Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-02-20
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1853.
CHURCH AND STATE--kNOW-NOTH
AND MErIiODlSrlSM.

AND MErIlODlSrlSM.
While the Know Nothing movement is contr'l'e"
and directed by the crafty ambition OF politicians
doubtless many honest people have ait"c''u '"
selves to it with the unsefsh motive oil .~nrn
tho interests of religion. Yet, there Is ~
clearly demonstrated by reason ana ''.o' .o.h h,,b
attested by experience, than that r'.s' ,;.b fine
its spirituality and its power 'y "'''''"N
state. .:,,. ,,,,e nnlpnhlc
-, ~; conduct of the lrrcconch"oi' &c
'u'''" '"'' ,, tho religion Of the New leS'"
man, and the political uilal's "i '''o "''.'
'hon' a"" ~ na,,,,,t solci,ute he cnjoned a total
r,,,c, of his church from the s'a'e' "' '''
maxim Of policy than a. precept o "u''
the spirit of this injunction vas Pre'"."' :.,
church, the light Of Christianity was u.''"''' "''''
miraculous rapidty. Prosecuted 10y t''e "S", po"
- ~ ria. .t,ta driven TO caves ana deserts lor 'io
,;,,.r,y or s,cre, prayer, tortured at the stake
r.r,.J bv beasts OF prey, Christianity was not SUD
,,,, rr.,, in strength as in beauty until the evil
rr;, or worldly ambition corrupted its heart Then
h.,s, st ouco it's dcforInty and Ills decay. Schish
md hcresy destroyed lis ia'r Prop'r''o"S' ''e
.ons of the world drove the bloom OF virgin nc''n
nud beautr from It's angelic form Seated Oh 'nro"e'
with n sceptre in its hand and world al lis leet
Christianity was 10 longer the simple faith OF fisher
men. but u base compound of barbaric pomp' gross
sun.rstitiou and selfish ambition. Its light was ex-
tipcuished and men CROPPED III darkheSs I'LL" error'
mill the world over which it had usurpcd doml'ioh
sunk into u worse than healhen savagelsm ana cor
ruption By long ages OF struggle with rehheu skep
,;c;sm and vulgar superstitior-by the groans ana
,,,nv Of another cruciGXion, Christianity made
o,ourn,cut for its aposacy and redeemed itself from
IN. ,orrup,iou and ,hradom 'i worldly passion II
recovered the beauty and strength ot lis oF'E'i'''
form, and with the restoration oil lis spIF'"ai uo''''
! iun began the reign OF modern ciVii'"h'oh'
Ii we limit our observation to any particular age
or country We will discover abundant liluS'r"oh "'
the lesson conveyed by this general view o inc pro-
rrcss of Christianity. Ii we take France anu the
eighteenth century, We nation revolving against
the double desposn of the priesthood and the state,
und roiing in the extremes of superstition and skel
ticism. The prostitution OF Religion to political pur
poses was avenged by the apotheoss of Reason' ana
resulted in the reign OF hcartess materlulisin. IL
we turn to nslanI in the seventeenth century we
find the same intimate aud corrupt alliance OF Church
and State provoking revolt anon. the people hnl
resulting fortunately IN tn" restoration nj p"rer re-
T,,;,r pur;,sni.,u however, became possessed "i
the evil spirit of political AMBITION was corrupted IN
consequence and ended in the scoting and detost"-
hlc ipdiffereutism OF the Restoration. True religion
found refuge in dissent survived the pains and pen
| o,t;.s nj persecution established its pure reign
nm this continent aud iourishes here, exempt
from the pride and uncorruptcd by the power OF
ind
sruc,ed by these lessons OF experience should seek
10 degrade the religion of this country from It's hlsn
position of independence, and 10 debase It's SPf'oi
Ihaa,trr Uy curnal cannrAion with the poNtice oi
the state. Every true friend nf Christianity '"'h
heart u,bued with tine unscGsh spirit o. s early ds-
cples and mind 10 comprehend its essential interests,
will reprobntc the attempt to enlist his religion III the
service of party. With the sad and impressive ad-
monition OF history before him, he would choose
rather that lis religion should suffer the scourge OF
parsecu,io Than be pempered with the pride "i pow
or and wealth. II has survived, anu would again
auryiye the torch and tie rack, and emerge all the
Irirhtcr and stronger from the trial, but corruption
and decay is the inevitable penalty of particlpa-
ton in the selfish struggles of party.
As civil lborty is the result of an elaborate sys-
tenn Of checks and balances and would run INTO not
GUS license and anarchy, if it were not held IN re-
strsipt and subordnation is religious freedom ana
inlependence preserved BY division and dlrrihu-
ton of power among different churches. Zach IS
onions oil the other, aud the ambitious encronch-
merts OF one are resisted by the united opposition OF
all. H. however this salutary equilibrium be once
DESTROYED, whether by the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF one
church or the oppression Of another there can DC no
harmony Of movement among the re1t Inc
balance of power overhrown, confusion and conflict
will cnsuc, with tie ultimate result efa hierarchy e.
tablished on the ruins OF the rival churches. The
spirit Of bigotry is nsataGle No concession appeases
ts terocty TO conquest short OF exclusive dominion,
satisfies its embo. 1Gc ally oi to-day Will be the
victim OF to murro", and the work OF persecution aud
subiugaton will he driven on, until the grim monster
ia clutted with gore and power. Know SothingIsm
will net be content with tue proStras!Qn ct thp Calho-
lc Church. Ihis partial conquest will but whet Its
appetite aud stimulate 10 further violence. Indeed,
the e.t victim is already selected ur The sacrifice.
PAMPHLET has been written in the interest Of the
Know Nothing order, in which the doom of Method
ism is denounced in the spirit Of the extract below.
Will all true Christians aud all sincere friends of
freedom of conscience unite in opposition to Il
ment, which, blending the zeal If !crn,;ci.m with the
craft anI policy o sc n ambition, threatens dcstiuc-
ton 10 all cnurchca, md hopeless corruption to re
gion!
From the Trenton True American