The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-11
The Religion required by the Times

ONN'N"'
soldier from corrupting influences. In mul
titude Of cases he has gone IRON a religious
home, where examples of piety were place.
before him, and he was familiarized with the
voice of praise and prayer He is now expos
ed to the vices Of camp life-profanity ,gamb
ling, drunkenness, and Sabbath dissertation
How shall he be kept from demonstration
The question is one Of patriotism as we'll as
Christianity. Men who love their country
no less than those who love their God should
| feel an interest in its solution. All such will
be grftifed to know that extensive and etfi-
cient measures are employed TO preserve the
morals of the soldier. The various religious
denominations have shown themselves equal
to the occasion. They have supplied as chap
lains to the army and navy many men who
will recommend sound morals BY the example
Of an irreproachabie life, who will prove
themselves to be able teachers of truth and
righteousness, and who will render invaluable
service in visiting, instructing and comforting
the SICK, the wounded, and the dying They
have furnished in greater OF less abundance
tracts, papers and books ior distribution in
military Comps silent messengers Of truth.
peace, love, and heaven. And they have de-
nounced Sabbath desecration by unnecessary
military movements and engagements, until
the ears Of the Government have tingleu with
the cutlery, and a measurable observance of
our day Of rest Las been authorized in the az
my. These, it is true are moral enterprises
whose Importance is often overlooked by the
unthnking multitude. But so far they are,
perhaps, the best movements made in the war.
The Churches have made less mistakes than
the State, and are entitled TO due need of
praise for efficient moral cooperation in the
suppression Of the rebellion.
We have also contended from the first that
the second great moral problem for the
Churches to solve during the rebellion relates
to the preservation from decay Of religious en-
terprlses al home. War times accelerate the
diffusion OF vice, and contract the range and
influence OF virtue. Religions movements,
like commerce and manufactures, are more or
less paralyzed by war. II in the presence Of
its sinister influences the Churches can but
keep their own, preventing declension and the
encroachments of spiritual stupor, they will
have accomplished great work. Time sufi.
cient has elapsed since the breaking out of
the rebellion to show that they have the spirit
and purpose to do all this. They are abb
staining from experiments, and lew enterpr-
SEES, and untried movements and they are
even contracting where there was unnatural
expansion but nothing that is truly worthy
is suffered to fall into decay and die. Chan
sos enough there are; communities tnnned
Out, churches no more thronged prayer
meetings less numerously attended, and many
vacant places elsewhere, occasioned by the
departure Of mutitudes for the seat Of war
But III other respects there is 10 change
those who linger at home frequent the sane.
uary, support its ministers, and forward its
movements much as they were &C.
:ustomed to do when war was IL strange thing
n the land.
The attitude OF the Churches in continuing
igolous!y to support religious establishments
nd enterprises, we may well pause and con-
lder. 1t furnishes material for just national
ride. by concession on all sides, the support |
# religion On the voluntary principle was,
Ike popular government, on trial in this coun-
ry. The experiment was conducted on a
rand scale. The American Churches sought
o State connection or support. They went
irectly to tho people for maintenance
t was long predicted that they would be.
ONE corrupt to meet the demands OF the pro-
liseuous multitude, or, by preserving an
evangelical purity, woold forfeit all patron.
&c. But now the experiment has been tried
prosperity and adversely, in peace and
ar, and must be pronounced a complete sue
ess. History yet to be written will SO c.
ord it. The American Churches have ex-
erlenced unexampled growth and prosper.
y. They have rcbuked wickedness in
Ugh places they have courted neither places
patronage nor alliance with power still
icy have lived and spread. And now in
our of national peril they are a tower of
rength in the land. Their voice is poten.
al IN the councils Of the nation. In no other
nds are the Churches more respected. In
one Others has their support been better Sc.
lred 10 calamitous times. Such is the state
the American Churches in the eghty.ffth
car Of their history. They deserve all the
'spoct they command.
But perhaps the time has come when the
hurehes, il they would fulfill their high mis-.
on, must take step forward, and attempt
purify the stagnant ocean OF politics. A
oiItical institution, they are not. Political
lfnties they need not FORM DAZZLING in
olitcs is not required OF them. But they
III be engaged in commendable enterprise
they shall attempt to abate and ultimately
'move political corruption. Nothing else in