Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1854-06-09
The Position Of the Clergy.

The Position Of the Clergy.
10 a long, well written, and, as we think,
truthful article under this head, published in
the June number Of Harper, there occur the
following remarks. In these times OF pro-
rrcss backward in religion, when clcrgymcn,
or pretended clcrrymcn, are mere moral lee
turcrs or poliicans-and, in not a few in
stances, infamous slandercr, such remarks
deserve the careful consideration OF the whole
community:
"Thc position Of the clergy among the
powers Of the age, is a topic closely suggest
ed by the remarks We vcniured TO make in a
previous editorial. Would tia, we could dis
cuss It in 4 manner which It's Importance de-
mands One thing, however, may be safely
affirmed. Whatever may be- though, of our
structures or our Communications, they are
certainly from tho hands Of a friend. We
Weld 10 no one, not merely ia respect for the
clergy, bu, in an earnest desire To sec them
occupy the place which alone BELTS the IN
,rins,c dignity Of their calling and It's relation
to an that Is highest OF most saving in our
humanity.
There is, then, only one place they should
occupy. We rcjoicc when "o see them IN
possession IT II VIC grove d''ply ne fnr a
most dcplorablc and cllamiious event. when
compelled to admit that they have fallen, or
arc falling, behind it. This place is in eS-
trcmc van Of the worlds true progress, IN the
"iorslror, Of tho hotties, battle" Wilh,hc pow.
crs OF evil, whether they be the Gcnds Of sin,
Of ignorance, OF false knowledge, false theol-
ogy, false philosophy, or tia, most deadly Of
all Satanic iilsIlics-hlsc sentiments. When
wc thus speak OF the worlds progress, no one
will mistake our meaning We have but ono
idea in The use ofthc ,om-progress in truth.
And here, too, another kind Of cant neccssi.
ta,es a caution IN the use OF language. Ii is
progress. cot 30 much IN new tru'hs-lhcrc
mas be vast accumulation Of these without any
substantial advances in the wider diffusion
the deeper appreciation, and stronger hold Ct
those Truths it is most important for man to
know-iho5o ancient truths, those mover Oh
solc,c truths, wi,hou, which all other pro.
grcss is but progress in labyrinth, and all
other light but 4 darkness visible.
There can be no doubt that tho tendency, a,
the present day is to magnify the political,
the social, the secular, or wha, may DO called
the vorldly.humaniiaran aspects connected
with proicsscdly religious movements. Even
On the anniversary platform it il becoming al
most as common to hear about the rcgencra'
ton oftho race as the salvation ofsouls. The
millennium is to 10 ushered in by political
movements, and be itself sort ofPoltico.rc-
iriou, golden age. Christianity is to cover
the nth with railroads aud iclegraphs, and
these, again, to dilTuse Christianity with a
speed unknown to apostolic times. 1t may
be thought that this is making fast friends Of
the Mammon Of unriphieousness but is there
no, some reason to fear tina, in such 4 course
instead Of the Church's spiritualizlng the
world, the world will sccuarizc the Church,
or that it will be made as completely subser-
Went as though it had been bound TO the State
by some direct and clearlY.tefned connection
onc great cause which was contributed to
give the clergy the false rcarward position of
which we have been speaking, is the wrong
opinion entertained of the nature, and hence
Of the true rank, Of their ofIice-an opinion
TO which they themselves, or many Of them,
at least, have greatly contributed. We re-
fer to that very common view which re-
CARDS .hcm as merely moral lecturers Instead
of men clothed with divine commission, and
charged with tho delivery Of a divine message.
The difference between the two ideas is i'm
mense and immense, too, mus, be the tlif
ference in tho practical consequences. Is
pecially is i, worthy Of note, that the lower
opinion should prevail in an ago distinguished
above al others by its cant about Emissions"
The editor has his mission, the schoOlmasier
has his mission, the author, the poet, the nov
olis,, even tho actor and the actress, each have
their mission but the clergyman, forsooih, Is
getting to be more and more thought OF, and
spoken Of, as voluntary, selfsent lecturer
on morals. Now VIC know we'll CROUCH that
the language, as commonly used, is nothing