The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-06-13
LANCASTER, OHIO, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1861

the holy prscepts oftbe christian religion;
but am compelled to say, that | have
everywhere found as much worIdIiness in
the church. as l have found out Of it. l
have found the rich taking advantage OF
the poor; have found mon usirg spas.
modic and altogether njustifabls efforts
to become rich; and instead Of using their
wealth TO do good have simply .been con-
troIed by a desire to become wesltby. To-,
tue advantages that wealth seedres, in a
worldly regard. I haYe seen wealthy
church members t4eat cOldly their breth.
len and sisters WHO sat at .hs SAME sac
ramsntaI table with them, because they
were not as respectfully associated as Mey
imagined themselves TO be, or were not
possessed Of as much of this worlds
goods In these instances, distinctions
Of what they are pleased 10 call society,
are formed outside Of the church; the
higher refusing to recognize the 10 wer,
but preferring to seek their associations
in the world, upon recognized principles
established independent Of religion; for
getting for the time, that the first are to
be las, and the las. frsr; and that those
who occupy the lowest seat 10 The church
militant, are TO be called 10 the highest
seats in the church triumphant: and that
all are alike TO be the common food of the
worm, SO far as anything this world car
give is concerned. -.-
| might extend my reflections in thi,
direction 10 any extent, but space forbids
The result Of my observations, however
have been. 10 settle me in The belief, tina
the world has not been educated up to TIN
right standard of knowing and respectin:
each the others rights; and that war, a
we'll as all other evils, is the result of il
norance or imperfect teaching; or at eas
oil not teaching in the right direction. =
| assume that if the golden rule was fll
ly taught and 2ractced, war could not ex
ist: for all would tiud their greatest hap
pinfss on earth. in doing 10 all others a
their desires impel them to wish that al
others would do 10 them, This resui
would be legitimate and inevitable. Ever
mans stl6shness would teach 1t. A ful
knowledge OF the wants and rights oi man
would teach further, that the ills we in
Aict on others would be retaliated on our
selves. But place mans duties in thi
respect on a more exalted plane. HI
would practice the divine precept from
the pleasure of doing right: for to do OH
erwise would be repulsive to his nature
when SO educated. | rep-at, that it j.
my sacred belief. that the largest amount
Of the ills Of life ale the consequence o.
not knowing and understanding ourselves
reciprocally. a-.-...---a--...-..-,--. --.
In the present unhappy conflict OF tn,
citizsns of our once happy country, thi
rule will apply with all its force. Did tn
citizens Of the North and the citizens Of th
South, fully understand each other; an
were they taught up to the standard o
respecting each Others rights. reciprocal
ly, there could be no war. But for tn
want OF such an advanced and elevated
standard of education. we are about t
witness spectacle Of deadly strife whlcl
may deluge our land with blood, and fl
TIE country with morrnirg. Does it no
seem marvellous to you, dear reader, tha
the different sections OF your happy coun
try should, at this moment, stand prepar
cd. and perhaps in some instances aux
ious. to cut each others throa.s? Doe
it not appear passingly strange. that hun
dreds Of thousands should rush 10 the bat
tle-feld, so eager to shed each o:her
blood, when it is morally certain. that
large portion of them will never again re
turn to the quiet blessings of home ant
dear friends. And what is it all for?-
No man can say there exists the sligLtes
pretext for war in this country.
But stranger still. that man should cal
to the justice Of lis cause, on bo!h side
Of this fra,rcldal slarg htev. the divine in
terposition: that he should seek by pray
ers and supplicltions and sacraments. t
enlist on his side ci the conflict. the arr
Of the Almighty Ruler ofthe universe. +
enable him to copsumate his purposes O
blood; or mutually to commit grea
wrongs through the depravity and dark
ness Of his own mind, and in palpable vic
lalioI Of the divine command.
zENo.