The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-04

kon and the lamb shall lie down together. Civlli-
cation and religion, generally ''sent back" from the
front always follow in the wakes CT armies. AL
re 'dy in the DIM distance the beam of promise is
seen We fancy the thunder peal of war s getting
more and more distant. Some of the churches,
schools and colleges of the border that have been
closed for two years, are now opened. Brighter
days, we doubt not, are in store for us. . --rr
None whom address, however, Will see the end
of all the consequences Of this war. The tide OF
popular enthusiasm NJ patriotism which has re-
Gently rolled out boldly, bearing away the flower
OF our youth has yet to roll back. But it will re-
turn greatly CHANGED in its complexion 1t Will be
inged with the blo2d of thousands who alas! will
return no more and fearfulv darkened with the
moral debaSement of thousands more. The pistol
and other dead y weapons will long be the pocket
cOmpaI ion of the returned soldier, aud the duellO
will probably be revived as an pshment OF the
chivalrous These, however, will be part OF Heav-
ems 1strumentality to punish the sins and reform
the mo ais of rhe nation.
But above all thank God amid the angry ele-
ments and general upheavings around us, there Is
one voice which remains attuned to the old keynote
We have religion, and church, which, in essen
tias, changes not. Like Him who commanded the
stormy winds and waves of Galilee, this voice Is
heard amid the shrieking and roaring of the tempest
--"Peace Be still" And although for in time it
may be UNDECIDED, the time viii come when it will
command respect Leaving the dead to bury tn ir
dead, and pursuing the even tenor of her ways our
church has kept herself alOof from political agita-
tons and devoted herself exclusively to the work Of
call ng sinners to repentance Not resolution
passed, sermon preached nor sentence printed IN
our newspapers, has contributed to awaken or agi-
tate the vexed question which has led tC this war
If asked how .he stands on party questions, she
answers in the language Of her Lord and SaviOr:-
Render unto Ce-ar the things which Caesars,
and unto God the things that are Gods" Among
parties she has no stat"s Her work is to teach re-
igion and sound morals and unfiinching loyalty to
tine government of the land. For this, her proud
distinction, we may W. IL ''give thanks"
For time, she may be branded as nOn-cOmmittal,
and Overdignifed but the time is not distant when
the world will that the Church Of Christ has no
place part nor lot among the political parties of this
world Fer mission is higher and she must not be
trameled with party alliances. Her commission is
from on high, and her stake is eternity Who shall
dare to draw her into "entanging alliances" with
worldly and wicked issues
know there are those who would bring out the
ark of the Lord and commit it to the chances and
fortunes of war; hoping thereby to insure victory
Let take heed lest ark perish fall into the
hands OF the enemy and we left without the law of
oar 'iOd. Better leave it in the Holy of Holes of
Goh's tie pie bene tn the sheltering wings of the
cherubim. and amid the incense of constant devO-
ton, than trust it the tented field under banners
OF war, and amid the superhuman eXhalatOns of ar
II lery. Leave it where it was placed by Him who
said, MY Kingdom is not of this world" There it
will be secure ant not less effective.
The lessons addressed to the Church of ThessalO-
MIA may we'll be addressed to to-day. Disregard
Ing the agitatiOns around let seek for strong
er source of inner life and closer communion with
our God. Let us have no spasmodic efforts or con!
vulslve movements; but. seeking for uniformity or
character, let us "ReOice erermore; Pray natI.0at
esassng; and IN everything, give thanks"