St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-09-08
The Democratic Church
Stearnss County.

The Democratic Church O.
stearns County.
THIS Church was organized before tn
County itself; and hence is Of ancient orr
gin It's object, like that Of all othc
churches, is salvation-the salvation ofth
Union. It has been ominen.ly successful
too in carrying on the good work and 70
the first five years of its existence no othe,
church saved the Union more frequently
more promptly, and more: certainly thar
this sanc convocation Of tn, saints il
stearns County. Up to 81 tho Righ
Reverend Bishop srLviNus B. .LowR,
took charge of its conscience; but being
absent from his diocese in that year, dis
sen.ions spr3ng up amongst jealous breth'
rea who, in The apirit Of pious emulation,
sought to excel each other in evidences Of
fa1er from the ruling deity. Bishop Low
Rxhad studied democratic divinity in Wig
wan University, aDdtaken his degrees and
received ordination at the hands of Presi-
dent Winnebago. OF course he held, and
had taught his charge, that cotton il the
one, only living and true God who ought
to be politically worshipped; aud that HEN
ny NJ. RICE is his prophet. His people
agreed on this cardinal point Of faith, but
during his absence they had some living
contention about who should stand high.
est in the favor of their divinity.
Early in So We presented ourself with
letters and Bishops ring from the Free
Democratic Church Of Pennsylvania. We
at once insisted that the Democratic Church
universal, is trinitarian-that Liberty,
Equality, Fraternity is,i's deity; and that
THOMAS JEFFERSON il the prophet
Now, by virtue Of our mitre, We claim ex-
elusive jurisdiction over the Democratic
Church Of this County; and brother Low
Rv does the zane by virtue ofhi.. Strange
that although our claims areprecissly sim:
liar, they should lead to serious diff
culties and even to blows; but 20 tits; ana
this, oddly enough, dizturbs the peace and
harmony of our Zion. We insist that all
acts of political worship shall DO performed
standing, that the worshippcr should look
the deity straight in the face, and measure
every act by the written word Of the proph-
ct. Brother LOWRY Insists. that his deity
should only be approached upon bonded
knee; and that, for times of revival, rolling
and barking exercises arc peculiarly pleas
ing to Cotton. .Dcvout yorshipers are
therefore taught to believe that prostrating
themselves with their foreheads in the dust
and rolling over and over after the manner
Of a saw log, without stopping for snags or
paddles, is a very efficient means Of grace,
while, doubling the head down between
the feet and turning long succession: Of
4omersets is received by Cotton with e.,
pecial complais.ney, while sitting upon the
launches and backing Or turping back and
forth with a motion rapid enough to make
Long hair crack like: whiplashes are upfail-:
ing evidences Of acceptance Of forgive
ness Of past sins; and assurance Of future.
favors. To confess the truth this torn Of
worship has han tried With effect; and
many Of the saints have received their re-.
ward. Still, ~ persist in teaching that
it is not according to the democratic con-
fession Of Faith-.thst, in short, ii IL rank
heresy, that Bishop LowR il q schismatic
and ought to be accommodated forth
With. 1t is plain to our mind; and clear;
in the teachings of our prophet that the
Democratic deity cannot bestow his favors
upon men men without :6rst causing them
TO stand erect. eo'co 4,+.:: -oesIa s9s@esl>.
- Then, there is Brother CARo7Hsns who
received priestly orders in the Tenn. fold.
He believes in Cotton; but is not clear
about Rice. Ho inclines 80 muchttoward
the right Of private Judgement Is y be-
love that al those in hotJy pt3sn ha IS!
right TO interpret the oracles every one TOR
himself and these committed to his carr,
especially # ths1 a90 18th him in the ii
terpretationa Hc issliv1l3 FrSlsbsrof tie
word. Il ashasetooff thdas6 sxho: ac1g,ils tbs
point # f #, F,t AZ + u.