Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-07-03
From the Providence Post
A Methodist Bishop Rebukes POliti-
cal Preaching.

Bishop Morris, being about to announce
the appointment of preachers to their sew
eral stations and circuits, gave his views
very briefly and in very kindly terms
upon the interference of ministers of
the Gospel with political affairs. We
deem the present a very fit time for Civ
ing his remarks to our readers. The po-
litical excitement which brought so many
New England clergymen into the parti-
san field has passed away, and ministers
and laymen are looking with calmness
and candor to the influences which have
resulted from political preaching They
find churches divided and distracted,
pews deserted, treasures empty, and the
hearts of the people cold and comfortless.
Some of them, with cemmendable devo-
ton to the Christian cause, have set
about the work necessary to restore the
good feeling which prevailed in other
years = and many who had been driven
from their houses of worship by the par
tisan abuse of their ministers have been
brought back to their public devotions,
and are again hoping for season of re-
ligious enjoyment Perhaps, at such a
time, both minister and people will de-
rive pleasure and profit from the gentle
counsels in the remarks above referred
to. In the course of them, Bishop Nor
ris said:
j deem it not unimportant or out of
place to address few words to you, my
brethren, upon subject whichis attract
ing considerable attention at the present
time--namely, as to how far minister
of the Gospel ought to take part in the
politics Of the day. When minister
goes into his pulpit he finds his congro-
cation composed of men of different po-
litical parties; and if he publicly becomes
the partisan of one side or the other,
there will of necessity spring up cold
ness towards him in part of the con-
gregation, which will very much dimin-
ish his influence. feel convinced, from
what have observed, that the only re-
suit that can be expected from a minister
taking part in the political contests and
discussions of the day will be to engen-
der strife and hard feeling in his congre-
CATION.
But some may ask whether We are
not citizens like other men, and bayo not
duties to perform as such? Most cor
tainly We are, and | trust | have not
proved recreant to the obligations resting
upon me as a citizen, although | have
not, for the forty years that | have been
in the ministry, ever entered political
meeting or spent above fves minutes at
any election. | have always made it
point to 60 the polls at the most quiet
time Of the day, when there was likely
to be the least excitement, to depositc my
ballot in an unostcntatious manner, and
return home. | have never seen the
time when / thought | was called upon
az a citizen to do more than this. ]
know not how it may be with others, but
| have always found enough to do in the
duties of my calling. | am willing to
let the potsherds strive with the pots
herds but prefer for myself to attend to
the duties deyolving upon me as min
lister of Christ, ] recollect an anecdote
of a Methodist brother who was stationed
to preach the Gospel to the people in
Fountain Head circuit, near the Her
mitage Of the lato President Jackson, in
the exciting political times Of his second
election. Party zeal was just then at its
height, and each party wanted every one
to be on its side. They sought out the
ncwly-arriyed minister and eagerly in
quired Of him whose side he was on p
Il am on the side of the Lord and Foun-
tain Head Circuit was the reply
(Which Of the candidates do you intend
to vote forY Il trust | shall be found on
my knees praying to God for the CONVEX
sion Of sinners and the upbuilding of
Zion in Fountain Head circuit How
ever they might question the devoted
he would wisely answer that
he meant to do his duty faithfully as
minister of Christ in fountain Head
circuit In conclusion, let me say, my
60 ye and do likewise"
DYING CONFESSIONS. The Toledo
Blade, remarking upon the recent cxecu-
ton Of Return j. NJ. Ward, in that city, /.
quotes the remark Of DR.. Bond, an cmi-
ncnt physician Of Baltimore, who said
that fifty years experience at the bed
sides of the sick and dying had taught
him that the most deceptive moments Of
4 mans whole life are those in which he
fingers on the very boundary between
life and death and the words then spo-
ken, reflect the prevailing motives Of
heir lives; and moralizes thereon as
'ollows:
People are very apt to think, when
/ criminal denies his guilt on the gal
ows, in view Of such awful circums
ilances, that he must be innocent. But
be history Of criminal law shows that
nothing is more erroneous than such an
opinion; and the dying speech Of Ward,
n contrast with his written confession,
,oes still further TO show how little de-
,endcncc can be placed on a man whose
ife is one Of everlasting duplicity. III
Yard told the truth on the scallold, be
led repeatedly before. If he told The
ruth IN his confession, be lied on the
cafold Whichever dilemma we take,
he result will 60 TO show that the view
t certain death does not make men hon
st."
RI" Mrs. Partington says she has no
iced that, whether -four was dear or