Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-04-11

H IT M lROL w tt1u. tIl
II For the "ssar oftlel Kama wh, Valleys
|. H., ..='E. Series No, s. n,
| AEssRs EDToRs, -Ilaying dulyGcx
ainined some Of the unjust and I'M
authorized assumptions ofthe 4 Know
Nothing organization, lnowl,Eoceqd
| to point out some ofthe more prom:
Finent evils that must NECESSARILY at.
! tend such an association. For tho
| lastseven years past, my obserya,
tipns have led to the conclusion that
there has been too great di< posi-
ton upon the part Of political aspi-
rants, to throw themselves on the pop
ular favor Of the church for support;
and as result Of such unjustiiable
conduct, nd finite being can tell ~
what extent vital piety has been rel
tarded, nor how much power has been
detracted from the cross. But, Che
Organization notvunder course iofex-
position, in its practical workings,
appears to have come up to cap tho
climax in this branch ofhumanI folly.
| When Constantine the Great es-
! tablished the christian religion BY the
authority oflaw, he did SO no doubt
through pious motives. "He VT.
convinced Of the falsehood ond int
, ,i2.y 81 all other religious institu;
tions; and acting in consequence 81
this conviction, lie exhorted earnest
ly all his subjects to embrace thu
Gospel, and at length employed all
the force ofhis authority in the abo-
lition Of the ancient superstition. 4
Yet, when he united the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities into one
formal government, he still sepera-
ted the right of adjudicatng grave
questions, between the clergy and
civil. officers. But after, his death
those Determinations were lostsighl
Of and all were cohfus edly blended
together. +/tI p
| This unfortunate step however, ol
tina great emperor, was but an ex
pertinent by which example we have
ample means Of profting through
the lessons it has taught by that IN
holy alliance, vital goodness was
we'll nigh driven from the church, and
THE liberal arts and sciences were
set back more than athousand years
and literature almost banished from
the entire European world. And
for the benefit Of the less informed
on the subject, it is due to observe
that, that injudicious act of the en-
| peror, placing the church at the head
Of the civil authorities, was the first
grand step which led to a general
apoztacy; and resulted in the eleva-
ton of Pagan Rome to Papal Rome,
Previous to that time there was I'D
Romish church; hence the church al
that time, was then, what we now
call protestant christianity. That
Fblighting influence was broughtIoye1
the world BY placing the church al
the head Of civil government. And
now, the same principles contesn-
! plated by placing the civil authori-
ties ntthe head Of the Protestant
Church. However unintentional up.
on the partd the projectors, tic
plans adopted force the conclusion;
andIno acknowledging advocate
can gainsay it, or successfully set ii
kaside. And the same effects must
Reproduced by the unnatural union
of the two separate governments in.
to one; no difference which of the
twain holds the supremacy. The
Know.Nothing'' association as.
sunes the right to take control ofthe
churches-to put down the Romish
Church, and to protect the Protes.
tant Churches and this proposition
if consummated BY political associ.
alton, must unite in one the seperate
associations. Such assumptions up.
on the part Of political propagandas
cannot be receiyd By Protestant
clergymen nlany other light than !
gross insult. Especially BY those
who entertain correct views and
feelings on the subject Of the Chris
tan religion.
And there are some features de-
lveloped in This political move, illus,
tpafiva AZ Of fl,. 49,; =; 3 n ,Yn;cy y,
church and state; BY that act, the
Church gained the popular favor oi
the world that Is said tos Be seninity
with Goo; !" and the multitudes press
ed into il without any respect what
ever to the principles Of piety, 81
even moderate morality: hence tile
apostacy that naturally follows in
such . strain Of events. And Il Il
even 30 now; all Of d sudden, men
lare becoming most enthusiastic ID
their political zeal for the cause 81