The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-12-09
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1855.


the Kansas controversy were solely deter
mined by the question Of slavery involved in
it, they became at once anti slavery men in It's
brosdest sense
The Baptist and Methodist churches had dis
solved their union by the lines Of the free aud
the slave States. The esbyterians had been
aeuatsd by the same iHttrmuable question Of
dispute; other religious associations had been
periodically disturbed by discussions upon the
same point. Recent efforts in one of the
tract societies an institution looking solely
to general religious Instruction Ito effect its
division on Southern and Northern grounds,
evincess deep seated and growing hostility
between the various social, religious and po-
lisical elements Of the two sections Of the
country. Such is the general aspect Of affairs
outside of political circles.
Is it not apparent from this showing that
there is even less conservatism. less practical
wisdom, in the strictly religiously community
than in the political and social? Precisely
where we had most reason to look for sober
couDsels and for calm and judicious examples
Of moderation, we find the most ignorant pre-
sumption and the most fatal efforts to over
throw the federal Union. Those who should
bave used their Offices to allay excitements
and to strengthen the common political bro
therhood, to soften asperities, to explain diff.
ferences, and, above ALL to advise obedience
to the laws of the country, have entered the
field to preach treason to the Union, to foment
sectional animOsities and to hasten on the
period Of armed hostility between the North
and the South.
Of all the various professions and classes
that of the ministerial is to day foremost in its
hostility to our existing Northumberland
in its deuunciations, so far as the free States
are concerned, of the South and of slavery
foremost in sowing the seeds of permanent
arrangement between us and our Southern
great compact which binds us all together as
one great people and government This is an
instructive lesson. We say nothing of the
folly that, under any circumstances, brings
clergymen into the arena of politics; nothing
OF the tendency of such state of things, 30
far as the cause of religion itself is concerned.
1t is enough to view it in its social and politi-
degrading the profession Of the ministry as
class; to estrange them from the people, who
are more patriotic, and ultimately to array
them as political party before the communi-
ty, and to sink the Office to the rank Of q low
intrigue to secure the ends Of faction. There
is q wide distinction between the Office OF re-
ligious teacher-a man "called" in the par
lance Of the university to be messenger of
peace and the exemplar Of order-to inculcate
and promote all the comities of life, to extend
its charities, reconcile its differences accommo-
date its interests and secure it's union--and the
politician who acts upon the maxim that
all is fair in his way, and who proclaims
that there are "no Sundays in revolutionary
times"
Not so much the institutions of the country
as the institutions of religion are endangered
by this state Of things. A necessity is imposed
upon the conservative clergy to redeem their
profession from its political elements. They
are disgraced by association with such
men. The cause they would advance is fast
sinking in dignity, in integrity, and in moral
grandeur They are losing that special con-
sideration which attached to them as peaceful
messengers in holy cause--they are becom-
ing polticisns-using low devices and decep-
tive and infammatory appeals to gain the
popular ear and applause. The least &C
quainted with the peculiar structure of our
governmental their lives separated from
and ignorant of the people-they are the last
of our citizens who should be consulted in
regard to constitutional rights and political
mOralities.