The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1856-10-08
The Clergy on the stump.
Editors Of DE Nr,o Tork OGsever::

course oil certain class OF cleTgymen IN the
present fearful crisis Of our country. l wish
that article could be read by every conscientious
thoughtful man Of the nation. Iwish to apply
its principles to those pastors who make the
pulpit apolitical rostrum, and spending the week
days, not in ministering to the wants of their
flocks. but in haranguing our turbulent political
gatherings. ..
For the first time in the history Of our cOuh-
try does the church present this singular spec
tacle with regard to its pastors. You only know
some of the leaders in this bold innovation on
the doctrines and teachings of our fathers, but
the country is alive with the lesser lights fol-
lowing their example. Now if these men are
right, it behoyes each clergyman to do likewise,
and each preach up his own candidate on the
Sabbath, and stump the State in his behalf on
the week days. Suppose the Rev. Ward Bee
cher gives notice that he will on the next Lords
day present the claims of John. G. Fremont to
the sufrages of the people; the sacrament of
the Lords Supper to be administered in the af-
ternoon Rev. DR.. Krebs has set apart the same
day to present the claims of Mr.. Buchanan;
while on the door of DR.. Phillips church is a
poster announcing discourse on Mr.. Fillmore.
If it is right to do these things it is right to an
nounce them. The other clergy, seeing these
things about to be done, fall in, and Presbyteri-
ans, Baptsts, Methodists, Episcopalians and
Dutch Reformed range themselves on different
sides, and throughout Brooklyn, New York
and indeed in ever Own and hamlet the Sab
bath day is devoted to the discussion of the
claims of the several presidential candidates -
The duties of the Sabbath being over and the
ecomiums and abuse of the various Monday
morning papers being read the following notices
of public meetings appear in the advertising
columns. ..
Rev. Ward Beecher will address Republican
Mass Meeting at Canaan Hall Connecticut, on
Tuesday, with other distinguished speakers.
Rev. Dr. Spring, assisted by Rev. DR.. Bethune
will address Buchanan Mass Meeting at the
Five Pointse9~egTand torch light procession.
Rev Drs. Philips and Tying are expected at
a grand Fillmore rally in Rochester on Thurs
day next. Several fire companies are to be
present ......-.-...
Subordinate meetings to be addressed also BY
pastors are held in the various localities of the
State. Now and then Buchanan and Fremont
clergyman meet on the same platform and dis.
cuss the merits of their respective candidates
| IN Statn is in
assunder. It's no longer Christ and him cruel
fed; but the different candidates and their DO
litical principles. The week of political -reli-
gious madness passes on, and on Monday we
find the Evangelist, Churchman, and Christian
Advocate and Journal, an account of their va
rious meetings; how enthusiastic they were;
how Ward Beecher pitched into Buchanan, and
DR.. Spring into Fremont, and another Rev. Dr.
into Fillmore. These would be followed by
letters from distinguished clergymen who had
been invited to attend, but could not. One from
DR.. Storrs expressing his sympathy for the Ere
monters, but he was not fitted for stump speak.
ing! another from Bishop Potter pleading pres
sing engagements; while a distinguished mis-
sionary just returned from the heather was un.
sxpectedly detained by sickness. Another
could not put offa funeral; while q fifth was
unable to leave the death-bed of dying sinner.
Now sirs, is this caricature? Is it not fair
description of what aCoula Ie, if all clergv,nen
entertain ed the views and adopted the course Of
those who preach politics from the pulpit, and
make stump speeches during the week.
twill not do for men to say, 'tOh, this is an
extraordinary case" Every minister must
keep his own conscience. Each minister weighs
the matter, and decides for himself And what
he claims for his own conscience with respect to
his candidate he must grant to another, and
what spectacle would the church present un.
der such an order Of things? What would her
influence be worth after the election was over:
Would she not be the Kissing aud by-word o.
the world, and justly? This is but the begin.
ming of the end, and unless the conservative
portion of the clergy rouse from their position
and meet this dangerous, ruinous encroaehment
with the same boldness and promptness will
which it has been commenced, it will soon bt
too powerful to control. 1t will not do for the
press or the pulpit to be timorous when such
evils are working their disastrous issues. Tn,
voice of rebuke and condemnation must bC
heard above the uproar and din of these worldly
strifes. You have not the faintest conception
of the madness that has seized the pulpit. Ev
cry Sabbath church and congregation is rent
assunder in this State, and spirit Of hostility
awakened in those out Of the church that year.
will not allay. If you could move about among
the masses, especially the young men-the far
mers, mechanics, &c, who constitute the bon,
and sinew Of the land, and hear as have hearC
tho undertone of anger and contempt at tn,
action Of the clergy, you would see that thC
seeds of infdelity were being scattered far Gnc
wide. .,su t .a.s.. ....
Icouldif had space give you facts to prov,
that HChristians' as we'll as "the prophets Of tn,
Senate" do not see the portentious signs tha
hang olt their warning in thesky." s
4 The triumph of this or that political party
tho anxious questonings whether the shock
which the ship of State is now receiving arr
"from tho wave or rock'--whether the tumul
Aloitis the tapping or rending Of the sails
whether the flashlights on the shore" will eac
to shipwreck or not, though of vast and fearful
moment are absorbed in the greater question
whether the church is to retain her position
> and purityo or to disappear in the niaolstrom 3
], political and raging iacticnsl Whether she i
60 bo,.ol II, Il o.,,,alonou ~ .bosa nho $50 -