East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-04-07

OF mlnistering to the spiritual wants @
men, and though they were dishonore,
} and insnlted among men, We doubt no
they had honor where it is most impor
tant But portion of the church, tn,
most noisy portion, neglected, absolute
ly abandoned its work. For nearly two
years, large portions of he communit,
have had no church instruction, scarcel,
any semblanco Of religious guidance.-
We are not now writing about the mere
subject of political preaching. Admit
II any one pleases, for the present, that
political sermon once in while NAV
DO no harm, or may do good. We
know the contrary. Nay, we believe
that majority of the good men in all
denominations have witnessed silently
and in sorrow the debasement of the
church, brought about by a compare.
lively small number of men, who forgot
their duty and forgot the > phere of use.
fulness to which they were called But
these few men, because forward, seemed
to the unthinking public to be represen
tatlves of the entire church, and hence
the position which we lament to record,
the church at large has been made to
occupy in public estimation.
What more startling commentary on
this subject could be had than the fact
that Congress has just refused to ex.
empt the clergy from the war conscrip
ton The whole moral sense of the
community is changed when such an
act is possible, and when it ELECTS from
the people OF all political parties the
dIsrespectful comment, "serves them
right, which we hear in every direc.
ton. We doubt whether a similar act
is recorded in history, of subiectinc the
clergy to military CONSUMPTION. 1t is
melancholy fact that the popular sen
t'ment seems to regard the church as a
mere machine, to be used for worldly
purposes of politics or war, and clergy
as placed on a par with politicians,
while the great distinctive lines between
the province of the church and that of
the world are obliterated.
This ought not to be. 1t ought not
to continue. Respect for the clergy
and for the church must be restored.-
Clergymen should SEQ to it that the few
OF their number who Il ansgress are not
allowed to represent the whole body,
and to characterize the entire church,
The splendor of talent, the greatness OF
intellect in the American church is un.
surpassed in the world, and it ought to
be devoted to the refining. purifying,
chIistlaAlzlng purposes of the church,
Ihe way to make men good soldiers is
to make them good men. The church
has Its work to do with soldiers and |
cltIzens,-with the entire people. That
work is not the same WORK with politi. |
cal orators, nor with patriotic rulers
The citizenship for which the church
Its men is primarily of another country
han this, and when fitted for that they
will be good citizens here.
1t Is not our present purpose 10 show
low lnhdelty has crept into some pull
pits, and poisoned the minds Of a part
ot the church in New England and
elsewhere. The simple solemn fact is
hat portion Of the church has made
he terrible error of substituting patri-
'tiSm for religion, and almost, of course,
made patriotism to have political bias,
% that religion with them became one
II Another form of political partisan.
hip.
This subject might be continued at {
,reat length. 1t becomes all good cit-
ems to inquire into the general effect of l
he war excitement on the national
noraIs. We hear great deal about ]
he bad influences that surround our j
oldiers in the army, but we should ask C
urseives serousl y whether they are :
ny worse than the influences which u
urround our citizens in some places at c
ONE. The fell spirit which the neg il
oct of its duties by some portions of o
nc church has permitted to become SO II
trong in the land, is making men Zero. I
lous in their intercourse with one ano. u
her, is embitterlng party strife, is endan. I
ering our local peace. The language t
I politics.is becoming tho language of
aired, and evil passions are uppermost,
evenin matters of but the slightest de-
rec difference.
Is 1T not time for men to look at this S
it not time for clergymen to feel their
'ay back in the sphere of usefulness
hey have left. Is it not time for cti
ents to devise missions, Christian mis-
ons, tract societies, or other benevo I
mt institutions for the benefit of the I
eople who live in regions where tile
hurch has become political party,
nd Sunday only the day of holding a
arm political meetings morning and R
fternoon The idea may seem ride. n
lous, but we warn men that there is a b
,rrble truth in all this which demands b
leir attention if they weAd have us a
eople worth saving at all.
The American clergy are powerful, A
oquent, and there are thousands of v
rem who have not yielded to the temp. O.
!tions of the exciting times in which (
Q live. We appeal to them, we ap.
cal to all good men to take into con.
deration the Importance of restoring J;
Ie American churches one and all to a
eir high standard Of religious duty, n
at they may recover the respec: of 3
e people, which some have lost, and
I'd continue their work of good in the a
ture that is before lis as men, what. "