The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-09-20
A Methodist Minister Oh the Defensive.

| Political Priests of that place, in the column
OF the Fusion Press, comes out with the foI
lowing noble and manly letter, giving hi
reasons why he will not convert his pulpi
into political stump. We commend it t,
our Christian friends and invite their candle
attention to what he says
Mr. EDIToR;-These are times that .r;
mems souls. A man must either sit still
| contrary to his will, and be brow beaten by
selfconstitutcd enemies, or be dragged out
contrary to his will, by the unmanly, not tc
say unchr;stian, assaults Of others, to plead
his own cause and defend his character.
have thus far, during the exciting times
through which we have been, and are still
passing, kept silent, not because my own
feelings prompted me TO be silent, hut be.
cause Of the position occupy ms a minister
in the church OF Christ; fearing lest if
uttered my sentiments, especially in public
manner, | might cause some brother TO Of
fend And the great apostle, in speaking OF
meat offered TO Idols, said If eating mea,
cause my brother to offend, | will eat no
flesh while the world standeth" Nv con-
gregations consist, in part, Of men of defer
ent views, politically, and | have thou- It
that the hest manner of proceeding in order
to offcnd none, Gor it docs men no good to
make them mad,) would be to tread on the
political views OF none. | have, however,
my own private political views, bat no man
Can say ne knows them | calculate 70 vote
next November and have pretty well mad.
az nay mind vino shall vote for, bat have
neither pub that in the stand, nor
made it known 70 private friends, simply
fro, - {
have thus far been silent, nor should | have
Presented nay name 10 the public in cOnncc-
ton with TINS tclc, had not my course as
well as my character been pub ic.v. although
indirectly, aSsalled, through the columns Of
the Eepn6(icHn, OF August 23i, by one who,
trust, notwithstanding be associates IL,
lis co-iaborers WITH tie prophets Of Baal.
may possibly have that charity that think
"th ho eyA ! refer 10 the article over the
signature, "D. Matlock" The rcas n why
| say my character was publicly a>sailed is
this; MIR. Matlock's cornmuncati II was evi-
deHtiy reply 10 AN article which appeared
IN the Htra0 the werk before. in v hich this
language may be found "On last Saturday
evening some Of US were no lIitlc astoniShed
10 see two or three class leaders ard two
Baptist preachers (foI be it saJd to the honor
- N''~ AN-'''~'7L ''f4-'4-' Va i.4tS 'i'4d-F.
that he could hot be persuaded into any such
work of this vi Iage engaged in raising
poiti al pole out about half mile FROM
town on what * commonly known as fruit
hill Mr.. MatlOch'. reply l.; a. plead
guilty to the charge, ami am willing the
world should knUw that While some other
(to their shame DC il >aid) are 81
lent upon the subject Of American slavery.
and thereby indirectly cncoura ejug the open
ing OF the markets for the sale of the image
oi him who they preach, | DID ASSIST ilsce-
waiting Fremont fla =" NOW. as | have
the charge Of the Methods, society in tbs
place, comment is unnecessary cuu,ii ieriug
the connection OF the reply I'll the allcga.
uiCn, tu show that am the character referred
10. Now t. the task Of yindication, which
IL certainly L-i-. - T. r----i--o-
-r,vr rrs-, well Is others Of the
same class, Is that we are silent upon the
subject of American slavery acknowl-
edge the fact, bat cannot. with my fiien,.
acknowledge any guilt Ny reasons for such
silence are as follows: Fn-t,' there are 10
S.avehc'urr: IN nv congregation. a. Me
thodist minister | find this requisi;ion in our
discipline, page So with which am bound
TO comply, -4lccays snit your suiject 10 yoyr
Iad'.nr-,' and as slavery does not exist in
l.. j
feel that American slavery is n sin. and
think that God has called upon me to expose
that sj.', VII not remain in Illinois where /,
that >ln does not, and is not likely II exist, /
but | would rather 60 and with tiae Saviour (.
sit down at the table Of these publicaus and .
: nner> and cat with them, and nolwith- .
standing might be prosecuted for right
-ouSnces sake. would consider myself
blessed, and with him | would say: = Ihe
whole need not 4 physician. but they that
ire sick, and with him would cry out,
= come not to cali the righteous, but sin
pers to repentance" A sublime idea would
t be, truly, for you, the physicians of
Quincy TO make out prescriptions for your
patients for yellow fever, simply from the
act that the disease is raging to some ex-
ent in New Orleans. Equally as much folly
would ! exhibit to cry out against the great
sins OF American slavery, when twu-thirdS |
If nay congregation are not voters and the f.
third acknowledge the evil, aud I
nave made their nome in this beautiful State I
% avoid the blishtins inhuepcc Of its wither |
ng touch.
Nv second reason for such silence is, | .
lon't find that subject included in my com
mission. The command 4, 'preuch tie g0s-
Jei." Convince me that polite, constitute /
part of the gospel of Christ, and | viii .
preach a Political serDaon'(:t next Sabbath. /.
But that conclusion cannot be SO easily ar
-ivcd at, either directly or Indirectly, until
~ legal bonds church and State are one /;
which may heaven ever forbid.
Ny third reason for silence is, meet with |
10 precedent for political preaching in the |
,xample of Christ and his apostles SO far
rom it, that we see everything to the con- /
rary Paul would glOry N nothing, "save |
n the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" and /
.xprcssed himself as determined to know (
lo,hing among the people save Christ cru /
flied" And in the memorable instance .
when Our Saviour was put to the test by .
laving propounded to him u political ques
ion, under circumstances of a very momen-
Gus character, he replied, Render unto .
cesar the things which are Caesars and .
INTO God the Things that are Gods" And /
n that laconic but volumnous reply not |
,nly set forth the high ard holy character .
If his mission, but gave an example to be |
arefullv studied, and diligently followed by !
III his ministers through all time. Follow
his example, my good brother ~, and then
md not until then. say to your parishioners,
Follow me, as follow Christ"
My fOurM reason Tor silence on the snb-
ect of American slavery is: My people are
IS well acquainted with that subject as am.
lmOyt, if not all of my members are in the |
eceipt of one rmore political papers week
v. | don't know how it is with others,
nut my people are posted up in these mat
crs. 1t requires all my time TO visis MEM
,ers, prepare for pulpit exercises and at
end to other duties OF my charge, while /
hey have time at their command to read
hose papers. political speeches, &C., attend
political meetings, "come to the light" see
/ ''shine," and otherwise gain Information
N all the important questions Of the day;
nd have no little confidence either in
heir intellectual stamina or industry, as to
hink that thep cannot or do not improve
hese means Of information to all beneficial
interests and purposes. Such fact rem