Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-10-28

Never in the history Of the world has a
time existed in which the chprrh OF the
priesthood could have exercised more
beneficial influence than in the terrible crisis
through which this country has been called
to pass. A moral, peace-loving, conserv-
ative, and generally religious people. had
right to look to the clergy Of free and
flourishing church, North and South, to
exert their utmost influence to restrain the
passions, allay the the increasing hostility,
and arrest the bitter rccriminations that
have for years been widening the breach
between the North and tho South. Pro-
Tossing religion'that inculcates gentleness
and patience under rudeness and insult,
that would sue for reconciliation where
worldly passion would demand satisfaction,
that would concede "even to the prejn-
dices, the wrongheadedness, and the in
tractability of those with whom il has to
deal ;" that ranks humility, charity, and
forgiveness among the cardinal virtues,
they have in violation of their professions
and their holy calling, exertsd most pow
erfnl agency in precipitating the dissolu-
ton of the Union, and have persisted in
the manifestation of the same uncompro-
missing and vindictive spirit in urging the
prosecution of the present war. The dog
mas of Abolitionism have been TO too
many of them law, instead of the gospel
of Jesus Christ. The separation Of the
church North and South was the precursor
to the separation of the States. Instead
of following the holy counsel of Polycarp,
the disciple of John, "to look not upon
their brethren " Of the South " as enemies,
but to call them back as suffering and err
ring members, that they might save their
whole body" they indulged in fierce and
vindictive recrimination, until divided
church, appealing to the legal tribunals Of
the country TO compel the adjustment Of
property interests which their sense Of
Christian Justice was unable to settle, be-
came reproach to the profession and the
very cause of religion itself. ........
And later, in the winter of 1860, when
this great, prosperous and free nation, en-
bracing thirty millions of people, with all
that the world has ever known Of moral
and intellectual progress and physical de-
velopment, in the full possession Of bless
ings never vouchsafed to people before, til,
free worship of God, the enjoyment o.
the largest liberty, and of domestic hap
piness that carried gladness and gratitude
to millions of joyous and trusting and in.
nocent hearts, when all these mighty inter
ests were held aloft, trembling as it wer'
in the upliited hand of dread and angry
Destiny that threatened to lure them int
the bottomless gulf Of remorseless Ciyi
War, what was the action of the Clerg,
of the United States, North and South, il
the presence of impending calamity? Di'
> they invoke the spirit of Peace and Con
cession and Compromised Did they ad
Inonish the infuriated factionists Of bot
sections to stay their fratricidal hands an
let the Union live? Did they preach tn
doctrine that Christ taught when he sal
blessed are the peace makers-.for Me
shall be calledth children Of God" Nc
The Pulpit echoed the defiance of exaspC
rated and incorporating politicians
A Southern Bishop exchanged his MitI
for the Helmet-his CrOsier for the Swor
,--and when the catastrophe that all goo
: men sought to avert at last came, thou
ands of the Ministry both North an
. South, no longer bowing themselves b
:" - fore the emblem of the unresisting meel
!, ness and patient suffering Of Christ, who
, expiring words upou that very Cross wer
- an invocation to God for the forgivene
of his enemies, turned to the vindictiN
" and death dealing law of Moses, al
sought justification for their warlike pa
" siOns in the bloody books of Joshua al
= Samuel. They no longer took their tex
from the Sermon on the Mount, but four
them in Deuteronomy and Kings.
o. '1f whet my gliuering sword and mil
oh hand take hold on judgment will render We
nd geanee 10 mine enemies and will reward the
ttk,N kofa ma vpiil ttaka NINA a,so,a;
4 dAunk with blood and my sword shall devo
a flesh"
ID Now grand and holy would have be-