Litchfield enquirer., 1860-05-24
Church Quarrels.

It seems to be decidedly the fashion and the l folly nowadays. for religious societies and
 church denominations to get by the ears, and
 enjoy the torturous turmoil of church controver- sies and church fights. The remark does not apply to this county merely, where in many so- cleties it is often too lamentably true, but it
 holds good all over the country and the religious 1 world generally.
 We are aware that it may be said it is mat ter with which secular papers have nothing to do, and with the merits of the various cases we certainly agree that they have nothing but as
 our religious journals" are every day becom- ing more and more secular" in their character, and do not hesitate to dip pretty deeply into
 secular affairs, we may here be pardoned for at
 least alluding to the fact and deprecating tho re- suits.
 We rarely take up newspaper, or sit down to quiet conversation that we do not read or hear of somewhere minister falling out with his people, or they with him, the upshot of which is generally solemn Consoclation' to sit as an inquest on the merits" meeting, a discussion, resolutions, and the inevitable" hat B The most unhappy feature of all is the publicity these affairs obtain, and they are held up to sneerers and cavillers, as the frequent inharmo- nies of what ought to be the most forbearing and harmonious societies in the world. It is bad enough certainly, for two of the world" to fall out, and hard names and harder feeling arc constantly the result but where churches diss. gree or become divided against themselves, what g chance for scandal, for the sneer, and for de- rision! A pastor is settled over particular people by their "call' and invitation he be- comes by his office, the guardian and watch of their spiritual interests, individually and collec- lively. A ncagre minority begins by not liking him, perhaps before they have seen him, or soon find something to pick flaw in his manner, or his preaching, or his habits, or his personal ap- pearance, and straightway the very stones cry out against him. What did they call him for? Why did they settle him over them? And why, if majority, who pay his salary want him to stay with them, should not the minority quietly submit, or if they cant submit, find an- other sanctuary to repose beneath more agree able droppings?
 A minister is supposed-at least it is chari- table to suppose-has feelings and sensibility as well as laymen and cannot care to be driven about from pillar to post to set his house on whees,to be trundlod from one place to another by popu- lar whim. We will suppose also he has sense of selfrespect as we'll as another and in this world of communities and friendships, no one cares long to remain where he knows he isn't wanted. Iii so with every other class, certain ly-why not the clergy, who are in mass re- fined and sensitive even above the most of us?
 Isn't it the better way, then,-we put it with all humility and candor,-to let these church diff faculties settle themselves without a church quarrel? Do not such beget bad blood, and i'll feeling, and selfreproach? Do they not bring reproach upon the MASTER whose name they profess, and whose character they emulate?
 We wish it again distinctly understood, that these remarks do not apply to any individual To- cality; but at all events, brethren in bonds, we beg of you, keep these quarrcls out of the news napars