The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-31
POLITICAL PREACHING.

lnhdehty WAS never 80 slronB anu fegloh 30 weak IN
any Christian land France towards the close Of the
eighteenth century 1t period when learning full
mischieyous skepcsm and when the popular mind was
intoxicated with frantic spirit Of civil revolution Reli
gon had no immunity whore she had security and she
was tempted stop down from her throne to mngle with
the storm She sunk in the death-grasp Of the bloody
tragedy to which she had made herself ally and then
n6delty had check. This mighty calamity was but
the inevitable consequence Of such unnatural and nm
holy alliance. When religion stoops to become an adj
unct the incorporate zeal Of political strife and casts
away her distinctive and holy Office she soils her vest
ments with the impure contact and poisons the pure
fountain of her faith and her mission with the drugs that
are huckstered in seasons of wild political discord
History is full of instruction and profound admoniton
upon this sad theme. Nations and communities have felt
the scourge the long eclipse of every ray of redeeing
light and the tardy return of social and moral health
Religion never wandered from her legitimate sphere, to
share in The great agitang movements that conyss soc
ETY. with some hold scheme of political corruption and base
ambition alien to her sober and peaceful province without
inuring or endangerng her benign and holy cause The
active and boiserous elements of secular life take hold
of her gentle spirit when adro appeals are made to
her sympathy and ncautousy relaxing her hold on her
best safeguards give her helping hand she lends her
strength to the promotion of vicious ends before she s
aware Of her false position II returning reason should
open her eyes to her great error abe might decide to
tire from the lost field repair her violated faith and in
iured reputation the best amends she could make But
il infatuaton should blind her to true of duty,
and she should move on in companonshp with unholy
ambition the last step would be to her dishonored
grave With these memorials and warnings before us, it
is deplorabe TO see in land in this enlightened
age in the clear light and defined path of religious duty
40 many pulps desecrated to political preaching and
much zeal worse than wasted in the false Of religion
to aid the worst spirit of domestic discord to weaken If
not to sever bond Of national Union invoking hos
tty and dcord where there should be and harmony
cutting asander the fraerna ties Of brotherhood smu
atng blind persistence peril everything that Is dear
to us in and all that is sacred to the great
cause Of civil and religious liberty that bgo in black
may preach treason and bapze in6deity with the
tons of sacerdoa imposture It's indeed sad spectacle
but this does not tell the of the shame and evil 1t
has deeper shade Of crime when vena press is eagued
with icenous pulpit defe the affairs of religion and
repuate the obligations Of patriotism OF this scene OF
.urpituds in another land Madame Roland exclaimed
her way to the scafold, aOh liberty how many crimes
are perperated in thy name and she might have added
Elbow many crimes under the mask Of religion
| Whilst We lament and reprobae the commissions that
endanger country we have the cheering
ISOLATION of knowing that these evils however threatening
have their limit and are destined fall infinitely short of
their aims If the pulpit has its bigob and unhthul
stewards religion has her pure faithful voaries through
out all her borders--srong pervading and controlling
watchu and jealous Of her good name and her high and
holy mssionready to rebuke error to punish hypocrisy
and lead In the way of duty 1.-THE press not unani
nous has nevertheless on imboded and commanding
strength that is watchfu and faithful at every point Of
duty ready to rebuke clerical aposacy 1t is to
pose political corruption The people toothe soveregns
of andlove and honor religion great divine ele
ment working her appropriate sphere to dispense bless
ngs where her healing s necessary but not to usurp the