The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-04
TiLUE or AMERICAN HISTORY.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.l

Every day brings to light new facts showing the inn
portance of those principles developed AS
where else in American history, Some few years ago,
DR., Neander, about the most accurate and impartial
writer of church history Of any age sort Of whose
immense learning was only equalled by his comprehen-
sye philosophy persuaded of his avorite pupils to
sit down and write the history of the religious
struggles and movements in America, both in psyche
logical point of view and in their relation to the history
of the Christian life
But when the younger historian set to work, he found
it necessary least highly desirable first of all, to
take quite full view OF the rise OF the New England col
onies Dr. Nelndcr concurrcd in this opinion and the
result has been the production Of work. endorsed in all
its essential features by Neander himself and which is
published in Germany TO exhibit, 'by contrast. the
evils they suffer from intermingling ecclesiastical with
political affairs and to assist for which they long,
the emancipation OF the Church from the State.
One small volume the Theocracy of New England
has been already published, and repubshei for in
Boston, translated by Mrs. Conant showing how the
action from the onesded principle Of Church theocracy
helped bring about the subsequent total separation OF
Church and State in New England.
The great point which Neander and his friend have
aimed to illustrate is this THAT all the interests of hu
mainly should be allowed each It's right and free develop
ment according TO its peculiar laws that OF
them be sacrificed for another This is the principle
which those aborous thinkers find illustrated in the his
tory of New England nowhere else Chevalier Bun
SEN almost equally distinguished for historical research,
the friend of Ncbuh and lately the Prussan ambassador
to the court of Great Britain recently produced the
ample of the struggles and tumphs of religious liberty in
this country as worthy of all attention. and exhibiting
the proper lesson for Germany at this moment namely,
the freedom the Church from State control coercion
and the freedom of each religious congregation to manage
its affairs in its own way.
1t often seems to those who going through any
great struggle that their abors very arduous and
their success at the time small But knows what
is involved in the struggle for any great right 1t affects
the whole subsequent history of the world of mankind
The very errors and mistakes Of good men, by exhibiting
all the possible outworkngs of great IDEAS and the agu
ments and results of antpodal principles not lost
They serve beacon-ghts in all subsequent history;
and one mutton thus furnishes examples and pccedens of
the greatest value to all others. Mr.. H. f. Uhden, Ne
ander pfo9f finds it necessary to begin away back ut
the reformation in England under Henry VIl to trace
out the first development Of the Puritan element, the
Brownsts; Robinson and his Leyen congregation, their
emigration in the layower and their attempt TO set up
a theocracy in New England He does full justice to the
lofty and devoted piey and disintcrestodncss that
ceived and executed all this But then he goes and
traces the history of the founding Of Providence to Roger
Williams and the decided opposition which he
mcnced against every form of union of Church and State
All is done most imparally
The testimony of the Quakers and their suiferings
also protrayed In fact all the mschevous results upon
prosecutors and presented of religious oppression end
ing in the gradual destruction of the Church and State
doctrine, are fairly shown No other history SOL
completely showed the absurdy of the union of cccle
sastica and civil government though the history of al
most every country might exhibit greater amount of
crime and suffering resulting from it. But it probably
never urred to those who suffered and to those who
sternly and conscentously prosecuted that their
duct form guiding light in all the future history
of the world to lead first England and then Germany,
even Turkey and by degrees the whole world to those
ideas of religious liberty which the highest glory OF
country and of age and the safe and sure pecur
sors of all civil freedom.
The advantage of having accurate and truthful histo
rans is also here illustrated for it is that which makes
the whole struggle of such immense value to the world