Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-08-15
Correspondence.


on earth have the Clergy been more SIN
cerely reverenced, than in our own hap
py New England. Accustomed from in
fancy to regard them as messengers of
God, sent into His Vineyard to proclaim
Glad Tidings of Salvation" to win
souls to repentance for sin, to declare the
whole counsel of Cod how often is
the feeling heart panied. while reading
some of the late public journals, by in
vilious remarks. and insulting comments
upon the conduct of those faithful men.
who, in obedience to the mandate of
their Master, dare to raise their voices
against the sins of the times. How
often are their feelings outraged, even
by those who profess to be the followers
of the Prince of peace
Shall a man. when he becomes ser
want of God, renounce his responsibility
as a man: Shall he smother in its in
cipient action the emotion Of pure patri-
otism, and fear to declare, by decided
course. the fond wishes of his heart for a
pure,politieal atmosphere, as second only
to the prosperity of religion: and what
is religion. if it be not system that de.
nounces and avoids every sin, that loves.
inculcates, and practices holiness Sure
ly those who separate the sacred office
from cognition of the affairs of the
family, the community and the nation.
divest it of the most efficient means of
its institution.
We hear the remark. from certain
class of politicians, Let preachers stick
to the Bible, and preach what they find
there, while some of these very persons,
renounce that sacred book as a system
of priestcraft and falsehood. Others
are so ignorant of its contents, that they
could scarcely tell whether they were
evangelical, polemical or political. If
men would read the book they so conf
IDENTIFY recommend to preachers, they
would find there the most tremendous de-
nunciations against those who were un-
faithful in their sacred calling. The mes
sengers of God were not commanded to
whisper their disapprobation of prevail
ing iniquity in the ear Of friend, lest
they should give offence. They were
called to stand upon lions Walls, to
lift up their voice like trumpet, and
show the people their transgressions. "
Now what is the difference between po-
litical sins and any other sins: When
God declares that, if his messengers
warn not the wicked of the conseouen-
!, ces of sin, 1.-The blood of the wicked
will be required at their hands," shall
men whose mission is to preach righteous.
ness, be silent upon political subjects,
when the darkest shades of corruption
} are in the ascendant: And who dares
to assert before high heaven, that the
present political atmosphere is not i'm
pregnated with miasma, with princi-
piles directly opposed to that spirit that
, proclaims g Peace and Good Will to
men,"
If there was ever a time. when men
of high and holy aims were called upon
to denounce both civil and political
; crime, if there was ever time when
the true patriots exertions were necessa-
ry to ward off the perils that threaten
the safety of his country, that time is
| the present in our hitherto highly favor
: ed land; and yet, class of men whose
patriotism is of the purest stamp, as
their sacred Office precludes the prospect
or the wish, for political distinction,
whose mission to declaim against sin, is
sanctified BY promised associate, the
Holy Spirit, such men are forbidden to
give their feelings words, because, for
sooth some pious brethren, whose creed
embraces the Interest Table, whose stock
jobbing is in government Offices, and
whose perspective graspis 'Loaves and
, Fishes" "would rather not hear it,
: Or perhaps right eye, or right hand
might be too sensitive. A noted poll
tician not long since made the follow
ing delicate and manly expression. '-Let
Priests and 49, not meudle with
politics. We thank that gentleman for
identifying what is good, and holy, and
honored of God, with the female sex.
} We accept the honorable utilization, but
we assure him that when he divests any
t system whatever, in the economy of life,
of the benign influences that the wis
dom of holy men, and the sympathies
of woman throws around it, he makes it
! the arid march Of power.
We would not have preachers to neg
lect the primary duties of their calling.