True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-01-28
From the Methodist Protestant.
Inconsistencies,

have become again placid and serene.
Quietness on the exciting subject OF poll
tics again prevails. Nevertheless, it may
not be amiss 10 submit few thoughts
tonching the inconsistencies of protesting
christians, and particularly thus sustain
ing, officially, high positions in the
church. when the tide oil political feeling
runs high. We should highly prize our
republican form of government as ma
lion, which, under The providence OF God
was secured to us, and which, owing to
the influence of the gospel, has been per
petuated to the present, We should al
so appreciate our individual prerOgatives
as constituents the right OF suffrage
should be highly estimated by every cili-
zen, and particularly every christian.
say every christian, because this article
is for the special benefit Of that class.
Christians have as much right vote as any
other people under heaven, aye, and
preachers of the gospel also; it is their
influence that is the great safeguard. But
they should be careful not to compromise
their christian characters in loud and Bit
ter contests. Iupolitical issues and con-
tests il is to be expected that there will
be diversity of opinion now should
any man think less Of another for an hon
est difference of opinion! But alas,
how frequently hard feelings and hard
words are indulged in by professors of
religion to the serious injury Of the cause
of Christ,
To see prominent professors Of religion
at political meetings hallowing and clap
ping, and on election occasions condes-
cendng to lead poor bacchmalianS to the
polls to secure their votes, and sometimes
procure rum for them, and indulge in po-
Iitical trickery and low ehicanery, is uuIy
degrading and wicked, and initiates SER
iousIy against the cause of Chlist. 1t is
sometimes the case that some professors
of religion make as. loud a noise at pollli-
cal meetings AS any of the company
sometimes take little of the old StuB
also. During an exciting contest hard
feelings and hard words are INDUCED,
and men sustaining prominent positions
in the church, under the influence of ex-
element, are known to abuse and villify
the opposite party, and denounce the
whole posse as sci of rowdies and out
laws, unworthy to be associated with,
entirely destitute Of every essential char
acteristic that constitutes a gentleman
They can hurrah as loud as anybody.
spend more mouey and time to get up q
procession for frolic than they do fol
the support of the gospel for a year
Sometimes they are in the most ccnspi
cisus place in the ranks. Is not this de-
grading and wicked All this done BY
official members of the church, nor is
it confined to any one branch Of tht
church.
1t is needless to say that such profes
sors are dead weights in the church. |
is fearful thing thus 10 riie with sa
cred things-how much opposed to the
Injunction Of the Savior, "Let your llgh
so shine before men, &c." We are no
, apt to find such professors of religion Of
, ten in the class room, or at the playe
meeting, or very attentive to family devo
tim. | frequently think of the Language
. of the Saviour, Many shall seek to Ell,
ter in| bu; shall not be able: :" " many will
say unto Inc in that day, Lord. Lord
o open unto us, &C." 10 be christians il
!, to keep ourselves unspot'ed from tn
world.
f AS professors OF the holy religion Q
! Christ, we should take all elevated stant
). in morals. We should strive to enter il
at the strait gate. Bnt thank the Lord
f there are many who have not, as abov'
inlimaled, defiled their garments, 10 b
=, found in the different branches OF tn
church, They think no less of one ano
r. ther for difference Of opinion in Stat
affairs. They love as brethren-the.
y y rgree in tie great fundamentals of chris
r tiani!y-they rally around the cross to
# gether, and have respect to the recon-
pense of the reward-they, instrumen
;. tally, are the hope Of the worll
q Oh for consistency Of christian charac
, Ter
- The above has been written 10 have
i general bearing, and for all who may B
i c concerned or involved, and from feeling
n of kindness, and as | trust, with
due sense of my individual responsibility
~, EPSILON.