Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-12-24

ut the Union. meeting, when he waI enum-
Grating the causes Of The present troubles of
the country. The Rev, Kingston Goddard
''callsfor an explanation Of this apparently
sweeping condemnation of the ministry of
Christ as existing in our Republic" and
AYERS that infdels hereabouts claim that
the sentiment Of Mr.. Stanbery was that our
pulpits are generally degraded.
Mr.. staubery respOnds like high-mlln!ded,
and accomplished lawyer Firstly he ode
nies the fact" Secondly he gives the fact
different Interpretation. He says his exact
words were "a degraded pulpit" not 'our
degraded pulpits," which puts quite differ
ent face on the matter. He meant only
those pulpits which bad been degraded,
which, it will be seen, is exactly expressed
by the words IA degraded pulpit" and not
at all by the words 'our degraded pulpits."
The matter was thus explained to the
satisfaction of both parties, and each
rendered the other assurances Of distin-
puished consideration. 1t is difficult to re-
frain from sighing when one thinks of the
different mode in which an Episcopal Clergy
man of Christ Church in South Carolina
would have vindicated his pulpit from an
iDtimation that it was degraded by preach
ing the Bible and Bowie-knife Gospel, with
the Bowie-knife first, and with exhorting the
brethren to go in for secession, for the Lord
is on their side. BE would have gone forth
from his pulpit, having on the whole armor
of South Carolina faith, revolver in one
hand and a Bowie-knife in the other, and
would have sent summary conviction to Mr..
Stanbery's heart for blaspheming against
him whom the Lord had anointed to preach
| the Gospel of secession and civil war.
But the coldness of our latitude affects the
preaching of the Gospel and it is not driven
hon TO the heart as it is in more fervent
clmes.
Mr.. Stanbery having defined his exact
words-though the Gazette, which is at home
on all pulpit matters, being en- rapport with
all the sound pulpits in the city, still insists
that they were ''our degraded pulpits"-he
leaves the application of the expression, "a
degraded pulpit" to each ones private judg-
ment. This, certainly, is a happy disposi-
ton of the subject. For each clergyman
can enjoy the consciousness that his own
pulpit is pure, and the satisfaction of pro-
nouncing those of the other denominations
degraded. Thus the explanation results in
enlarged Christian charity. But Mr.. STAN
berry not only allows the right of private
Judgment to others in applying the express
sion, "a degraded pulpit" but he gives his
own private application of it, from which it
will be observed that he really meant those
pulpits that are fomenting rebellion, disun'
ion and civil war. With this application,
Mr.. Stanbery's remark should be satisfactory
| to all in this latitude.
We quote the pious and patriotic con-
clusion of his letter:
SIT is matter of some surprise to me,
| that my words should have been liable to
such misconstruction as denuneiation of
the pulpit generally. With our venerable
Bishop on the same platform, my heart full
of gratitude for his solemn appeal for the
restoration of fraternal concord, was it for
me to denouuce the faithful minister of a
Gospel of peace in the sacred desk which
still teaches us obedience to civil authority,
and love and good will to our fello
| L
look upon the pulpit rs having relations
with our social conditionS, with our civil
CONN otions Wherever there is a social
discord, there is the privilege and duty o
the good Divine to speak out, but not in the
language of a partisan not with words tC
iDhame the controversy, not with argu
ments intended only for one side, however
much he may sympathize with that side, /
he can not pour oil upon the troubled waters
! l. l. l1 - Il I
monition that shall meet a willing response
on all sides, it were better he should be 81
ent."
The reference to "our venerable Bishop
is forcible, for our venerable Bishop was con
spicuous in applauding the expression
which shows that he understood it to be "i
degraded pulpit" and not "our degradec
pulpits;" and that lie could not have under
stood it to apply to the Rev. Kingston God
daIds pulpit, it being one under his owl
charge. For we do not give heed to tn
report which the Times gave of a sermon
from this pulpit, which denounced what j
called High Church doctrine as if it wer
ibfdelity, and declared that nothing but tn
Gospel should ever be preached from tina
pulpit; conveying the charge that H g
Churchism is quite the reverse OF the Gospe
, We have found the religious reports in tia
, paper quite unreliable; and once or twiC
they were disclaimed in the Business Men
rsyer-meetings. Therefore we do not sur
pose that this shows any existing conflict {
doctrine that should make our venerab
= Bishop applaud the expression "a degrade
b pulpit" as applying to Mr. Goddard
church.
q In fact, Mr.. stanbery's explanation r
a moves a great many vexed questions tn
> might have arisen, and makes the apple
. tion so far South that it need not at.all d
y tuIb the beam in our pulpit optics.