Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-09-23
THE PRESS, THE PULPIT AND THE
WAR.

We take pleasure in transferring to our
columns the following extract of an edi-
toral article published in the American
Presbyterian Of the 18th inst. Ii is sup
posed to be from the pen Of one of the
most distinguished Diyines of Philadel-
phia ; and sets forth reasons which clear
ly establish the fact that it is Il duty
which the pulpit owes to God, the coun-
try and itself, to battle against treason,
treachery and perjury in these days of
national peril. In urging men every
where to stand by the country and its
free institutions, ministers of the Gospel
are but using the instrumentalities that
God has given them to promote the sue
cess of christianity in the world; and to
be silent in these times, because bad men
and traitors see proper to cry out against
the interference of the pulpit in political
affairs, as they call it, is simply to evade
one Of the highest responsibilities entrust-
to the christian ministry, The following
is the extract; -
Shall the pulpit or the religious press,
that has denounced thousand other
transgrcssions, vices aud crimes, or las
again and again come to the rescue Of as
sailed virtue, amid the applause of tile
good, shall it be silent amid the dread
inl indications Of crime that overtops
all others with its mountain height? Are
editors and ministers and Christian people
expected to be silent N0tc Gods orli-
nance Of civil government is set at naueht
a deliberate and desperate blow has been
aimed at the farest heritage of man ON
earth the plea of liberty is used by deep
ly perjured men, in seeking the destruction
Of the only free government in existence (;
slave masters are to throw the world back
in its course, and to shatter the best hopcs
of man, white and black, in IA furious and
infinitely bloody attempt to secure and
pr0l0ng, a little while, the existence of
the unchrStian and abominable relation
OF chattel slavery and the Ministry and
Church are to treat the subject as of
secondary Importance, as il not germnne
to their chief object, and in dread of he
coming secnlarized Nay how can men
imagine themselves To he in Il proper
frame, religiously, ifthey are not all aAame
with most uncomfortable Indignation
against these crimes which compete with
any in history? How can they fail ia
see that Gods providence is most signal,
indicating to them the duty of bringing
mp and maintaining the popular conscience
on II proper level of hostility towards suel
a crime, and of working that hostility will
all the force of religion into the nationa
character? Never had the teachers anc
guardians Of public morals more bril-.
liant opportunity Of striking blow efIec
lively for great principle than now. n
will be criminally stupid for them to sutleI
it to pass by unimproved, on plea Of tn,
secular tendencies Of the work. Whel
men who donot hesitate to preach agains
intemperance or even dancing, are hear,
to make such plea now, when disloyalty
red handed treason, and perjury are con
eerned, we may be permitted to doul)
their good sense, and the depth of thei
loyalty, either or both. The system {
American slavery too is revealing its utte
malignity. as never before, and may we
and properly come in for a bold and un
sparing treatment
"There is now one high, clear and para
mount duty to be done by the people O
this land-it is at any cost to save tn
| country. 1t is unhesitatingly to bear til
burdens, and face the perils, and submi
to the trials necessary in this work, Whi
this remains to be done, it is idle for sucl
as can contribute in any way to its ac
complshment, to retire to what they woul,
fain regard as spiritual and higher duties
Gods providence is pointing out to u
the channel in which he would have dut,
to be rendered. We are shut up to it, a,
we not unfrequently are, by indications IL,