Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-12-13
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Dubuque, yourself and several other ,.n.
ucmen of various Christian churrhe, -.
quoslcd the publication Of my sermon do.
livcrcd on the lth inst. A long habit or
speaking extemporancously has made me
careless Of the preservation of either ser.
mons or speeches which am called upon
to make from time to time. Therefore. ,o
give you my language or to transfer TO pa.
per my illusions 10 civil and religious lib.
orjy would be impossible. But, with ,y.
cry possible desire to be brier, shall give
my opinions TO yourself in regard to the
right OF every man TO worship God accor.
ding to the dictates Of his own conscience.
and just as freely express my fears of, and
opposition to, every organization either Sc.
cret or open which looks TO the abridge.
ment Of this great principle, which is es
senlaI to the very existence Of republican
Government and the uncorrupted worship
Of the living God.
You, sir, are Catholic, | am a Meth.
odjst Your faith believe to be the result
Of deliberate judgment formed after a
careful investigation. Your convictions
and devollons are conscientious. Just such
are my faith and my devotions, and the
faith and devotion Of every true Christian
everywhere. suppose you could moi for.
sake your religion and remain an honest
man | am equally clear that | could not
abandon my principles and retain for a
moment my self respect aud enjoy the up-
proving smile Of my Holy Makerand Judge
who kindly regards the nGrmites of his
creatures and scrupulously abhors pre-
tence or deceit. Then, my dear friend,
what are we to do Ga the details Of our
respective religious creeds we can never
agree. Shall you, therefore, destroy me
or shall !, with superior charity or en-.
llghlcned faith, seek your annihilation, be-
cause we differ concerning matters which
none but the wise and eternal God can cor.
rectIy determine Is it an injury to either
OF US that the other, standing upon his re.
sponslbIIlies TO the Supreme Judge Of the
universe, chooses to consult Him alone, and
disregard the opinions Of men, merely re.
Iaing 10 things Of this world 1t would
insult your good sense 10 tamely answer
these inquiries in the negative, for you had
anticipated them ali. There is only one
answer which has been conclusive 10 every
reasonable worshipper of God. "Let every
man be fully persuaded in his own mind"
The Constitution Of the land, wisely pro.
edIng for the political agreement Of muI.
hilarious religious sentiment, has guaran-
tecd to every man the right TO worship
God according 10 the dictates Of his own
conscience. And, Tor the very first Time
in the history Of modern civilization, our
national government has not only permit
ted, but has encouraged, by her liberal
legislation, the growth OF every sincerely
devoted body OF Christians, irrespective of
tneir name or formulas. 1t is with regret
that ! see an attempt made in various por.
tons OF ;he country to create midnight CEN
sorship and star chambers, for the avow-
ed object Of DISTINGUISHING the Catholic
population Of the country, and wag,ng
war, Of all others the most fearful and
Nlnd.ctive-a warfare against religion. In
the whole history of the world there ney.
er has been Il time when such secret or
ganizations as the Know.Nothings were
, left with so shallow a pretence for their
combination as at the present, never
time when so little has been threatened bv
!, any organized form Of Christianity us now.
In the first place, there snot MAORI
ty Of the United States in communion with
any church. There is a very clear major.
lty who are not members Of any religious
body, and this majority would resist 10 the
death the least squirting at an encroach-
ment upon the right Of opinion. In the Sec
ond place the government does not, direct
Iy or indirectly, support by gifts or fees
: any one denomination Of Christians, and Of
coursecan have noprecrencein her choice
among them. Moreover, the numerical
strength Of the communicates Of the seve.
/. raj denominations is very nearly the same,
and kept in awe by mutual watchlulncss.
. 4 mutual lorbearonce, continued since the
organization Of our government, has crea-
ted Christian fraternity Of feeling among
conflicting opinions unknown before in the
history oil Christianity.
The population oflhe United States was
in 1850, 23,l0l ,9lS, and is now about
26,OJO,OOO; of this number about ,6OO,-
900 are Methodss Of every order, ,2OO,-
600 are Baptis's.
Who, then, that is not afflicted with q
!, superstilous monomania, can offer a rea-
sonabIe Pretence for formidable organi-
cation Of a religious power in the United
States Indeed, sir, irthere has ever been
: time when infdelity and contempt for
all religion and an ascendancy, that time
is now
Bot, should time ever come when re-.
lgious intolerance threatens the existence
Of free institutions, and resistance TO &C.
clesaslca power becomes necessary, even
then acknowledgement, or any other Sc
crpt nolitirnl oruaniZ ation nuuht not 10 30