The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1860-05-18
IiZing Effect of AbolI-
tiOnISnl on the CIergy---Case
OF Rev. j. 8. Harden.

There is now on trial, for bis life, at
Belvideer, New Jersey, young Methodist
clergy man, charged with poisoning his
wife, under circumstances exhibiting the
greatest GOODNESS, calculation and heartless-
ness which, perhaps have ever character
lied crime of this nature
Entering the ministry at very early
age, and surrounded by the seductions to
which his position, his outward piety, and
a somewhat brilliant talent fer preaching
so frequently expose persons Of his class
among the weaker and gentler portion of
| young clergyman's congregation, it ap
pears that the Rev. Jacob Harden had
Termed more than one acquaintance of a
tender nature with the female members Of
his flock, eventuating in two or three
promises of marriage, and subsequent
threats of legal retributions for violations
of the same. One # these pledges, how
ever be redeemed, it is said with some re-
lHctsnce and threats of law proceedings,
and he married, in October, 1858, Miss
Hannah L. Dorland, ''the miller's lovely
daughter" Of the village of German Val
lev, New Jersey.
They lived bat little toge her, and then,
it is alleged, very unhappiiy. Five months
subsequent to the marriage his wife died,
after brief illness, under circumstances
so suspicious that a post mortem examina-
ton was insisted on by the family of the
deceased, and quantity Of arsenic was
found in the stomach. The conduct Of
the husband during the illness Of his wife
was mysterious, he alone administered
medicine, and otherwise devoting himself
to The services of sick chamber in nIan
ner which excited suspicion. 1t is stated
that he refused to call in physician up
to the latest moment, and manifested
throughD put an Indifference which argued
little if any desire that the sufferers life
should be preserved. But we will not en-
ter into an elaborate statement of the case
a duty which the proper authorities are
charged to perform before the court and
jury: suffice it to say That while the in
quest WAS pending, the accused absconded
to Virginia under An assumed name, and
was arrested while pursurng the ayoca-
ton of a daguerrean artist.
The frequency of grave crimes among
the clergy, has oflate became remarkable.
Almost every day we hear Of TIE trial of
a clerg yman of some persuasion of adul-
terry, for offences against decency, and for
murder; and We cannot account for this
deplorable fact better than to attribute it
to the insane fanaticism which has seized
upon that class ali through the northern
and western States. Abolitionism, with
its kindred exciting delusions, spiritualism,
communism and free-love-for all of which
the anti slavery agitator seems to have an
irresistible afhnity-has demorslized the
clergy and not only demoralized, but de
christianized them, until by degrees they
come to be slleptics in everything but the
sorrows and sufferings of the black race,
,leists and practical infdels like Wendell
Phillips. believing in the almighty mig
ger, they cease to believe in Almighty
God. Instead of preaching the gospel Of
peace and love, they become propagaudists
of hatred and hostility between different
sections and classes Of their fellow men
From this kind of morality the descent TO
the commission of crimes against the law
is very easy !; the step fro'n the pulpit Of
the minister is short. From denouncing
the law Of the land and preaching resist
ance to it, they at last become its victims.
Whenever the insane spirit of abolitionism
maintains sway, we may always expect to
find a leaning towards skeptlcsm and inf
deity, which, sooner or later, takes bold
shape, and results in an utter disregard for
law among the clergy ms well as the laity.
Who can say, for instance, how many
of the three thousand New England Ger
gymen who protested against the Kansas
policy few years ago are really christians,
and how many ofthem are rank infdels at
| heart.-N Y. Herald