The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-09-04
Political Priests.

much of the responsibility for the present
depiorab condition of tie country bell ny
Ell to tue churches. or rather tc political
priests who otficiate at the aItars Of some
OF the churches, it would slartle and alarm
the Christian world. The political dog
mas lnstilled into the minds of adults, and
children especially, from the pulpit have
produced revolution in public sentiment
which has resulted in the clash Of arms, a
broken Union and ruined people Men
clothed in clerical robes, have from week
to week poured the poisonous oil of Sec
tionalism into the minds of their hearers.
until they have uncaged the 6ercest and
most vindictive passions, and turned loose
upon the land conscciences educated to
blgotry and sectionaism. They tear men
as the devils of old did. They are roaring
lions going about seeking whome they
may devour. We say if the part PLAYED
by political priests in bringing about the
ruin which has befalen our beloved coun.
try, could be drawn truly and faithfully it
would startle those profaners of Gods sa-
cred desk, and cause them to shrink back
in horror at the work of their own hands
They have forgotten the Holy calling to
which they aspire. Instead of preaching
Christ and him crucified. as they are in
structed to do by their divine Master, they
are continually dabbling in the dirty polit
ical pool, until they have brought re
proach upon religion and destruction upon
the country. Many of them have no
doubt mistaken fanaticism for conviction
of duty, while others have been prompted
by sinister motives. Indeed. so far has
this evil progressed and so fearful are its
results upon the popular minds, in some
portions Of the country, that it is almost
dangerous for minister Of the Gospel TO
pursue his Legitimate calling. confning
himself strictly thereto. The populace de
mand that he shall make kna yn his politi
cal sentiments; his congreg lion requires
that he should enunciate those sentiments
from the sacred desk. If his opinions co
incide with theirs, and he expresses
them freely. they are content. If OH the
other hand, he dsagrees with them. they
dismiss him without ceremony or refuse
TO hear him preach. If this convictions
of duty teach him to be silent. regarding
his political opinions as his own private
property. to make display of which
would initiate with his mission, he is
suspected of disloyalty and demand IS
made for a confession or resignation
Ii he proclaims that his calling is to preach
the Gospel and to abstain from all secular
affairs, in imitation of Him who declared
his mission Was not of this world, he is
branded AS traitor or something worse by
fanatics. while these remarks are appli.
cable TO ministers of many of the churches.
we do but justice when we say there are
other churches comparatively free from
this great and fatal error There are also
good and pious men, occupying pupits OF
churches most afflicted with this plague, /
who have not forgotten their duty. and
who have steadfastiy set their faces
against it. Occasionally one Of these
pious men have the mar illness to rebuke |
their erring brethren and to hold up a
mirror before them that they may wit
ness their own deformiiy. The Rev. DR..
n. L. Rice. a distinguished divine of the
Old, School Presbyterian Church, has re
Gently delivered cermon on THE Pull
pit; it's relations to our National Crisis"
An excellent extract from which we find In
the Church Journal. AS his extract
truthfully portrays the terrible effects of
the course of folly which has been persist
ingly pursued, and the decentralization.
which accompanies tpem, we invite the
special attention of the reader to it:
'lfany:hing could be surprising. in such
a day as this, it would be-that principle
so manifestly true and Scriptural-princi-
pie admitted and asserted by the ablest
theological writers for three hudred years,
have met with an almost universal con-
lemnation by the religious Press. Why,
it was only the other day that saw. in
one of orr religious papers. the plain denial
that any line can be drawn between the
secular and the spiritual. Well. if Chris
tan ministers hold an Office without metes
and bounds, they may preach on all sub
ects. and ought to understand hem all
But the idea is absurd. No civil govern
ment could exist, if the functions of the
different Offices were not detuec and limi-
ed The ministerial office exerts on the
of man a wider influence than
any other. and as. within it's legitimate
sphere, it is an iuestimable blessing, 80
when prevented. it Is fearfully mischiev-