Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-01-30
ADANGERoUs pRIEsTuoop.

IN the domestic relatloDS. 1naL FeiiSion 10
worth but little which does not follow US into
the private circle, and regulate our conduct in
all the duties of life. It is but mockery of
worship that contents itself with idle mumnle-
ries, outside show and hollow sentimentalism,
honoring God only in the imposing ceremonies
of the sanctuary, but forgetting to do him rev.
erence where it conflicts with our own selfish
passions and interests.
The ministerial Office is ordained OF heaven,
not simply to proclaim from the pulpit and at
the bed of the sick and dying, the truths of
the gospel and the way of salvation, but to in
luence by holy life tho mass of mankind,
and to awaken in the heart a lively sense of
the responsibilities Of every human being. 1t
is the rectitude of our liveS-the conscientious
discharge of the duties we owe to ourselves
and to those with whom we arc brought IN re-
lation-which alone establishes the sincerity
of our faith and our claim to the character of
a christian. We support priesthood to but
little purpose, If they fail to illustrate this
truth-if, instead of becoming q shining light
to others, their conduct is but scandal to tho
faith they profess.
The ministry of all Protestant denomina-
tions, whatever be the difference in their reli-
gious creeds, are beyond reproach in the re-
lations of private life. They all recognize the
binding obligations of the institution of mar
riage-enforce its divine sanctions and duties,
and show by their example, the truth and beau
ty of the domestic ties. 1t was q bold, but
manly and glorious service which Luther dared
to do for the Christian world, when he shook
off the absurd 'thraldom OF Rome, and entered
the holy bans of wedlock with an abused and
prosecuted nun. Since that great day OF e.
Emancipation from vicious and ridiculous dog
ma, the Protestant priesthood have nobly IL
lustrated the advantage to the Church of
ministry admitted to all the sanctities of the
social relations, and acquitting themselves of
their solemn responsibilities as husbands and
fathers, as citizens and men, in such manner
as to command the commentator Of the world.
In contrast with them, how unnatural appears
the position of the priesthood OF Rome. Shut
out from the enjoyment of the purest and no
liest ties of life condemned to a life of celib-
acy: and brought into the freest and most con-
fidential communion with persons of the oppo-
site sex, they would be more than human if
they were not sometimes tempted to oyerStep
the barrier of virtue and decorum. Subject
to tyrannous restraint in respect to the con-
tract of marriage, and YET tolerated in the con-
slant qualification of unlawful passions-ex-
posed TO perpetual temptations in the discharge
of the priestly office, yet shielded from pun
ishment or public reprobation by the supersti-
tions of his victims, the Romish priest is
~ LOT o,t no foo ofS atx
monstroSity standing ever in the way of So
cial progress and improvement, and interpo-
sing grievous check to the amenities and the
inviolablc secrecies OF domestic life.
What must that religion be which winks at
the most atrocious violations of the social viz
tues, from the highest to the lowest dignta-
ries of the church? What shall be said of the
character of a cosmopolitan hierarchy which
throws upon the community body of men
debarred from the holiest domestic ties, yet
unscrupulous in morals and spurning the con-
troll of conventional proprieties Is it any
wonder that there is widespread horror
throughout Protestant communities of the
Vaccinations of a priesthood thus exempted
from the ordinary claims of decency and mo-
rality, to say nothing Of the restraints of re-
ligion Happily for the future welfare Of our
country, the priests Of Rome cannot conceal
their iniquities from the glaring light of truth.
The eyes of a free people are fastened upon
them, the searching scrutiny of free press
and free speech is an ordeal through which
they cannot pass unscathed. Ifleft to recruit
their ranks from men born on the soil, we
might hope that they would soon be forced to
conform to the wholesome dictates of public
opinion, and to regulate their lives in accord
ance with the promptings of a religion unde-
fled by admixture with human frailties. So
long as ireland continues to be the fruitful
nursery of the dangerous priesthood, and to
furnish to all the world the jealous and jesuit
ical disciples and apostles of the papacy, Rome
may preserve her lordly sway over the minds
of the ignorant multitude. But while the in
telligent voice of a free people dominates on
American soil, there is little real danger that
this vicious priesthood can maintain intact tho
ascendancy which it now exercises over our
foreign population. The Inevitable result of a
long residence in this country, is to emanci-
pate the intellect and enlighten the prejudices
of the Irish emigrants TO our shores-so that
there is a limit beyond which they will not
bow the knee to their present masters. If, as
Mr.. Daniel Ullman predicts, an independent
Catholic church is one day to be established
in the United States, our correspondent is pro-
badly right in saying that ne shall have ssno
Pope, no Archbishop but a Church compar-
atively exempt from hierarchal control and