Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-05-22
The Division of Churches and De-
sfructiOn of their Usefulness.

structiOn of their Usefulness.
Churches, properly organized and
managed, contribute largely to the we,-
fare and happiness Of its members, and
to the peace and honor Of thc communi-
ty wherein they are located In our
loved America every denomination of
Christians enjoys equal privileges and
protection, except in few localities.
where a bigoted faction has exercised
unchartableness, oppression, and tyran-
ny, In such places the true principles
of religion aud the prccepts of liberty
and free government are trodden under
foot. OF late we have noticed with re-
greet many instances in which our re-
hgious institutions have been perverted
from their appropriate objects, and made
to minister to the necessities of politi-
clans. ACKNOWLEDGMENT commenced its
career by divcrting many Christians from
the worship of God to the work of pro-
scription and punishment, by all the
means within its power, of all those
who respect and conGde, with the masses
of Europe, in the faith and rites of the
Catholic Church. The prosecutions grow
ing out Of this political combination have
their precedents in the darkest ages of
Christianity, and in the manifestations of
the worst passions of man. Fortunately
for the honor of our country, the errors
of this political sect arc are being aban-
doned, and more liberal and Christian
principles now begin to prevail. More
recently, another element, not less fatal
to the extension and usefulness of Chris
tianity, has manifested itself A band
of political fanatics and agtators, whose
moral and Christian manifestations have
failed to secure to them the character and
position which they most ardently covet
have, to the extent Of their ability, con-
verified churches into political arenas,
where partisan gladators could exert
their faculties in resisting and overpow-
ering the wise and benevolent principles
of our democratic institutions. Unex-
ceptionable conduct, and strict adherence
to the rituals and faith of a church, could
not shield member from the exactions
of blind and INSCRIPTIONS fanaticism.
He must ignore the principles of the
constitution, trample upon the rights and
eqaulity of the States, and engage in a
political crusade against the institutions
of nearly one-half of them, or be pro-
scribed in every possible way. He must
join in an unconstitutional movement to
control the people in other States and
Territories in establishing and managing
their internal institutions according to
their own sense of justice and the calls
OF interest, or be denounced as unworthy
the name of Christian or freeman, and
be heaped with the grosscst obloquy.-
This subject alone has divided several
church judicatories. Many churches,
impelled by motives having no relation
or connexion with the moral or Christian
department of its members or their faith,
have been rent asunder by this political
topic. This anti-rcligious element has
entered national religious assemblies and
associations, and rent them in twain,
one portion receiving the appellation of
"North" and the other South" and
often arraying these divisions in sharp
and discreditable contests with each 9TH
er, impairing the usefulness of BOTH
Ministers of the Gospel seem to forget
the lessons of experience, which prove
that whenever they engage in the service
of politicians, and pray or preach poll
tics, they are soon sacrificed by those
who seduce them from the path of Chris
tan duty. The political contriyanoes
and necessities of the republicans" in
1856 have ruined the bright nrosneets of
many most worthy man, whom they
induced to preach, not Christ and Him
crucifed, but the pathfinder" and his
magni6ed exploits and imaginary quail
fications for the Presidency, and the
falsely-imputed enormities and blighting
evils that the success of the democracy
would bring and entail upon our coun-
try. 1t is gratifying, however. to know
that the sober second thought of many
of the clergy as well as their hocks has
led them to repent their errors and to
aorndon ssiac cause OF these political en-
prizes, which has been so fruitful of mis-
chief. Tie wise and discreet are fast
returning to the path of duty, and intend
to restore their churches TO their former
position of dignity aud usefulness. If
they do not falter in the performance of
this duty, they will soon repair the
wrong and injury heretofore committed.
and make churches, as their founder in
tended them, institutions for instructing
mankind in their religious duties, and
guides to Heaven. Union.