The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-06-29
The Advertiser Repudiating the Churches.

The Advertiser Regulating the Churches,
at the Congregational State Conference at
blddeford last week, among the resolutions
passed was the following:
g. That we would gratefully acknowledge the Divine
Hand IN those national measures, especially in the
PROCLAMATION of the Emancipation OF the Slaves is.
sued by the President, and in other events during
the war, which already assures of the speedy ex-
this extinction indispensable to the removal of our
great national reproach abroad aud to the restora-
tion or our Union as people at home
This resolution, after long and well tenn
pered discussion, was passed with only t,co
dissenting voices, - Hon. Philip Eastman,
lawyer of Saco, and Rev. John o. Fiske of Bath
and when the congregation was asked to
give expression to its feeling upon the ques-
ton it was done with equal unanimity.
The Advertiser takes occasion to read the
Conference an admonitory lecture of more
than column, and with its usual urbanity
and modesty y takes the denomination to
task for presuming to give expression to
doctrines so antagonistic to the Gospel accord
ing to F. o. J. S. of that paper Doubtless
the Congregational clergy will appreciate the
admonition, and acknowledge the inspiration
OF the voice which comes to them through
that divine channel. The editor of the Ad-
vertiser ridicules the idea that the Divine
Hand has anything to do with our national
affairs, ignores christianity in temporal mat
tiers, says, certainly the province of christian
"ity is connected chiefly with those things
concerning another state of existence, COM
'pared with which the presdnt is as nothing"
and even refers to facts to show that the ssDi-
vine Hand" if visible at all in connection with
our present struggles, is favoring the rebel
cause!
To show that the question Of emancipation
is destroying the unity OF the Congregational
church and that religion Is likely to suffer a
severe blow from the patriotic action of the
Conference, the Advertiser says:
We find that within the society of Congre-
gatonalsts such assumptions to represent the
Divine will, cause the same divisions of OPT
MON as they do with laymen of no religious
creed. For example, on referring to our notes
again, we find that Hon. Phillip Eastman,
worthy member and upright man, remonstra-
ted strenuously against an action. So Of Rev.
John o. Fiske, of Bath, who believed in the
divine origin Of governments, uih others OPP
posed the neutrality-suspicious. by the life
and acts of the Great Teacher, who preached
not TO governments, but peace on earth and
good will to man, and that abstinence from
interference with things, which he illustrated
in the direction to "render unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars, aud to God the
things that are Gods"
Hon. Philip Eastman demonstrated strenu-
ously,' did he? We have the authority of
member of the Conference whose business it
done, that the strenuous remoustrance" of
Mr.. Eastman consisted simply in his rising
respectfully from his seat, and saying in the
most amiable and gentle spirit, that he SHOULD
feel compelled to vote against the resolution"
We have the same authority for saying that
Mr.. Fiske proposed modification of the res
olution, by changing the word gratefully"
In the first line to "submissively," thus sub
missively acknowledging the Divine Hand.
Mr.. +. would be submissive to national meas
ures because he would be submissive to the
powers that be-" and he intimated, or at
least conveyed the impression, that with the
simple change suggested he would support
the resolution. So much for facts. 1t is not
perhaps saying too much TO say that Rev. Mr..
Fiske is not considered very influential in his
demonstration on matters pertaining to the
government. He may be loyal but his loyalty
has decided Southern flavor. No man has
pursued more zig-zag course than he, on na-
tional questions, and his opposition on any
such measure, will not be likely seriously to
disturb the harmony of the Conference. Out
side of politics he is a very amiable man, and
man of considerable power, but in politics
he has the misfortune, if not copperhead
to be in the very best of odor with the copper
head politicians of his city, who derive great
'said and comfort" from his occasional hits of
the additional radicals and those who go for
their government without an "if' or condi-
ton.