Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-20

We arc no croakcrs. II is not our habit neither
does It accord with taste, to indulge in pious
lamentations all the foes that distract society.
aud the vices that beset it. But we are unable to
shut our eyes to the fact that the times are sadly out
oil joint, some way or other. Fanaticsm Of every
description il rampant over the land ard instead OF
diminishing seems to be continually on the increase
What 1t all comes FROM how much crcer it is yet to
become how much wider it is yet to spread, and to
what results it is tending questions about which
we may easily speculate, but which are exceedingly
Difficult to explain We merely note the fact itself,
leaving the philosophy Of it to be clucidated bv
others.
Political fanaticism all accustomed to. be-
cause we see it manifested in various forms every
day. And within the last few months we have seen
and heard good deal Of the fanaticsm of the pul,
pit not in the South, but in the North and upon n
question about which divines if they had been good
men and good citizens, would have preserved modest
silence. But not being either, their tongues would
~aG, dropping, IN the meanwhile, nothing bitter
ness aid basphemy. The Nebraska question having
grown somewhat trite and stale, these Northern
preachers appear to be turning their pous attention
to other matters. Secret societies now seem to be
giving them vast amount Of uneasiness, and to be
exciting their hostility to furious pitch For exam
pie, we observe the following statement going the
rounds OF the papers: "The Evangelical Lutheran
synod oil Ohio, and adjacent States has passed re-
solution not to admit TO church membership any per-
sons belonging to secret societies"
This resolution is exceedingly comprehensive.
sweeping nearly every thing before it. TWAS de-
signed, we suspect, as special hit at the Know
Nothngs but it will necessarily embrace many 9TH
ers outside Of that organization According to it. no
Mason, no Odd,Felow no Son OF Temperance can ever
become member of the Lutheran Church. and nc
Tor know Nothing, if these priestly gentlemen are
70 DC his judges, what chance does he stand in this
world or the nextS No member of any secret society
IS deemed ht to enter the portals of the church,
That sentiment might have been announced in
past age, when deep darkness prevailed, and
men were the slaves of a vile and besottinr
superstition, without provoking the wonder or
astonishment of any body, but does it not seem
almost incredible that it should be openly avowed at
this day, and that too by educated and intelligent
ohr,saan denomination We know there is an
opinion prevalent among the ignorant-the most il.
norant IN society-that men are after no good when
they join secret soeietes-n other words that they
then become the allies and confederates of the devil
the agents of his WILL his disciples and apostles Blu,
even among this class, we thought this ridiculous
idea was we'll nigh exploded But to see it enter
tanned and acted upon by men making any pretcnsions
to the most ordinary enlightenment is something we
had no previous conception OF.
This insane spirit of persecution, however, must
necessarily reco upon those who indulge it. The
time has past, and this least of ALL is not the country
where it will be tolerated. And if it were to be-
morality and freedom both-the very things the
church processes SO much to have at heart-would
soon go down before it. The church and religious
persons had better quietly pursue the strict line of their
legitimate duties, enlghtening and persuading men,
and not attempting to use force or to persecute 4
good example is better than coersion or persecution
or much preaching either. If men choose to ioin
secret societies. they have perfect right to do so,
and it is no part of the business Of the church to
make fuss if they do. The day for ecclesiastical
despotsm and priestly domination has gone by, and
any attempt to revive it will only meet with dscom
future and confusion. Men in this country are free,
both as to political and religious opinion, and their
rights in these respects they not disposed to sur
render at the bidding of bigory and fanatcism, scu
lar or ecclesiastical.