice. ltis painful TO witness such desecra-
lion of ministerial character, TO watch the
movements of nen, of whom better things
might be expected, engaged in a crusade
against the rights Of the South, and trailing
their priestly garments in the dust 70 acconi-
plish objects not mentiUhedin their commission,
and never dreamed Of in the acts and wri:ings
of the Apostles. These are the evil works
that endanger our glorious federal UniCn.--
Blinded with passion, and with far less reason
for resentment than Samson for the loss of his
eyes. they seize the pillars of the temple and
seek 10 bring il mass of ruins upon their own
heads. !. is to these clerical agitatdrs, #ith
their ceaseless braying against The South, we
must ascribe The opinion, now widespread,
and constantly Strengthening and deepening in
the public mind, that there is something more
sicred than the Union Of these States, and
something great deal more to be dreaded than
their dissolution. Ii the conception reaches It's
cunsummation in the dssUluricn Of our federal
compact, the evil, and all the disastrous convul-
sions attendant upon it, must be ascribed TO the
evil Vaccinations Of those ministers who, as in
The cases before US, turn aside from the pursuits
Of their calling to engage in reckless political
drawings, and 10 Oprosecnto ruthless Invasion
Of the rights Of others.