The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-11-08
PRESIDENT LoNGsrREET,s LETTER.

EU PRESIDENT LoNosTREEr, the au.
thor of this article, was Judge Of the Su.
preme Court Of Georgia; after his conver.
sion became travelling Minister of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, was Prin.
cipal of Emory College in the same State,
and is now President OF Centenary Col.
lege in Mississippi.
No one should fail to read carefully and
thoughtfully this able and convincing expose
of the absurd doctrines of Know-Nolhingism
1t will be seen that Judge Longslreet, for The
sake OF argument, takes for granted the worse
charges, which constitute the staple of Know
Nothing literature, and then proves the move.
ment most foolish, unjust and inexpedenl.
| He addresses himself in this letter more par
tiCularly to his co-laborers in the Gospel
Miuislry-it may be read, however, with in
slruction by all. Hear what he says:
TO THE KNow-NoTHISe PREACHERS OF THE
METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH.
Brethren Il have concluded to divde my
promised appeal 10 the Meth oIlst Church in.
TO Two parts, and to address lhe first 10 you,
and the last 10 the church at large. And
here, in the language of MIR. Wesley, let me
say to you beseech you, brethren, by The
| mercies of God by whatever love you bear
TO God, TO your country, to your own souls,
do not consider who speaks but what is spo.
ken. II it be possible, for one hour lay pre-.
JUDGE aside; give what is advanced fair
hearing. Consider simply on each head Is
i, lfne or is it false? Is il reasonable, or is
it not! Remember, brethren am cot be.
lore yen to propose, but to resist innovations
of old Mehodism.
stand where I always stood since Joined
The church, upon the "plstform" Of Wesley.
You stand with one foo! npon that platform,
anil the other upon rickely structure, first
reared by criminal, il report be true, and
miserably patched by unchrisIian hands. |
would have you Withdraw the truani limb
from this dangerous platform to its original
position.
When We covenanted together, we were
of one heart and one mind. But you have
formed new covenants with men who have
no kindred feeling with you. "There is no
fear of God before their eyes," "They cause
divisions and offences contrary TO the doc
trine which you have learned" Their mouth
speaketh great swelling words, having mems
persons in admiration because cf adUantags.'-
I These be they "cho separate themselves, sensual
having not the spirit" They are such as
serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their
own belly, and by good rords and fir speeches
deceive the hearts OF The single" "They are
given TO debates, envyings, wta!hs, strllcs,
backbitinss, whispering, swelnss, lumuts."
! With feignei words they make me rchandze
of you. They are ashamed even 10 speak
of hose things which arc done Of them in
secret.
These he the men 10 whom sou have
yoked yourselves. do not say all yonr COM
panions are such; but ! know many of them
to be such; and most OF ,hem TO be men of
the worlA. would Withdraw you from them;
but il cannot, and a fual separation should
take place between us, remember, if you
please, tha. you made the first move in it.
'But why moi quietly enjoy our own opin-
ions and live in peace! ] answer, because
your lodges will not allow me 20 enjoy my
opinions in peace, but upon pain Of surren-
dering the freeman's right of speech and be-
cause with my notion of The moral character
and aims of yoar order, we never can live
in peace, whi!e you remain in il, and re-
main in the Methodist Church. How "can
Two walk log ether except they be agreed"
am no, The only Methodist BY hundreds, il
not thousands, who entertain my opinions Of
your order; and should suppose, whatever
you may think OF it; that for their sakes you
would abandon it, upon the principle that
you should do nothing "whereby thy broth.
er stumblelh, or is offended, or made weakn
Your opposition 10 c athocs and reigners
deem impolic aud unchrstiao; but this
will never disturb our peace, if you will not
persecute 1t in way dangerous to The peace
Of the country, euervaing 10 Professionalism,
fostering TO Romanism, paralyzing TO Meth
odsm, humiliaiing 10 her ministry, destracl.
ing 10 her membership, encouraging to false
hood, smoth ering TO truth, and demoralizing
in all it's aspects and movements. And here
beg son TO bear in mind, tha, it is not your
principles to which otjec, (if a naked con-
spiraey against Two classes Of men can be
called principles) 40 much as to your man.
ner Of propogaling sbem. But as cannot
hope 10 wean you from the order, wi,hou, AT
least shaking your confidence in your prin-
cipes, shall in the first place address myself
TO them.
In what | have 10 say upon this head |
shall take it for granted that you tl went
over TO the Know-Nolhings with good inien-
lions. Thatyou sincerely believe tha, the
Catholics are abou! 10 lake the ountry; and
that foreigners are about TO take il too and
that handled as it has been by Wings and
Democrats, il is even now hardly worth hav-
ing; and that without the intsrposi,ion Of
Know-Nolhngism i. will be bu, pulrid car.
cass upon any party that shoulders it, lean.