The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-04-15
Misatl'rol'station.

The turn which is attempted 10 b. given
to the present unusual religious interest
manifested throughout the country, by the
New York Tribune, and sheets OF similar
character, Is well met In the following ar
ticle, which We take from the New York
Journal Of Commerce;
There Is u moral, as well w natural
Misrepresentation. Some MN appropriate
70 themselves funds which belong To others
but not loss henous sin is Il 10 commit
theft on literary property, or on theological
doctrines. Detection may moro quickly sar.
prise the latter class Of transgrcssors. be-
cause they must needs exhibit their ware to
tho world, But the heaviest operation Of
this kind that has lately come 10 our knowl.
edge, is the poaching Of tho moral reform
press upon spiritual territory. II Is admitted
by all. that since the opening Of this year
there has been developed remarkable md
widely extended religious interest In the
land. Business has not ~ deeply engrossed
many minds people have asscmblcd 10 wor.
ship God in All oasy and unartitcial way
moi the loud voice of one crying In the viii
derncss. but the still small voice Of the In.
visible Spirit has been heard not tho storm.
the fire, or the earthquake has threatened.
or blazed, or thllndcrcd, but the soft whis.
pcrs Of the God Of mercy have fallen upon
willing cars, and found entrance into CRATE
ful hearts. Yet We find the columns Of
press never distinguished for It's venoration
lor religion, but rather for Tree skcpticism.
filled with solemn accounts Of tho religious
revival. not 10 much to honor the Divine
Author. ~ TO gloriiy Aboliton'sm.
We must not bc understood ar objecting
to the practice Of publishing religious intel.
ligenco in secular papers, for many OF their
readers are religious men, and those who
arr not, mny be benefited by such reading
but We do object 10 the prversion Of such
intelligence, either TO make light Of the 70.
yiyal itscll, or to prefix to II n lalsc aud
fraudulent cause. Such conduct docs not
deserve even the MAINS OF "pIous fraud"
1t rather reminds us Of graphic language
of Edward Irving IN one Of his celebrated
"Orationr," whore bo Describes the blind
and obsceno owl ~ daring 10 enter the gates
Of the sanctuary, aud nestle itself under the
very wings 0l the cbernbim. Far away
from these sacred precincts b. the flight Of
such birds Of III omen None but the
heavenly dove must hover there. oharpy
II ust alighl on this sacred feast. Instead Of
finding with the reiormcrs, moral cause In
the spirit of Aboltionism. We must look
higher first, 10 the great Original oi mercy,
then to those appropriate influences, proyl.
dcnccs, and instrumontalIties which lie has
brought 10 bear upon the hearts Of men.
Now let us institute contrast between the
spirit Of the modern rcionncrs, and that
which Is abroad ia the assemblies OF the
people. The former ia q spirit of denuntm.
i,on. They have denounced some Of the
best men and the bst institutions Ia the
land. Was this prcparatiye for the gentle
influences now abroad They were In
g,fious and successful IN creating and pcr.
pctuating alterations and divisions in church
~ and society.
Bat the heavenly influence nov among us
il all powerful in the production Of unity
and fraternity They assumed dlctatoral
style at oncc the evidence anil the iostsrer
Of an offensive pride. But the great, tbs
inestmable lesson now IN process Of bcibg
learned, Is hmrhig Most iIippautly did
the modern reformers speak eyiI Of dign
taries." kov. the enlightened. regeDeratsd
multitude nrc bowed before God IN humble,
reyercnt prayer for the rulers Of the nation.
Their doctrines lcd To directly too civil dis
cord and dlsssDsiOr, Tbs true supplianb
now invoke concord aud peace throughout
the Republic. A perfect prevalence of the
Dcw spirit would unite all parts OF the c0un-
try by bonds not Ol st'sl but Of incofrupti-
be love. They preached all manner Of
things ba, the GopL Now, nothing but
the Gospel will answer the end OF the work
They doubted the gepuiBeDess VI supposed
reyiyals IN slayc-bDldItg communities. lof
,be.e have all along bccn going Oh there
Now, the true partlcipatOrs IN the work are
ready ~ stretch forth the hand and cmhacc
5ouiherD Christan. And ~ W. might ~
ON with the line of contrasts. But The above /
will suffice. We might proceed to trace !
the real secondary moral causa. Wemight |
show what n preparatory work la. bccn /
accomplished Wy the Bible 5oc,ety' The /
Tract society. the sunday nchc"' onion' /
and Other agencies, which have kept clear
Uf the paltry ,s,a' of the day.
We nigh, enumaas the many iai'hlnI
pr.ncbers who have kept the faIti aud the
pulpit untollu,ed by modern adul,erat'ons.
We might speak Of earthly dsappoin,nents,
and tie s,agnation Of busiBsss, afiording
both time and iDcitemcDu 10 yrios refiec-
,ion; aod. above all, We might ailude 10 tha.
adorable sovereignty which accomplisbcs its
purpos.- ol mercy in is own way, as well
as IN ia own tine, sometimsz without any
Visible ins,rumentality, aud sometimes with.
jusi a. the wind bIoweth where !, lsseth,
abd W. bear the sound thereof, and cannot |
,,l whence il come,h and whittier II goeth.
All experience, - we'll as Scripture proves