St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-02-07
Bishop Whipple's Sermon on
Mint, Cummin aud Annis.'

Bishop Whipple's Sermon ON
Mint, Oummin aud Annts.'
When the South violated her solemn
pledges to the North, BY breaking up tho
Missouri Compromise in order to extend
barbarism and human bondage over the
territory they had once pledged to Free.
dom forever" thea Thousand clegymen
Of New England pctitioued Congress to
vote against the iniquity. Who does
not remember the howl which then went
up from tho pro.sl.very secular press: and
the whine with which It was reechoed by
pro-slavcry religious journals. Preachers
neddling ia politics instead Of preaching
the gospel became the song Of all the res.
pectable, conservative, pious portion Of
the priesthood; and no other denomination
80 generally Joined in this refrain as Epis.
copalian,. One might have thought that
that church, which had its origin in the
policy Of dcpraved king; and is to-day
the right arm Of the British throne, had
never before heard Of politics AZ matter
with which christianity could have any
concern How great change has few
years made! So long as manstealing was
in the ascen liant, the Episcopal church
cried "hands off! 1t is q secular matter;
and one with which the church and clcr-
~ may not interfere!''
But now the old traffic Of Babylon, Tin
slaves and souls of men, is in danger ;
and her ecclesiastical friends rush tn the
rescue. No more word Of politics being
out Of preachers sphere; and tbs Epis-
copal Church puts herself forward as the
mediator who is to heal the breaches be.
tween the Free and Slave States, by
bringing the friends of freedom to repent
ance. As part Of the programme, Bish-
op Whipple delivered a political sermon
in St. Cloud on Thursday evening last; 1.-The
same, we presume, wi ich he has delivered
elsewhere and which is a first class spec.
linen Of "mint, cummin and ann,s" piety.
We have 70 kind Of objection TO any
preacher preaching politics-think. with
our friend Rev. A. J Nelson, that the
preachers field is the world ; and that if
people do rot want him to :meddle with
politics, they should take them out Of this
field. But We insist that those who IRE
hooked at the introduction Of. politics
nto the pulpit should live up to their own
professions. However we are heartily
glad they do not thus practically cramp
and narrow the mission Of the protested
ambassadors Of the "King of kings and
Lord Of lords.'"' It is always humiliating
to see. one Of the ,watehnen on the walls
Of Zion sit down, as a"dumb dog" who
dare not, OF. cannot, or will not bark to
give warning Of danger; and We rejoice
that Bishop Wbipple has said what We
are bound to believe he honestly thinks
on the present political crisis. But, what
does his opinion amount to? Simply
this: that God has arisen in anger to take
vengeance on our nation, to destroy our
government, and deluge .onr land in blood,
because-we have been in the habit of
speaking evil Of d;gnitaries because VIC
have forgotten Him in ncglecting our re-
ligion, i.e. going to church, reading the
Litany and saying prayers-and-and-
we'll, as nearly as We can gather from half
dozen intelligent reporters, as we we're
too i'll 20 attend in person, these are the
head and front of our offending.
OF course it is the abolitionists who
have taken the lead in evil speaking, In
fact our conscience whispers that we have
done something in that line ourself; and
We feel very much like the old Scotch
preacher who was brought up before the
preshytery for calling man liar. The
offence was proven, and he required to
"give satisfaction" !. G. confess his fault
and promise good behavior; bu, he object.
ed on this wise:
"Now GIN l had caud q man liar
an he was ma liar, l wa'd ha' gi'cn ye
satisfaction but caud the man liar
an he !. liar on I'll gle ye M satistac.
ton fort"
We have spoken Of dignitaries Of this
nation both in church and State, a. man
stealcrs, who by the law of God ought to