Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1858-02-27
How a Church was Cured Of FremontiSm

How Church was Cured Of FTenOntiSm
The Hartford Times relates tho follow
ing:-
A Congregational church in neighbor-
ing State got 50 completely enlisted in the
presidential contest, for Fremont and Jessie,
that little attention was given to religious
questions. The minister was constantly
preaching, praying aud exhor'ing upon
political issues, and his deacons and tho
laymon followed suit at the prayer and
conference meetings. Finally, worthy,
old farmer, one Of the staunchest and best
members of the church, and firm, unde-
Waiting democrat, was called upon to offer
q prayer.
go Lord" said he, "uphold the demo-
cratic party, which has received Thy pro.
tccting support ever since the great Jeffer.
sonian struggle. Continue t, bless that
party which has, under Thy protection and
providence, brought great blessings upon
this republic. lit be thy pleasure, and
believe it would be, o, carry that party
through this struggle to complete triumph.
Bless James Buchanan, the sried and hon.
est statesman, and guide him safely to the
presidential chair. Bless John G. Brock
inridgc, the young and Jealous democrat,
and open to him the path of duty as well
as that which leads straight to The Vice
Presidency. Give them victory o, bless
tho opponents of democracy personally,
but utterly destroy their fanatical and in
furious schemes, if it be thy will to do SO,
and verify believe it is. Be on the side
Of democracy, o Lord, as thou hast been
for the past ffty-six years, and on the 4,h
Of March next we shall witness the inau-
guration Of Pennsylvanias favorite son,
and the people of this country will once
more settle down in their peaceful pursuits,
instead of warning wickedly, section against
section, interest against interest, and man
against his brother. And o, bcseech
thee especially, free Christian churches
from the political strife and bitterness
which are rending them asunder, destroying
their usefulness, and turning them unhap-
PLY into mere political associations. Let
us hear something of the mercy on the
Sabbath. We have already been Piled to
fullncss with political fanaticism, and our
minister has become stump orator against
a good old party which Thou in Thy wisdom
hast upheld so long, and so repeatedly
guided to victory, and sustained in the
establishment of sound measures. o turn
his mind from these things, and direct his
legitimate religious duties, or turn him
over directly into the hands of the federal
or abolition party, and Yet thom take care
of him, and provide US with true minister
of the gospel. At any rate the present
state of things cannot last, If politics are
to rule l shall claim one half the time in
behalf of the democratic party, SO that
there may be fair discussion within these
walls Amen"
This was a stumper. 1t was the first
prayer ever publicly offered in that church
for the success of the democratic party and
its nominees, though hundreds of prayers
and eXhortations had been made against
that party. When the old man had finish
cd there was a silence o. half an hour and
the meeting then adjourned. And thus
ended the political preaching in that church.
From that time forward, the minister at
tended to his gospel duties, and left all
political questions to be settled by the
people outside of the church. Again tho
society prospered, and there was better
feeling among its mcmbers-moro Christian
charity-moro brothorly love. The old
mans earnest prayer was answered in more
respects than one.