M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-04-02

u bNA AlOlA IN wv VI - AANNANhAo
minister, recently published in the
Quincy (Ill.) Herald. Mr.. BARGET
had been attacked through the papers.
Republican of course, for not preach
ing against the iniQuity of slavery
Just read his reply in vindication O.
his silence. To us the reply seems
conclusive:
PAYsoN, Sept. 2d, 1856.
Now, to the task Of vindication
which is certainly a light one. The
grave charge resting upon me, as well
as others OF the same class, is that we
are "silcnt upon the subject OF Amer.
can slavery" | acknowledge the
fact, but cannot with my friend &C.
knowledge any guilt. My reasons
for such silence are as follows:
First, there are no Shareholders in
my congregation. As a methodist
minister | find this requisition in our
discipline (page 55,0 with which | am
bound to comply, "Al'cdys suit your
subject to your audiences" and as
slavery does not exist in my bounds |
have nothing to do with it. If | feel
that American slavery is a sin, and
think that God has called upon me TO
expose that sin, | will not remain in
Illinois, where that sin does not and is
not likely TO exist, but | would rather
20, and with the Savior, sit down at
the table with these publicans and
sinners, and eat with them, and not
w~ithstanding | might be prosecuted
for righteousness sake, | would con-
slider myself blessed, and with him |
would say: "The whole need not q
physician, but they that are Sick" and
with him | would cry out, 81 come
not to call the righteous but sinners
to repentance" A sublime idea
would it be truly; for you, the physic-
ians of Quincy, to make out perScrip-
tons for your patients for yellow te-
yer, simply from the fact that the dis
case is raging to some extent in New
Orleans.
My second reason for such silence
is, | don't find that subject included in
my commission. The command is,
"proach the gospel" Convince me
that politics constitutes a part of the
gospel of Christ, and l will preach a
political sermon, q next Sabbath
But the conclusion cannot be easily
arrived at, either directly or indirect.
ly, until by legal bonds Church and
State are one; which may heaven CIV.
er forbid.
My third reason for silence is: l
meet with no precedent Tor political
preaching in the example of Christ
and his apostles. So far from it, that
we see everything to the contrary
Paul would glory in nothing, save
in the cross ofour Lord Jesus Christ"
and expressed himself as determined
to know nothing among the people
save Christ cruciied." And in the
memorable instance when our Say
Jour was put to test by having pro,
pounded to him a political question,
under circumstances ola very momen-
tous character, he replied--"Rendcr
unto Caesar things that are Caesars,
and unto God the things that are
Gods" And il that laconic but volu.
minous reply not only set forth the char
acter of his mission, but gave an ex.
ample to be carefully studied and
diligently followed by all his minis,
tiers through all time. Follow his ex-
ample, my good brother NJ, and then,
say to your parishioners, "Follow
me, as | follow Christ"
Ny fourth reason for silence on the
subject Of American slavery is, my
members are as well acquainted with
the subject as | am. Almost, if not
all of my members are in the receipt
of one or more political papers week
ly. | don't know how tits with 9TH
ers, but my people are posted up in
these matters. 1t requires all Of my
time to visit members, prepare for
pulpit exercises, and attend to other
duties Of my charge, while they have
time at their command to read these
papers, political speeches, &C., attend
political meetings, "come to the light"
see it ''shine," and otherwise gain in
formation on all the important ques-
tons ofthe day: and have not sol
little confidence either in their intel
lectual stamina or industry as to think
they either cannot or do not improve
these means of information to all ben.
eicial intents and purposes. Such a.
fact renders it not only inexpedient
but unnecessary, for me to crowd the
cross ont Of my pulpit to make room
for a political platform. l cannot, Il
wiU not be guilty ofsuch sacrilege.
MyffM reason for silence is, my
pulpit was not dedicated to politi-
clans, but God. Court houses and
Legislative halls are designed express
ly for civil purposes. Churches most
certainly are not. If political hartan.
CUES are to be introduced into our
churches on the holy Sabbath, it is