Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-12
A Political Sermon.

Rev. J. d. Strong's sermon, entitled " \ plea
against Dueling," suggests to us some refec-
tons regarding clergymen generally.
4 religious shepherd, whose energies arc
devoted to the cure and salvation Of souls,
must be often puzzled as to the most efFectual
manner Of attacking particular vice. Incur
favored land the severance Of Church and
State precludes all resort, on the part of the
clergy, to secular means for enforcing into
practice moral preachments. Their only
weapon is moral suasion. Their great and
good mission is successful mainly through the
hearts of their reluctant focks. The under
standing Of an American laity is tOlcrable well
exercised in the moral code. The winning
thcologian glides tcnderly and softly through
the Aowcry avenue Of the feelings In an igno-
rant age the Amounted ones Of lhc Church
rushed spasmodically from their morOse and
ascetic privacies and Illuminated unpalpable
truths with harsh voices. Perhaps the mode
was in accordance with the epoch. An era
of polish and dccorum has succeeded; and
intimately connected with the progress of po-
likeness and general amenity is the diffusion
ofmoral principles with the masses Of our pco-
pie. The poet Pope, affecting the moraIist,
with much labor, wOve in sweet numbers his
Essay on Man; and yet the great rhymist was
no better informed in true ethics than the
most ordinary American schoOl-boy.
Our position is that the principles Of morali-
ty arc few and simplc-that while science and
art are leapinS forth with constantly incrcnS-
ing vigor, theology and religious knowledge
have made no progress for centuries past
With no secular power to enforce their truths,
and with no ability to cnlishtcn understand
ings already informed, our additional PROPOSE
ton is that the clerical order in our country
are the creatures Of the laity, organized and
sustained by them as matter Of human grace
and luxury. We erect commodous taber-
naclc at our own expense, and we advertise
for man Of intellect who will garnS! moral
theories and tiltate our intellectual palatcs on
each recurring Sabbath. lie is our moral and
mental employee. II he trenches on good
manners, if he dogmatizcs crraticay or Of
tends our taste or intelligence in any partcu-
lar, We discharge him on payment Of the con-
tract price. The preacher is the ornamental
portion Of the vast moral machinery Of our
land. Ills true province is the incubation of
general morality. lie is the .cxpoundcr and
caborator Of naturcd moral pablic sentiment.
IL he so far forget himself as to originate
! Af
with the animoStics aud accTbiticS Of his con-
grcgation, and looScs their esteem and hia place.
Independence is all very well, but its display
in the pulpit ncapacitates the preacher for his
calling. Rather should VIC say that it is lack
Of independence as we'll as deccncy, to discuss
topics from the holy rostrum which are arous-
ing acerbity anil bitterness in community
The parlor has its conventional tastes. With
ladies' the blackguardisln Of the bar-roon is
inopcrtune We enter not Gods house to be
pointed at as the violator Of the seventh Com
mand,hcnt, or to be denounced as swindlcrs
or the associates Of swindlcrs. We enter the
church for commune Of holy thoughts.
Far be it from us to dcrogatc from those
good Fathers who, initiating tho meek and
lOwly Saviour, arc pointing out with constant
finger "thc rough and stony path to Heaven
The rich burthcn of their soothing oratory is
Christ and Him crucified. Like minister.
ing angels they hover around the couch Of the
diseased and dying. and their tender accents
arc frcightcd with sweetest consolation.
This is not the age Of John Knox or Martin
Luther. The day Of maptyrdom has passed
Who violates good sense and good taste in the
pulpit encounters the same fate as the i'll bred
man in the social circle. Contempt and loss
Of vocation await each equally.
These reflections are suggested by the PC.
rusal Of n discourse lately delivered at Oakland
by clergyman Of the lame of j. d. Strong,
entitled a plea against Ducling." The prov
ocation Of his Senscess liatribc was the occur
renee between Senator Frederick and Judge
Terry. Tho vanity Of the orator led him to
public in print. In thus differing from the
proper taste which characterized the conduct
Of the clergy Of the State, no doubt Mr.. Strong
assumes much credit for his notable independ.
cncc. And thus while Col. Baker was cleo
trifying his audience in San Francisco with
powerful political haranguc, the Rev. Mr.
Strong was etFulging in Oakland in sensation
sermon, on the same subject, to his pious flock
The clOcution Of this holy aspirant for fame
may equal his talented competitor, but his
rhetoric is infinitely beneath. We trust that
respect for the house of worship restrained his
hearers from open demonstration Of contempt,
but VIC arc quite sure had Col Baker said,
he now lies in CORY shroud, shot down in
cold blood by party he had never injured
but often SuccOred, while the unhappy wretch
who has murdered him has escaped without
scar had Col. Baker employed this Ian
guage Of q minister Of the gospel he would
have been hootcd from the stand.
The officially between BroIcrck and Terry
was the fermentation Of political canvass Of
extraordinary rancor. BrOdcrick dead, Terry
was to be subjected to legal pursuit upon the
charge Of crime. No matter; an Independent
man Of God, a meek follower Of the Lamb
echoes from the sacred desk the foul slang and
Shiny vituperatiOn of pot-houSe politicians,