Washington sentinel., 1854-04-06
BLIND GUIDES.

BLIND GUIDES.
The clergy, in the discharge of its legitimate
and proper duties is worthy of all respect. It's
mission is high and exalted and when faith
ful to that mission the clergy is entitled to all
reverence. But, sinners as we are, we are
panied to see that large portion of the clergy
men of the northern and northwestern States
have Of late pursued a course Of conduct which
is so disgraceful and degrading, that it must in.
fict more grievous wounds on the cause of
Christianity than any which reckless and ram
pant infidelity could infct
Our readers have already been informed of
the insolent and blasphemous memorial which
portion Of the clergymen Of New England sent
to the Senate of the United States some weeks
ago. Since that memorial was read, and since the
Senate ofthe United States passed the Nebraska
bill, preacher meeting has been held at Chicago
to denounce that bill land the manner in which
thereverend agitators uttered their denunciaton
WIS redolent of insolence and blasphemy, and
eminently calculated to bring themselves into
contempt, and even their sacred calling into
disrepute.
IF the salt shall lose its SAVIOR, wherewith
shall it be salted? If the ministers of the
Gospel degrade and abase themselves, where
shall we look for men to urge and enforce the
precepts of Christianity? If the preachers
had acted only as citizens, we would have pre-
ferred no complaint against their action. But
they have chosen to act in different capacity.
They have come before the country with BIAS
phemy on their tongues; and have thereby
forced upon US the unpleasant duty of holding
them up as warning, and also as q mark for
that public reprobation they deserve, and for
the punishishment which the betrayal of the
most sacred trust demands at the hands of an
offended and outraged people.
The wretched fanatics who assembled at
Chicago, like the New England preachers,
made declarations FIN THE NAME OF ALMIGHTY
Gop,' and had the audacity to give, in His
name, and as "nainisters Of the Gospel Of Jesus
Christ" authoritative expositions Of the mo-
rality and legality ola proposed legislative en-.
actment, which had been sanctioned by a large
majority of the representatives Of the sovereign
States Of this confederacy. Not satisfied even
with this desecration, these revered gentlemen,
with as little piety as decorum and brains,
(having none of either,) undertake to shock the
moral sense Of America by announcing that
they are "divinely appointed" for "the decla-
ration and enforcement of Gods WILL" and
that it is their duty, in questions of war and
policy and in the conflicts of political parties,
toproclaim "the principle Of inspired truth and
obligation"
We ask every candid mind if such declara-
tions are not infamous ?-if they are not bias.
phemous? If the high and holy influences Of
the church are to be thus degraded and dis.
graced-thus perverted and UNANIMOUSLY used
it would be far better that the whole of the in.
solent and canting hypocrites, with white era,
vats, and black coats, and empty heads, and
offensive manners, should be suppressed, until
worthier men shall follow them in the same
walk Of life. Preachers are proverbially ig.
norant Of the practical affairs Of men. The
education which they ordinarily receive makes
It almost impossible that they should know any.
thing Of ordinary passions or the ordinary stim-
ulants to active and efficient exertion. Their
time is ssSJnt not among practical working men,
but amongst old women, with bad teeth and
worse eyes, who wish to get to Heaven by
useless charities-by working to induce others
to send flannel shirts to the Africans, whilst
nakedness and want are at their own doors.
Ifthe preachers persist in forcing themselves
into politics, we, as public journalists, will meet
them at the threshold; and, when we cross
bayonets with them, we will neither give nor ac-
cept quarter. No man can have a more ex
alted idea Of the purity and beauty of the char.
acter of Him who, more than eighteen hundred
years ago, laid the foundation of the Christian
religion no one can entertain greater admi-
ration for the system Of morality which He
taught. 1t is simple; it is beautiful. The
mere contemplation of it makes the heart, even
of sinful man, open to kind and charitable
emotions, and to pure and virtuous impressions
What terrible offence, therefore, do those men
commit who, speaking in the name Of the Re-
deemer, seek to stir up strife and contention,
when their mission is mission Of peace and
good will
As general rule, the preachers know moth