Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-17
4 HIGH EXAMPLE, DEDICATED 70 THE
AMERICAN CLERGY.

Z
&c baoe spoken openly to the acorld have always
taught in the Synagogue, whittier all the Jews re-
sorts; AND SECRET HAVE SPOKEN NOTHING. NE
sus Christ, John, e0iii.
There is such comprehensive pertinency in this
grand and impressive sentiment, that we hesitate
whether to regard it in the light of an invocation to
liberal and public actor, or an appeal ofheaveny
inspiration against future intolerance 1t refars an
doubtely to the past but may also be reproduced
for the present There was significance in the
circumstances that led to this declaration. The Sa-
vour was about to suffer and dieJor has 6et'et lie
offeredup sacrifice to relentless religious
prescription Infamed bigots demanded his lie
upon weak and wicked reasons. They 0rUraaoed the
cjuit poaoc7 and compelled conviction against JUS
tice and law. lie had urconsciousky ofeaded pros
crpti0e and crtcI order. Mark how, before his &C
cusers and judge, and in reply to the Roman gov
ernor, lie scorns the imputation of secrecy The
cherished expedents of his foes--secrecy and into-
erance-how He repudiates and rebukcs them! 1t
in such frame of mind that He was carried
forth and crucificd.
We are told that many clergymen belong to the
secret order of the present day-the "Sanhedrln'
where political offenders doomed unheard, and
religious opinions graduated and prescribed upon
pain of disfranchiscmcnt. We know that many OF
them openly encourage these doctrines and that pull
pits from which should emanate only calm counscs
and peaceful precepts made by anatical cler
gymen to ring with the prejudices and passions of
fanaticism and of excited partsans. This we know,
and real of daily; and it is in condemnation of
such example that we hold up the dying words
of the Saviour of man.
The history of the Saviour, apart from his direct
and chief connexion with religion, furnishes many
sublime lessons and warnings; but nowhere is l95t
character luminous and so grand as his suf
for the sins of Others his t6fcTrtf6fr different 0pi
IONS his universal charity, hisiwecome to the stran
ger, and his encouragement Of all secret and clan
destine proceedings especially when these interfere
with established rights and laws. How many of
modern preacher politicians think of this while
bounding on the crusade against all who worship
in n hat frOn own
be out of place if introduce for the edifcaton of
these reverend leaders, the following passages from
the sermon on the Mount? We hope these teach
ings have not been forgotten in the zeal of the
clegy for temporal and worldly affairs:
Blessed are the peace makers; for they shall be
called the children Of God
az Blessed they which prosecuted for
righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
eye arc the light of the world. \ city that is
set hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light candle and put it under
buSilel but on candleStick; and it giVeth light
unto all that are in the house.
LET your light shine before that they
may see your good works, and glorify your Father
in heaven"
Many incidents is the wonderful career of the Son
of God, who dwelt among the iowly and the poor,
and taught peace on earth" to all mankind, Illus
trate his adherence to these truths. Going to Jeru
salem, occasion, he sent some of his disciples
forward to village to prepare supper and lodging
The people, however, fearing that he was going to
the temple of Jerusalem, refused to afford him the
necessary accommodations. This greatly offended
the disciples, who applied to their Master, asking
if they should not call fire from heaven to destroy
such inhospilabic people lie reproved the intcm-
pcrate and misguided zeal of his disciples, saying,
Your zeal is not of God, because it is not accord
ing to knowledge" How many of our political cier-
gy have forgotten the good Samaritan when they
rail at Catholics against the people of the
South, or hurl their anathcmas against those who
refuse to accept their ideas of Bible construction
That there are numbers of pious and God-fearing
men in the ranks of the American clergy who de-
plore and protest against this sad prostitution of
sacred functions to political purposes, CRATE
ful to be able to admit They and they feel
whither'it is tending and where it must eAd and
they know that when the teachers of religion
once fully embarked upon the of po!iticalpoem
les, the decay Of national morals will mark also
the approach of national dissolution. To these
the nation looks in such crisis as the present.
They have duty to perform, at least as high as
that to which they primarily dedicated. They
must sare tile Anac"icrn people from being lost in
the dangers Of Intolerance By recalling the Ameri-
cle5yy 10 Qt their duty to Col and their
ee-tts::sslr~ Hash. Union.