New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-29

cl cOuTse, very cLcuI!st-hu wings Ho'O 49,
in the name Of Christianity. To denounce these,
and TO denOuuce them with all the severity OF
which charity will permit, is in no degree 10 cast
spy ceusGre upon q faith which il outraged OF
religious system tie fundamental principles oil
which are violated. Now, when We say that Say-
cry in its theory and not less in its almost uniform
practice is dramatically opposed to the theory and
practice Of Christianity, we utter trulsm which
vii not be disputed, except by very small class OF
men. To be sure, there are clergmen Who own
ing slaves, can no more be persuaded that TO own
them is wrong than the possessOr OF lucrative
trade in alcohol can be persuaded that it Is wrong
to deal in alcohol. To be sore, there are many
Church members at the North who, being firmly
convinced that il is better TO sustain the Church IN
ia iLtep,ts as o corporation, than IN its intes-
rity as a conservator Of souud moral piincipS-,
Will Lot listen to any discussion which may
by any possibility involve dismsmberment. Ihey
believe that very large aud very inconsistent
Church is more to be desired than very small and
perfectly consistent Church. Such men are for let
ting Slavery alone because to consider it may bring
disse nson, precisely the great Emperor of Ger
many was for not letting Professionalism alone, be-
cause he, too was afraid Of discussion. What these
men want is to have things ecclesiastical very
strong when it is necessary to put down rival
sect. and very quiet when it is necessary 20 pre-
serve their OWL But they have usually failed most
lameniaby in their object, and have only demon
s,rated to the weird how witless and now wickei
it is to attempt to cover up great truths in IT,
name of Truth ITSELF Charles /. undertook 70 put
down conventices in order to preserve unity, and
be only effected separstion of his OWE head from
bis shoulders; James ii. undertook to put down
the Anglican Church in order to preserve unity
and soon found himself only titu'ar monarch;
another King Of England undertook to arrest
Catholic Emancipation in order to preserve unity
and he found himself eating the humbest kind Of
pie before be had flushed; High Church folks with
large estates in Jamaica tried to stop Exeter Hall
from discussing Slavery and made it is safe to say,
more dssenters in one year than they made con-
yerts in ten; and now-to compare great things
with ssmll-the Young Mems Christian Association
of New York, "bsviDg in view the promotion OF
"evaDgelical religion among young men," has
found oat that il will be fatal to " evangelical re-
"ligion among young mem to discuss Slavery,
and therefore has resOl7ed-e6 to 5S-not to dis
cuss it. As the old cocks-Dr. Lord ct at-croI,
90 crow the young cocks-Messis. Howard, Crosby
& Co.
Now, we do not mean to say that the Young
Mems Christian Association is not bulwark of the
faith; we would not needlessy diminish the preten-
sious Of these foe examples of early piety; but, as
nodesty 10 BY general admission Christian virtue,
perhaps il be perfectly convenient, IT viii do no
harm for the virtuOus and devoted EIghty-six to
cultivate lutte modesty OF their Own. To be sure,
they are not alone in their opinions, if opinions
tLsy can be called; but then great many good
meD, of larger experience than these young gentle
men can pretend to, have totally differed from them.
Indeed, We presume to say that, from the time
Of John Newton down to the tine OF Henry Ward
Beecher, not single Clergyman remarkable for
energetic, practcs! pety, srd a. the same time for
benevolent character, has thought the discussion Of
Slavery Incompatible with theprOmoticn OF evan
"eelical religion smorg young men," 1t Is useless
to name the shining lights Of the Church who have
thought quite the opposite. They were at least
as renowned in their day aud generation for bene7-
oleDce, charity and evangelical religion as Dir.
Howard Crosby and his associates.
The truth is, there was never more pretentous
bumbue than this shallow talk of the Inconsistency
Of Slavery discussion with the promotion of evan
Celical religion. II is humbug without particle
Of philosophy or pety, and we fear With very little
sincerity. Who doubts that Slavery at the South
is debauchibg and demoralizirg young men that
it is fatal to commence TO culture to temperance,
to temper that it leads continually TO the worst
vices denounced By the Church, Now, it would
sertainly do no harm to the cause OF religion 10 this
city if the Young Meas Christian Association
should spread information, stimulate discussion,
and mildly, and in spirit Of brotherhood, appeal
against ct least the extension of this great evil.
1t would do no harm here, but how much good it
might do a. the South How many young persons,
full Of generous impulses, might be saved f:om
ruin How many new States might be saved from
the crme and the curse
But no. The Young Mems Christian Association
is too busiy engaged in spreading evangelical relg
ion TO engage in this truly Christian work. All
we can say is that we are very sorry for them and
WISH tnem great deal ploIc grace anu niVAe ell
Ightened discennent They may possibly find.
before they get through with this matter that they
have no Association left; and then Whist viii be-
come of evangelical religion The ffty-eighs
young men who honestly and earnestly opposed
this new Declaration Of Faith will not sit quietly
with gags in their mouths and will ask for some
thing better than dry fodder Of entities and qId-
diies TIE consequences may be fatal to the
existence Of the Society. but not altogether, we