The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-27
FinaneiaI Rsvulsoa
A@Sngss she Missionary AAd Tract

AVpvehsndtd Fina.eIai Rvvulssa
A~cngss she Missionary NAd Tract
Societies.
We lately drew attention to the unfavorable
effect which tho Discussions In the churches,
caused by the rsbid zeal of the abolitio1ist
parsons, were likely to exercise on the colec-
tons of the religious anniversaries this spring.
1t wss evident to us that the same causes which
affected the trade Of our city, and rendered our
merchants SO anxious to clear their skirts of
the suspicion of being hostile to Southern inte-
rests, must tell severely on the income of sooie
ties. many of the leading members Of which
were identified with the antislavery agitation.
The scenes that took place In DR.. Cheever's
and Henry Ward Beecher's churches came 10
aid of the impressions which the susceptibility
Of the commercial mind had rendered it but
too ready to receive. But one feeling, and
that of Indignation, was expressed by our lead.
Ing merchants at the impolicy and indiscresion
Of Christian ministers introducing infamma.
tory political topics in their pulpits at period
go critical to the domestic relations Of the
country. The influence of public opinion made
itself so strongly felt that Mr.. Beecher,
who tempers his excuses with certain
amount Of discretion, felt it necessary to back
out of his position, and to make an apology to
his congregation.
The soreness caused by his conduct and
that of the Cheeverite faction, however, still
testers in the commercial mind, and will,
there is reason to believe, extend its in
fuebce to all the religious bodies that have oc-
casion to make demands upon the public purse
Northern merchants, who are the chief support
Of the churches and their affiliated societies
naturally say that they do not zee why they
should furnish arms against their own interests
by contributing to the maintenance of institu-
tons which are being converted into political
arenas bottle to them. The effect of this rsa
sonipg has already been felt by the Missionary
and Tract societies, and to it may be ascribed
their refusal to allow the reporters of the pub
lie press TO inspect their balance sheets pre-
vious to the opening Of the anniversaries-a
courtesy which has never before been withheld.
Their affairs cannot be in a very fourishiog
condition, or they would not have exhibited
this reluctance to expose them. We believe it
will be found that the active sympathy of some
of their managers with the antislavery senti
ment, coupled with the antics of such men as
Cheever and Beecher, have damaged the zeal
of their contributors, and cut off q large pro-
portion of the pecuniary support on which they
have hitherto 80 securely relied.
These facts imp7rt to the religious anniver-
saries this year a greater degree of interest
than usual People will look to their proceed
ings for evidence of the reaction which has
been created by the mad pranks of the anti
slavery sgitators. 1t will turn out, we believe,
that of all the interests affected by them, none
have suffered or will suffer more than that
which relies on kindred sentiments of philan.
thropy as the grounds of its claims to public
support. The injury caused by the intempe-
rance and recklessness of the niger worship
pers will, therefore, by curious retribution,
fall mainly on those who make the spiritual
welfare of the African their special care.