Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-21
REllGIoUs NON-OoHBArANrs.

To dbe Editor Of the W6tg:
ASK space in your columns to reply to piece which
appeared 10 the Wing OF tae I9h over the signature
81 Justice" The writer seems TO have forgotten the
oyA Nv OF doing 'unto Others as we would have them
do unto US and that every mans conscience
should be measured by mis- Standard, forgetting to ex-
eud that chacty If which that bss of book declares,
Though speak with the tongues of men aud of an
gels, aad have not charity, become as sounding
brass or tinkIug cymba and though have the gift
OF prophecy and understand all mysteries and all know
LEDGE and though have all aith, so that could re-
move mssotains, aud have charity, am nothing
and though bestow all my goods to feed the poor and
though give my body to be burned aud have not
charity t prodteth nothing" Is. Cor. Is, I-S
BE charges that nnssynine huudred:hs of the reli-
gOus combataos are wealthy aud mostly extor-
tooers making use Of their exemption from military
duty 20 add 10 their boards
/ will answer for the Qlakers and Dankards that
many of their young have had 10 be aided in the
payment OF The tax, and that waile there may have
been individual ,ptousl Of members manifest
ias too much eageness to accumulate oil this worlds
goods. constant c0mmuli alton with the members
through the length and breadth OF the Conledeacy en-
ables the writer state that they have maues ed much
lberaty IN contributing TO the relief OF tue needy,
and in various instances within the knowe6ge of the
srter keeping open house aud free table for days
st ttac when the army bad been passing them
in want Of provisions, refusing to Of COM
pensstion IRON officer prVae having fed them not
because they were soldiers but because they were
hungry brethren. Again: lie attempts to bring them
under reproach by insnuatDg that they Abolition
lists and wanting In patriotism | emphaticully deny
the charges. Words in the course of time change
their ms aning and the fanatca hordes of the North
are now illustrating the present meaning of that term
in dragging the poor slaves ct dr1ais IRON their
Portable homes consgn them to worse fate. Under
this definition those cannot be cassed Aboltionists
who are constrained by the eat principles of peace to
advise that such resist not but wait the day OF the
Lords deliyerance exhorSng them, in the meantime
ITO serve their masters after the flesh, not with eye
service as men-pessers bat the servants of Christ
doing the will OF God from the heart" Eph. g. c.
The writer demands that they should be employed at
the salpetre works; quarermasters and commissa-
ries; in hay-paekng and taxn-kind gathering; at the
workshops, &C., &c.
The above mentioned sects believe that the principles
of the Gospel forbid them from performing the least
mart In the machinery OF war that IL Is just as much
sin to manufacture the powder and carry il 10 the can
non as il is to load the and fire at the enemy and
that it their dusy suffer any penalty yea, death IT.
self rather than become aiders in this great evil
Can it be possible that in this enlightened age, the
OF this great Confederacy or OF that noble
old Commonwealth which is justly styled the mother OF
States and OF statesmen will turn prosecutors OF the
little handful of peace within their midst reus-
ing TO profit by the experience OF Other Goyern-
mcn.s? For England, France, Russia and The Ameri'
can Revolutionary Government Of l7T6 bear one con-
mon testimony that these people cannot be made to
fight and dOub. that the experience oil the
Onfederate Government asked il would be the same
The reason is manifest These people really believe that
by taking the weapons Of carna warfare they imperil
the welfare Of their immortal souls.
Why drag such people to prison and to suffering,