The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1863-05-28
'Elsc Churcil-sfs Party Madness
Departure from i'ac ssPiri; OF thc
Ssospei. and Prescriptions.

/ lOe WOfk TOT Which ID "''0 ""''"'' az -
sh uId. rather than to cons ent 10 disband,
turn lis attention to other enterprises. The
different associations of lay men which
have, within he past twenty years, arisen,
for evangelical purposes, IN the tnl'ec
States, owe proiessedIy their origin TO the
conviction that the Church is no longer al
efficient instrumenalily ior The conversion
of mankind. 1t has TUNED away from
It's original intent; and, although It's eler-
gy still profess 10 preach the gospel, 1t IS
veg eyidon, that the princl les OF the sos-
prl fiud any thing but = brilliant ex4mpii-
licahon in their conduct. The holy walk.
the car, and peaceful spirit, the benig"
and liberal philosophy, the long suffering
forhearance. the charity dreadns to con-
demn, and tao sympathy Mastering TO tor
| rive. which the New Tesliment prtscfibes
aud incucates. find but a course and spif-
itless earcature in the persons OF those 10
whom It's preaching is committed.
The Church is nos embarked in pol
ties. Tne religious scepter has depal ed
: from the Christian Israel, and ii has taken
On the political. To be a "Christi1n
seems evquivaent tc being rampant and
b.co.ed partisan The Christian minister
is IA stu.np speaker III house with s'ee-
pie. The bit,cre-t party halangues cone
from the pulpit. aud sentiments that
might put barbarian, to shame arc deliv
cred in what purport TO be sermons, and
blasphemousy in the name Of a holy and
merchll God. vii these Things ever
CEASE Will the Church e5er return to
rs du,y. and is ministers 10 th, work for
which they v. re ordained, II SO. how
vii they return? They viii return dfab-
:lui ri.h tia diliieSt mire ct lhe world.
b.st.sn i and b-fyaleI: bacs vi'h the
,ray. ofhunan as ion apor hem. sias-
grrn- wi't the f.sbieness Of past iuto-;i
cation. 10 be.ia to rebuild. III sorrow and
humiliation. the ,iete liun VII ch their
9wu hand have ismani!sI.
l.isnss Tor US 10 deyIjy the question
whether tie Christisn Church nas becoo.e
permanen,Iy. or only temporarily }etunci
A. 10 lis Original oii;ce. j, doubtless
vi liz the power vi The Aisni., hty 10 evan
.e.iz. the world W ,lout is assistance; tor
are ~ aware shat il ba> any u,ie to con
,'uae, except lhai with 9'ows cut Of the
services wh.cl, /, pcrlti,as. be c"ndie.
suck that refuses to on!lg ghten may bc re
moved cut II H. place and iie who Is able
ifom the very stones 70 Iaise up seed unto
AnRAHAM. Viii not want ipr instruments fiji
for the purpose, wherever h has a work
that meets TO b. accofr, ,.ii,i.ed II hero is
hell Tor an. Che IA sc prophet ant. the
ia :. priest will be entitled To ils warmest
corner, nor W IL Tie more ofIci.l cpinmi,-
.ion screen the o,lender iro.n its terrors
aud fetrl5utIon.
Having embarked in politics ii is natu-
"a. 'har lie clergy should seek TO dispose
their ancient in favor Of sAcir new confes-
sion of faith In ecclesiastical bodies the
become obsolete IN the Ight of tie new
d!spensation The question l. now not
wIle,he- the candidate for holy orders be
lleves in God. Cr in the Fundamental doe
tribe of Christianity, but helher he be
longs 20 the right political Tariy; not
whether lie vii faithfully preach he Cos
pei to those who may be his hearers. bu;
vine Der he holds in proper abhorrtnce the
relation OF master and servant in the Con-
fed,racy not whether he accepts the Bible
hut hetLer he accepts the Proclamation
oi Mr.. Lincoln rs an niaili be rule OF faith
and practice; not Whether he subsc''bes to
the constitutions O! the Church, but wheth-
er he .ndorses the platform revealed at
Chicago.
Party Abolition having begun in the
Methodist Church. 1t Is natural to look
there for Its first elimination. Aad judg |
ing from the proceedings OF recent Con-
ference of that connection 10 New York, |
it seems to have pretty nearly eliminated. |
The following paragraph from the TrIb I
une's report Of the acts Of ,ha. body. shows I
how far in one respect those men of God
were wiling to 60 in the pro>ciip ion:
"a large number Of persons attended the
session Of Tho Methodist EpiscopaI Con-
ference yesterday. After the usual relig
ious exercises. eleven candidates were re
ceived on trial for the ministry. Mr.. Phil
ip Germond, Of Connecticut. having sery
ed his customary probation OF two years,
applied for admission into the ministry,
whereupon an exciting debate cn>ued. sew
eral mem ers Of the Conference declaring
tha. he was no, loyal to the Government,
I 4 Al