Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-02-24
The Ultimate Design.

KN0W-NOTHINGlSM VS.. METH0DISM!
That party which bases its merit and
claim to public favor, upon the policy Of perse-
cu.iag, or the purpose Of eradicating, any par
ticular religious denomination, will be satisfied
With the accomp shment of that single object,
is contrary to the teachings Of history, and the
legitimate tendency of human lalrre. Ancien,
history, which records the actions of men, as
they were brough, to ish, in the dak ages,
whea the human specie was deprived Of the
lghts Of civilization, which now bless our land.
develores the true inclination Of the natural
man. AS one mans own opinions and belief are
those which he believes best calculated to ad-
vance the object of mans existence, so it is
With sectsand nations. This ruling passion Of the
human breast, uncontrolled by the influence of
our present high state Of civilization, induced
religious sects, in ancient times, to wage wars Of
determination against sects Of opposi ng belief
as it did national governments to seek the de-
s.ruction of governments Of opposite forms.
The spirit of persecution was the cause of
the destruction OF every liberal form of govern
ment introduced into the eastern country, in
olden times, State and church of particular
caste combined to effect the overthrow of every
Of the ancient republics 1t has been the
bane Of England, and has cost that government
more treasure and blood--disaffsctio and dis.
,ractIon-than all other causes combined
Yet notwithstanding the lessons written in
blood in the experience Of other nations, and the
advice and solemn admontion Of the frap,ers of
our Republican government, that very Shirt Is
developing itself at this time, in this country.
Not satisfied with "war to The hilt on Ro
manism." the new party which has SO sudd en-.
~ sprung into existence. and asplres 10 reform
both church and state governments, has pre-.
sumed to lay its inquisitoral hands upon the
methodist church, and declar its organization
dangerous TO The liberties Of the peope''-
pronounce il a "hiearchy," "monarchy" and
the like. The following extract from pamph.
let written by member of the aAmericar
party" is furnished by the Trenton True A..
inercan,o whose editor states thai he has the
pamphlet, and will loan ii TO any one Of the
Aethodlst brethren who may desire to read it,
Let the lovers OF freedom of conscience and
opinion, read and ponder. The spirit exhibit
ed below is but carrying out the policy Of the
know-Noshngs. 1t is german to their avow.
ais. Let them once get power aud no religion
sect will be secure III the enjoy ment OF lis par.
ticular belief. The polii ca wi control thu reli
cions government, and we will have combina-
ton oil State and Church
The article below is the most indicative in
lite epirit, and false in its PREMISE we have ever
read. The form Of government adopted by the
Methodist Church in It's practical operation is
one OF the most liberal and equallzing Of which
We know, and whenever it is necessary; we are
willing TO underiak Ike 10 establish the assump
sion BY arguments and facts. Blu, that is no! our
purpose now. Our objec i. to bring 10 the
knowledge OF Methodiss every where the ult-
mate design Of this inquisitorial organiza,ion.-
lie object Is war on every thing contrary TO the
opinions Gifts leaders. No chu oh will be left
in The enjoyment OF its chosen form Of govern
mem, land mode Of woshipping unless such fom
conform TO The law laid down by the new lights
Surely this is bold stroke at religious freedom,
as cured 10 US by our Bill Of Rights and the
Constitution of the U. States. Let every man
read:
"But agan--the very organization of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church is dangerous 70 the liberties of
free people. Suppose crisfs to arrive in political
action, in which thehiearchy OF the Methodist Church
y interested From the depender> of all the parts
on great central power easy perceive how
the sufrages ofmost of the members may be control
led by ths bishops Let the bishop suggest to the pre-
siding elders that the ntesests of their ecclesiastical
despotism will be subscryed by the election of a GER
tain set of men to Office the presiding elders use
their influence the preachers the preachers over
the class leaders, and the class leaders their class
members, and thus the balance of power in p>liti-
cal contest may rest in the hands OF EpIscop
METHODIST BisHops. There is much danger of
this, as there is Of Romanism accomplishing a SINH
lar result provided the oceasian requires 1t. 1t NAV
be said that the members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church are too Independent to be thus Influenced
but, while they submit to the degradation to which
have shown they are subjected in Church matters,
let them not speak of independence in political mat
ters Let them become enthusiastically free, and then
II may be hoped that they would dare to become po
tfscay free If the bishops undertook to prevent it.
81 have thus briefly shown that Episcopal Metho-
dism is anti American in its spirit and tendency and
that it is dangerous foe to republicanism. have
shown that it had its OF igin in asurpatioa-that its
very organization provides for the support and extern
zion of assumed po,cer, and that this power may be
oppressireiy exercised mithoat restriction. have
shown that Methodist Episcopacy contains in itself
the very elements of an absolute desposm, and there
fore must ultimately, unless checked, subver and de-
stroy our republican institutions In doing this,
have uttered no harsh cpithets have insinuated
nothing against the scrpturalnes of Methodist doe
trines, or the piety and goodness of Methodist
bers. have simply spoken OF the government of the
Church. have spoken American citizen; and I
call every true American in the Methodist Eps-
copal Church to his influence to effect radical
retormin this matter. The time has come when Amer
icanism and Romanism are arrayed in hostile atti-
tudes Remember that yoo are not prepared to
stand by Americans while you the subjects of
hierarchy. The taunt will come with irresistible force
from the vassas Of the Pope: 'sIs desposm any
sinful dangerous in the Romish Church than in the
Methodist ?" Oh! then be Amercans--be free men,
throw of your ecclesiastical chains, and then you will
be prepared consistently to aid your fellow country
in breaking the yoke of ecclesiastical despotsm
with which Rome has bound her ignorant aud degra-
ded subjects! p
Mr.. Nc COmas Appointments
We have received the following note from the Hon. |
r. W. McComas.
Let it be borne in mind, that he will speak in
otaunton on "Wednesday the 18th of March.
UNION, Monroe CO., Va, Feb. 10th, 1885,
Messrs. EpIToRs: Will you oblige me by giving an |
insertion in your paper, OF the following card for a
Nme sufficient to give full notice your readers.
l will address the people OF the Valley follows