The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-12-28
DOWN ON TIE CHURCH.

The Copperhead conservative Press Of
the country indulge in frequent bitter
assaults against the churches Of the
country. They charge the churches with
all manner Of corruption, and dsnousee
them As unclean temples Of political
kuavery and revolutionary fsnaticism.
And at length they have gone so far as
to make = direct effort to inaugurate
new independent church on = conserva.
tive copperhead platform.
The editor Of the Des Moines States.
man, who has been abusing the Rev. Mr..
Peet, of the Episcopal Church OF that
city, is jealous advocate OF this new
light church. And We give our readers
the benefit of some extracts from lead
ing editorial of his devotion to the sub.
ject. that they may see upon what princi-
pies such apostlss as Clay Dean, Merritt
l. Co. propose to found their new evangel
Of peace and purity.
The editor Of the Statesman SAYS
An effort is being made 10 Ohio and
Illinois to establish an independent church.
We mean by Independent. church or
ganization, untammeled by the present
religious corporations Of The countrs. in
stituted for the promotion strictly Of reli.
g0uS instruction and free FROM The faint
of politics. Such an organization is much
needed IN the country and has been for
years.
The truth is. the principal church de-
nominations Of the United States, with
two honorable exceptions, have become
so contaminated with politics and the
schemes and tricks Of politicians that the
eonHtry stands in great need of 80 organ
izations fer the promotion Of practical
piety. Too long have the people gu omit
ted 70 imposition from the political clergy.
Too long have they lent their pi essence
and contributed their means for the sso.
port Of men, who are corrupting the foun-
tains Of church worship, unset,ling the
foundations Of society, eodaneerine the
stability of the governme and breathing
moral pestilence among the people,
Too long has this Clerical anoga noe adorn-
cd 10 priee,ly robes, presumed upon the
stupidity, cowardics, or unsholesoms re-
ligious zeal of the people. Had the prom.
er rebuke been administered TWENTY-FIVE
years ago-bad the Clergy been made to
feel the power Of public indignation and
to understand that they were ordained
and employed to preach Christ and Him
crucifed-the church would not have.
been made bear garden for politician,
to congregate and exercise their Rymuas.
tic powers, nor would the Government
hare been rent in twain and the people
impoverished and sAddened by ! reyolu 4
tod more gigantic and bloody than any
that has ever stained the pages of human
history. It il time that 4 reform vas
commenced, il not as . means Of pav;nr
the present generation, At least a. ! salu.
sary examPle TO possetity. The ge0d work
has commenced in Ohio and Illinois. Let
it progress until il extends it's protesting
folds over the entire people. Such "a 81.
ganisasion should 6nd frieads and sup-
poFtefs IN every county in Iowa..
Let the movement be iDauguro1ed ftrhti
here It the Capinl. Il win sosa s.ssndl
- .bsoe6seut inAsehss = otksf paao q |
the 6tsts snd challenge ths sespsct and |
devotion Of large class Of conservative
men and women. who are excluded from
the established churches, BY the pfss-l
ence 0f poaitioo and tha .fnrra n ihasarttj