Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-10-24


lures lra.sss to allow ministers to deal with
neral aud rel gious subjects" Oh . yes,
let them attend 10 the morals and religion
Of the clmmuuity"-still, no sooner do
they find it convenient to entange one OF
them within their selfish and ambitious
schemes, than they cry " hands off ! let
politics alone Thus, temperance is
moral subject, until the means of promo
, thug it are found to involve legislation,
( when it suddenly sinks into base and de-
grading political question about which
minister should not speak. That man
should DO TO others as be would be done
by, be Just and kind to his neighbor OF
whatever complexion aud degree, and even
remember those that are IN bonds as
/ bound with them" is innocent morality OF
which a clergyman may safely speak, until
the growth Of slavery crowds upon such doc
trines, and then forsooth he must qualify,
and sneak with - bated breath, lest some
vested interest and party programme should
suffer. So | will venture to predict that
when, not long hence, the sanctioning OF
polygamy becomes party question, par
sens will be politely requested to keep
clear Of that ground. Then, if the Chi
nese should multiply in California as they
have in the "old country" and idolatry
claim to be one Of the 80 institutions Of
the land, there will doubtless be politicians
shrewd enough 20 see the danger OF dis
coursiug too strongly about " the one liy-
Ing and true God" Perhaps we ought
to be thankful to them for making our
Office a sinecure, and if we want to handle
the obsolete themes Of morality and reli-
gion, We shall need only to get into Con-
gress, or the Legislature, or at least an ed
itor's chair, and fake them up as "politics.' ~
But, l repeat it, am glad to see that
gou do not countenance that sort of COM
plant. The very fact Of your sending
me this pamphlet implies that you sup
pose |, as a minister, may properly think
of such themes. Your sending 1t in view
of an approaching election implies that you
would not deem me blameworthy for vot-
ing upon them. Your sending several OF
them together, implies that you would
, approve of my distributing them, and so
. influencing others to vote on them; and OF
course you would not object, when these
are exhausted,t to my taking the sentiments
therein contained, or others like them, land
: by word of mouth making them effective,
at proper times, and by proper ways, in
promoting the important objects you have
| at heart. And | have too much regard for
your professions of democracy, and of the
/ belief in the dutyo all men to use their best
Judgment in these affairs, to doubt that II
t after contentious deliberation, | should
r feel constrained to act in some respects diff
ferently from what you desire, you would
couceda my perfect right SO to do. Thus
: YOU fairly eountenanee the obvious, though
, somewhat disputed principle Of justice and
G equal rights. And it is what should ex
prct ot the caudor and intelligence ale'
, qu4te To your high Office. Doubtless yo'
1 see that minister is man, and may say
e as well Is an old Roman nothing of hu
! man concern do | hold foreign to my
{ self" Iha, Lc should sink into a mere par
A. tizau, take it for granted, you would dep
a recate indeed you say as much; tina
; he should allow even the civil and sOcIa
o welfare of his brethern to engrosS too IarG
n a share Of bis concern would be manifest.
/ injurious even to his just political Influence
< but that he should he alive to the mora
K and religious interests involved IN the pol
j. iiica and partizan, as well as all the othe
?, relations of his people, and from time t
k time indicate the motives which ought t
J. influence them in disebarging their dutie
y here as elsewhere, you do, by the trans
le mission Of such a document, in such Gil
ct cumstances, Enthusiastically proclaim.
io thank you for it, and shall endeavor
Of comply according to my homes; conviction:
t, with your implied recommendation,
:. ] quite agree with your severe repreheu
~ sion of ga political preacher hurting hl
If anathemas against his fellow man linen
ir for their political opinions from the pulp
= reared as an altar(?) to the ever livin
}. God" You speak Of having soften see
1t it." | never have. But have no hes
ID tatiou in saying that it would be eensr
u. rablc thing. / think preacher shoGi
Is never hurl aua,hemas at his fellow me
Iv for any cause. He should rather strive /
" win them by preaching the truth in low
in remembering. when compelled to do $
VS. that vengeance is mine; will repay, salt
is the Lord" | doubt whether he ought
Is say much about meu's political opinions
ce in the pulpit, at all. Let him confne hin
b. self to the great principles of duty to Go
al as supreme, and to our fellow men as a