, 1860-06-13

I
We desire no controversy with R-v. Mr.
Patton, in aq unfricndg spirit. We acknowl-
adpe bis usefulness as citizen and his zeal
AZ . miuisler, and We regret az leen'y as any
Of his parishoners the mistake into which ho
haa fallen, and which we yesterday felt im-
pslled to 50 sharply reprore. His error is not
Of .he henri, but Of the hs sad, and gro~s out Of
tho procliyi.~ Of most men who make livcli.
hood in the Clerical profession. 10 inaist upon
moni4l fcrm, usaga, often at the erpense
Of nearer and we'ghtier matters-works OF
justice, morcy, love. We print lis exculps-
tioo herewith, and invita- for it tn, attention
Of our resd-z.
1t Is Unsatisfactory to us for the reason that
in it te reiterates all that Wa offensive in bis
pulpit remarks, though not in tho language
which he at first empl ,yed. Ho claims mo-
nopo1y Of wednesday evening Tor the usual
prayer ,neetiogs. and regards an invitation to
attend public entertainments. on thst even
ing. even fur charitable purpose, as an Tin
sul. 10 the religious community Pre}erring |
his owa n,ti DDS ab;ut matter Of which he |
knows littlo to the careful judgment Of com'
mittee Of gett'eme>, his equals, he is net sat~
issed 1l.at there wss sufficient reason for liking
tie proposed Concert On the. evening named,
and upon his oxn crude hypothesis
mikes up an opinion He bEr4tes US
for saying tlat lie objected to the time Of
the entertainment, because hss prayer meetng
cane On 1ha: evening, when he declares that
be based his objection on tue ground OF inter-
fered with al tue church+s. We haVe yet to
learn that Mr. Pa.toa is Pope OF Bishop, orhas
authority TO spe,k for or in hehslf ot the
churches that gracefully yielded to tho CON-
mittees request aud the pastors ct which read
the notice, aud, In some ses, postponed their
reFoious exercises for Wednesday evening, and
advised their congregations 10 attend Tho Con-
crrt En- ,.asse, But he nay have some power
1hst re know not Of. He does not understand
that NON attendance at the Concert need pre-
vent single member Of h's Church from con
te;butinr, 1lor how their meeting to pray should
Interfere with ticir gisirg. No, nor do we;
In. We do understand that Ar. Patton did
not advise any body to gire-that
On the contrary. bef,re congregation Of five
hurlred, not Atty Of whom would attend the
iecture.soom prayer-meetiog, he e1horted
all lis hearers TO stay away, because the 1c-
Natoua community had been insu1tsd by a
polte invitation to proper entertainment, on
II, load hr y "a t-nr6a
teni-sacred, Aud We understand that, after
.1ayirg for charitable spirit among his haar-
O., viii cat a]ludi. s in any way to tho SUI
erer by the tornado, and AFTER preaching
Charity Sermon, which hc prcfsced by an
s:tack. on charitable cn6eavor, be WEE in
formed Of the mistake ho bad made, but die
not seize the opportunity afforded BY th'
n7eptng service to explain or retract hi
upch,r table aepersiors; but suffered the Sui
TO 70 d,wn on his wrath, because Weducsda!
evening was about to bs Irofsned By Relic
Concert for the widows and the IA herlcss. Il
nhss Fever learned that charity 10 the ah CITE
"wae limited TO- or even hes: expressed, y
aat,endxnce on concert in which you rccels
"back The full worth Of your money, ard nj
"slect;ng the prayer meeting to do cven that
No, aud we should suppose tbathe bad nevf
learned that the method chosen By the coz
m,ttea to gather c1utsitu ious from those th'
q subscription paper would not reach and III
thar contributors from those who have alre
dy subscribed, Is that by which oatentm'
larger eums arc collected than by tbs ND
di1igont begging.
But why pursue this matter any further
lr. Patton hss cboyn his grouzd-an unfo
tuna.s one. we thiuk-one III t ~e are eor1
to see him occupy-but it is mis- right; as
In 6ufs to COMPLAIN. Let us hops, hoWevt
that even amoug bis own congregation, the
~ few who sympathize with him in his mai
ssnaaos Of tho wrorg. Is long as they al
~ bave tbs example Of the Savior bsfofe
That eavior WHO did rot hesisate to bre
the Sabbath in doing good, we nesd not Il
that the dea.csatioa Of Wednesday, event
Sor necessary charitable purpose, will do
hxrn to tie cause Of trua religion, eTen thou
Ar. Patton's stated prayer meeting should
da1erret cue dsy OF whols week thereby.