The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-07-19
Politics i'm the Pulpit.
For the N;auesotiau.
ST.. PAUL, Saturday, July IL, '56.

For the N,auesotian.
ST.. PAUL, Saturday, July IL, '56.
MEssRs. EDITORS I'm the "Saint Paul
Daily Times" of the 10th inst, you will
find subjoined to an account of the Kew.
Dudley A. Tyng's late sermon in Philadel-
phia, upon "Our Country's Troubles" few
editorial structures upon the sermon of the
Rev. DR.. Van Ingen on "The Love of Our
Country" delivered in Christ Church, St.
Paul, on Sunday evening last.
The remarks in question certainly are not
fair and righteous statement of the real
tone and scope of the Doctors DISCOURSE
And the contrast instituted between the SEN
timents of Mr.. Tying and DR.. V. to the dis
paragement of the latter, is very ludicrous
to those who know the relative age, merits
and standing of the two clergymen. That
3 there is a contrast, am happy to say cannot
be denied; but let not those who are unac-
quainted with the Episcopal Church suppose
that it is the exposition of any marked di-
vision in that Church upon the principles in
question. On the contrary, Mr.. Tyng's re-
marks are, as far as I have yet learned, alb
solutely unprecedented. The entire relig-
ious feeling, at the very least the invariable
oppression of religious feeling in our Church
has been and is now hostile to all political
agitations, and fatal to all attempts to weak
en- her organization by questions of mere hui
man devising.
But do not our ministers approach any but
strictly theological topics? Certainly they
do. They go through the whole range Of
practical religion, because practise is invaria-
bly, and forever dependent upon and insepa-
rable from doctrine. And as occasion offers
they touch upon that department of religious
duty which concerns mems relations to Soci-
ETY. as established in the wisdom of GOD
1t is Just this that DR.. Van Ingen has done
in his sermon on Sunday evening last, and
Mr.. Tying failed in the attempt to do in his
sermon in Philadelphia.
The Doctors sermon was setting forth
of the wickedness of that ope-ideaism which
will sacrifice any possible interests of hui
manity at the shrine OF its god, and which
is 80 shortsighted as to suppose that because
its idea is good and an essential one, there
fore it is the only good and essential one in
the universe : the wickedncss of drawing
geographical lines and placing aH virtue on
one side and all injustice and wrong on the
other, and the consequent duty of all Chris
tan men who love their country and would
religiously maintain the peace and order of
society, to discountenance all crazy, con-
tracted and one-sided radicalism, and base
their conduct upon those universal and sa-
lutary principles which Gods law enforces.
Can any man dissent from such teaching ?
If he can, then it must be because he is him
self an incorrigible one-idea man and if
so, who and what can reach him
1t may be well to mention that many of
the ministers of all denominations in Rich
mond, Va, have lately sent forth over their
signatures an appeal to their fellow citizens
drawn up in tone so absolutely conserva-
tive that there is no mistaking their position.
And our Bishop Virginia has nobly expos
ed himself to the assaults of partisanship by
his decided and Christian course, in particu-
lar conspicuous instances, as we'll as in his
general conduct.
by reason for troubling you with this
communication is to bear witness to the un-
fairness of the editorial remarks referred to.
I do not suppose that the writer intended to
misinterpret DR.. Van Ingen's sermon, but
basing myself upon his own supposition.
viz, thet he is one of the one-idea men to
whom the Doctor referred, charitably take
it for granted that he looked at the matter
through his one-idea glasses.
In answer to his question, " Will Mr. Tying
be expelled from the church," 1 would say,
probably not. Mr.. Tying will be let alone.
and if he follows out his present line of &C
ton he will soon run out. Beecherism will
find but feeble response of sympathy in
cur church in North, South, East or West.
NJ.
EDITORIAL REMARKs.-Comingi into our
Office on Monday afternoon, we found the
above upon our table. Our first and present
impression is, that it should have been car
ried to the Office of the Slavery organ, far
Their down Third street. There it would
have met with cordial reception, and have
been published with warm endorsement
happy fate which the author certainly
could not expect for his bantling in the Min
nesotian Office, that is, if he ever reads the
Minnesotian.
We wish, however, before further COM
ment, to first define our position in regard
to the propriaty of political sermons from
the pulpit. We believe that ministers of the
gospel are just as much called upon, IN these
revolutionary times, to raise their voices in
favor of the side they take as are the mem
bers of the press or the members of any 9th.
er influential profession or calling. In the
days of our nations struggle for liberty
against British tyranny, our forefathers had
their Beechers, their Cheevers, their Hol-
brooks and their Tyngs on the side of Free
dom, and also their Van Ingens and many
others on the side of Slavery. This princi-
pie OF Liberty or Despotism was then at is
sue, as now, and the great struggle, as now