The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-05-01
From the Southern Presbyterian.
The Church and the Confederate States
Of America,

| '""'e'o' o"eIsity OF opinion may
have ob,aned as to the propriety Of ss
cession, the new Southern Government
must be accepted Jv all as a fact accom-.
plished. The old Union is irretrievablv
broken up. 1t is, as to us, a foreign gov,
ernmen,. We cherish the glories OF its
past history, we honor its founders. we
delight in its earlier associations, we de
plore the miserable folly of those who
dissolved il, We deny all participation in
the guilt of lis disruption and with the
ensign of on: infant republic-the stars
and the 'ri color, floating over our homes,
our heids and our temples, we hold our
late contederates rs we hold the res, of
mHnkind-enemies in war in peace,
friends.
The Government at Montgomery is u
government de tucto, and bv the laws OF
nations entitled to recognition 10y the
States OF the world. That it will be at
once recognized by the great commercial
States "f Europe, no one entertsips the
least .douh. As to us, it is not only a
government de .tacto, but Il government
de Jure. 1t exists by virtue Of the only
power that We recognize as capable OF
con'e'rng the right to rule--,he will Of
the people. Whether good or bad, It is
our government-we have iuaucurateG
ito 1t is due our allegiance, and Ia il
we have pledged the loyalty Of a gener.
Gus, spirited. educated aud religious peo
pie. Ii is IN fact self sust aiming sover.
eighty. IL has the richest constituency,
IN proportion to numbers, i'm the world,
with climate and soil better than any
other on this continent, adapted TO the
! production Of al! the luxurIes as well as
recessaries Of life, homrgeneitv of char
scter Among The governed, and territory,
II no more States come in, capable Of
sustaining, without iDcon, eni.nce, thirty
millions Of inhsbitauts. Ii has a Cab.
net, organized Departments. an army.
money and credit 1t has elicited the
admiration OF the world, aud it commands
the confidence Of our own country. Al.
ready we love our new nationality-ai
p"uies rapidly rally To its support, aud
the feeling that pervades the plantation
States Is HAT "f rejoicing that we have
escaped from the wrong and wrangIng.
the frauds and injustice. and the future
perils Of the American Union.
Let Christians reflect upon the order.
efficiency and harmony Of all Tie depart,
menls, upon The capabliiy aud accppla,
hi''ty of tue officers, upon the prudence
and wisdom Of the Provisional Congress.
the rep"se OF society whilst the revolution
WAS in action, and the almost miraculous
adhesion Of the Union elements 10 our
| nm - In lao e a.
rec"gniz" in AL the hand Of God. We
are this day the benrfciaries Of a Prov;.
dence AS special "a that which opened the
sea 10 the despniring lsraeiities. Behold
what God hath wrought Responsive
70 demand Of the religious sentimen:
OF the land, the Provisional and Perma
nent Constitutions recognize our national
dependence upon the sovereignty OF God.
by king Bs favor and guidance
lhe Southern empire submits itself unto
the Almighty. The recoe milton Of the
Supreme Divinity is engraven upon the
outer wsll Of the temple Of Southern lib
cry. These things being so, what is
the du'y which at this moment is devol
we'd with imperious emphasis upon all
Christian men II is to consolidate the
sentiment Of the Church in favor Of the
Confederate States Of America. This
duty is manifest from the following con
sidera,ions {: When the will Of God IL
revealed, il is AN obligation Of Christian.
ty not merely tn acqniesce. but actively
to co operate. We have reason TO be-.
IieVe hst God has sprung into being a
great State, destined to develop the high
est type OF civilization to become the
administrator Of His purposes touching
the African race-the trustee OF the Cos
pei for them, aud the grand protestant
agent tor sustaining and dffusing His
Word. IL 70, who shall hinder the
march Of the divine array Who shall
tail TO set in harmony with the Divine
will
To displace this Government would be
TO i,nperil the peace Of all our comm uni,
Ties The attempt would be maduess.-
Anarchy would be iis inevitable result.
Up TO this moment the people have
scarcely felt the transition from the old
TO tie new government. Common life
bas scarcely been ruffled upon the surface.
decentralization is AS hopeless IA would
be the enterprise Of re. building The solar
system. with one'bsli its planets retired
from their spheres. Now the Church os
God stands beneath the sheitsr,np wing
of noble Constitution. All Of protec.
tion that she asks or needs at the hands
OF secular power is guaranteed. in the
new organic law. She Is free 10 fulfil her
sacred mission beneath the light and lib,
erty Of this new political gory--tbe ori
cot constellation u the Southern beav,
ems. Wba, would she be- what could
she do-~smid the ~ild couvalsions Of |
divided. wsrdng people 2 Let, therefore,
the status Of our S'~tes s,nd--s siand by |
Asr eonsentj s,ond by authority.
This revolution hss bcen accomplished
mainly by the Churches. do no, up
osrvHIue the name. and position, and
nj l.