The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-09-13
Prom the Boston Post.
Henry Ward Beecher-..POliticalP Preach

Ing.
The subjoined letter to the reverend edit
or OF the Indepead~nt, giving the writer's
reason for Withdrawing his support from that
disSraceiul sheet we commend to the atten-
ton Of our readers. Beechcr, in one of his
recent papers, boasts of NUMEROUS additions
to his list of subscribers, but says nothing
OF the subtractons. The letter that - I'd IS
mas not only been received at his office, but
acted upon; yet he makes no allusion to it.
1t is not improbable that this is but one of
many OF similar purport received by him.
Every good Christian who loves his country,
and would, according to the divine injunc-
ton, "render unto Cesar the things that
are Caesars" should do likewise
1t may not be ainiss to say that Thomas
jefferson, more than forty years ago, fore
saw the existence of such clerical dema-
gogues as Parker, Beecher, Tying, &C., who
have transmogrified the affairs of our church
es into partizan platforms. In 1916, the
Rev. Mr.. Mcleod delivered sermon in
which he, with vast ability, maintained the
ground that the second war of independence
the war of 1872, was "made on good ad-
vice" copy OF this sermon was sent to
Mr.. Jefferson by Mr.. Wendover.
1t will be borne in mind that at that peri
cd, as at this, the New England clergy, and
we say It with great pain, were in direct an
tagonism with the policy of Mr. Madison's
administration. The pulpit, with some ho-
norable exceptions, dealt anathemas against
the prosecution Of the war, and thus gave
and and comfort TO the enemy. In &C
knowledgment o! the receipt Of this favor
from Mr.. Wcndover, Mr. Jefferson wrote a
letter which can be found in his published
works lie admired tae discourse OF the
Rev. Mr.. Mcleod, but administered him
moderate and gentle rebuke. " e make the
following extracts to give the point Of this
celebrated letter.
"On one question only differ from him,
and it is that which constitutes the subject
Of his discourse, the right Of discussing pub
lie affairs IN tie P1Lpt. Col
iections Of men associate together under the
name Of congregations, and employ rcli-
glous teacher OF the political set OF opinions
which they happen 10 be, and contribute 10
make up a stipend as a compensation for the
trouble of delivering them, at such periods
as they agree, on lessons in the religion they
profess. Ii they want instructions in other
sciences and arts, they apply to other in
structOTs; and tins is generally the business
of early life. But suppose there is not
instance OF single congregation Which has
employed their preacher for the mixed pur
pose of lecturing them from the pulpit on
chemistry. on medicine, on law, on the SCI
encc and principles OF government, or on
anything but religion, exclusively. " hen
ever, therefore, preachers, instead of les
son IN roli gion, put them of with discourse
upon the coperuicsn system, on chemical
afinities, on the construction Of government,
on the character and conduct Of those ad-
Ininistrriug It, Il IS = breach Of contract, de-
priylng their audience Of the kind o.: service
for which they salaried, and giving them,
instead Of It, what they did not want, or if
wanted, would rather seek from better
sources in that particular art or science. H.
choosing our II hStSr We look to his religious
qualifications, without .nquiring into his
physical or political dogmas with which We
mean 10 have nothing TO do
The letter Of the gentleman which follows
illustrates not only "a breach of contract
on the part Of the Rev. II. Ward Beecher in
ps.ning upon hlm q trCasonab.c political
paper Instead Of Christian theological one,
but smeIieth strongly of getting 5ubscfip-
tons goods under false pretences. -
Bee-aer may not be amenab.e to a court Of
this world, but the court Of Heaven will We
hope, mete him justice.
CHARLEsTowy. MAS. Ju'v 26. 80.
SIE-I subscribed for the New York In
dcpeudeu, on the 18th OF August last, and
paid my years subscription in advance, for
which | have a receipt signed " T.. IL. SnoH
for j. II. Ladd"
In subscribing for your paper vas under
the impression that 1t was a religious jour
nal, devoted 10 the desseminat Oh of correct
Christian principles. In this | have been
much disappointed. Its tendency is, con-
ceIve, 70 ovcrturn the sauctity OF Christian
ity, bring 1t into ridicule, and finally to in
undate the country with intidelity. Besides
this, II has embarked upon the arena OF po-
lltlcS, and instead Of preaching "peace and
good VIII TO all men, incites its readers to
anarchy and civil war, and disobedience to
the laws and constitution. And this is done
too with n recklessness of truth that would
disgrace even the columns of the n Y. lie
raid.
A paper thus conducted, and protesting
to be religious III its character, cannot but
be pernicious in its influence, and request
you, therefore, to erase my name from your
subscription, that the members of my house
hold may no longer be offended with the
hypocrisy of your religion and the treason
of your politics. Respectfully,
JOHN MULLET.
To Mr.. II. WARD BEEcHER, Ed. n. Y. Inde-
pendent.