, 1863-04-17
Chicago Uribu'tc.
4 MESSENGER TO TIE BRITISH
EHERCHES.

FRIDAY, APRIL II, 1868. 8
4 MESSENGER TO THE BRITISH
CHERCHES.
We learn that on Saturday last the Rev.
DR. Sturterant, President Of Illinois Col!
lcgc, sailed from New York for England
on quiet but important mission. His in;
tention is to be present at the May ami:
vcrsaries in London, and to spend some
little time IN England and on the Cont.
ncnt, availing himself Of all suitable oppor..
tunities, both public and private, to aid the,
Christian sentiment of England in right
appreciation of the great struggle IN this
country. He docs not 60 as the agent Of
any organization, but as the informal IT,
preventative Of numerous Christian friends.
The arrangement was matured By few
laymcn Of this city, and has received the
hearty endorsement and cooperation Of
many ministers and lnymen, here and at
the East.
The movement is extremely opportune.
The English heart has barely begun to
arouse from the stupor in which selfish
governmental aristocracy, Fenl press,
and greedy commercial class had held it
fast, Lancashire has responded to the
Presidents proclamation. Exeter Hall has
emphatically spoken. Even the North
Bn1i.h Reritto has deemed it prudent to
omit its customary article on American
politics." and the Times has staggered
underits load Of infhmy. Still the work is
far from being complete. John Bull moves
slow and strong, Beneath all the aristo-
cratic sympathy with shareholders, and the
commercial greed that lie upon the surface,
there is q deep substratum Of burly free
dom and honest Christianity, which, when
once thoroughly upheaved, is nightier
than the Chamber Of Commerce. or the
Cabinet Of St. James. It has traditions Of
Magma Charta, and fresh recollections Of
the great Emancipation Act Our final
and successful appeal must be made to that
Christian sympathy; and Dr.. sturtevant
goes to aid in that work.
We can hardly wonder at the tardiness !
with which the Christian sentiment Of |
England has moved on this subject, when
ne consider that nearly all its organs Of
intelligence, from thehighest to the lowest,
have been tainted. Even the North
BTidsh Reriete, once the organ of the glori-
GUS Chalmers, has regularly served up its
quarterly dish Of error and misrepresenta-
tion. So late as last November, it could
see here only "thc sight Of two nations,
OF sections Of one nation, assailing each
other with the widest fi1ry;" and, in the
North, awhole people nearly maddened
with wild patriotism, pursuing mis-
taken conception with reckless sacrifice
Of every other consideration" The
patriotism was "neither very pure nor
very RATIONAL "Vanity, passion, and
national danger have for time Affected
the brains Of twenty Millions The Pres
.ident was a well-meaning but feeble
mind" striving to grapple great pro-
Iblem; and "from Mr. Lincoln through
his whole cabinet, not one man Of even
moderate capacity has shown himself or
been placed in Office" The central Gov
ernment have been from the outset dis
graced by sFsuch saturnalia Of political
and pecuniary corruption" as was never
witnessed. The Confscation Act was
"simply atrocious," and the Proclamation
Of Emancipation wickedly selfish and
cruel" Such was its style throughout.
But tue tide is turning. Such statements,
We trust, will be heard no more from re-
sponsible Christian men; and We doubt
not that d.. sturtevant will greatly aid the
changing sentiment. He carries with him
the respect, esteem, and hearty sympathy
Of large circle Of friends. He is yeter- i
an in the cause Of Western Education,
Having been one Of the founders Of Illinois
College. He is widely known as pre-cm-
1ncntly a man Of clear head, practical
judgement, undaunted courage and kindly
spiHt-a man whom no influence can deter
or divert from the straightforward course
of Christian manliness. 4 wise and con-
sistent opposscr Of slavery. and taon nh
serycr Of the struggle from its distant be-
ginning; no man In the country is better
e..ali6ed to set forth the moral and relig-
czs, as well as political issues that arc
r. ding on this great national couvulsion-
!, are glad to have the churches repre-:
s. ed by such man.
IN his way through this city, President
s. rterant was cordially greeted and cheer
L. on his way By many friends. A warm
L come also awaited him at the East,
, zre he was abundant1y supplied with
e; = requisite facility for access to the
&: nels Of influence abroad, and followed
b. C warmest .sympathies. May he be
= .ts;ered in his work.