Washington sentinel., 1855-03-07
CHAPLAINs TO CONGREss-A GREAT
EVIL.

CHAPLAINs TO CONGREss-A GREAT
EVIL.
Now that Congress has adjourned, and new
officers will have to be elected when the thirty
fourth Congress assemblies; now that we will
be relieved from all suspicious Of personal
spite against, or even the slightest personal OBJ
lection to, the late respected chaplains of the
two Houses, we feel at liberty to offer some re-
marks on the general subject Of the election Of
chaplains to Congress.
1t will no do ubt. shock many godly people
they will think it heathenish; it will, no doubt,
shock the clergy Of the country; but most of
all, it will shock the aspirants to those Offices
when we say, and say distinctly, that we are
altogether opposed to having chaplains for the
two branches of our national Legislature. We
hope that the last of them have been elected.
1t is on account both Of the Church and the
State that we say so-more on account of the
former than the latter. We want it kept pure,
but pure it cannot be kept, so long as it is
allied with politics.
IL We understand the Chaplain theory it is
,his-that Congress is a wicked body and needs
praying for; or, if not particularly wicked
body, if a virtuous body, pous and patri-
otic body, it is meet, right, and our bounden
duty to hire, or salary, a minister of the Cos.
pei to invoke on its deliberations the blessings
of Heaven.
The prayer book Of the Episcopal Church
contains prayer for the President of the Uni
ted States, the Congress Of the United States,
and call others in authority" This prayer is
offered up every Sunday, by every Episcopal
minister in the thirty-one States Of this Union.
The ministers of those religious denominations
that use no forms of prayer, also remember in
their spontaneous and extempore prayers 10
Heaven, the same high officers Of the Govern
ment. These prayers are not paid for IN
money by the General Government The go
up spontaneously from every pious heart
throughout the vast extent Of our territory.
This is the real, actual, definition Of prayer, in
kat beautiful hymn, which says
Prayer is the souls sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed;
The motion of hidden fire.
That trembles in the breast"
But the elected Chaplain to Congress is o
(no doubt pious) stipendiary. He is paid 80
much in gold for Offering up prayers to heaven
in behalf Of the two Houses of Congress. We
do not believe any more in the efficacy Of such
prayers, than we believe in the efficacy prayers
to heaven (paid for by suffering farmers) for
rain, during drought.
Moreover it is pretty well understood, that
these paid for prayers are to be made brief, cut
off short, in order to avoid boring Congress.
They are not listened to. Short as they are
land we are sorry to have to say it) they are
bores. There is want Of faith in their efficacy.
Every body is glad when they are over. II is
business that has to be done by the minister
and the sooner it is over, the more agreeable it
is to all parties.
But the main considerations that impel us
to oppose the appointment Of Chaplains to the
two Houses of Congress, are as follows
Ministers, however good and pious, are but
men, and the moment they become seized with
the ambition TO get the Chaplaincy, they, many
times, insensibly to themselves, become politi
Clans They become electionecyers. They want
the Office, and, as practical men, they adopt
the means to secure it. II is needless to tell
any man who has lived in Washington, what
these means are. Too often also, they lead to
the sitting Of honest and pious sentiments, to
base servility and--alss, that II should be true
acknowledgement Of their competing
A a.
means are boldly aud unblushingly resorted tc