The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-04-29
For the Grand Haven News.
CONSUMPTION and the Clergy.

y a@@N'N1
tied to The Northeastern Church.
Knowing, as you do, the procuring
causes of the war in which our country is
involved, / can scarcely think you endorse
the sentiments expressed and implied in
that article; hence this writing is design
ed for the eye of the author of that sheet
and the benefit of its readers.
On looking this matter fairly in the
face, and Judging the clergy by the same
rule by which other men are judged, 1
can see neither unfairness nor improperly
in making clergymen subjects of tho con-
scription law. 1t was said by the Great
Teacher, A." He that taketh the sword shall
perish by the sword" The sentiment of
which evidently is synonymous with He
that stirreth up strife and causeth war
shall suffer the consequences of war"
And what man or set of men had more
to do with manufacturing the procuring
causes of the war in which we are engag
ed than the clergy? Have not ministers
of every name, and in every position,
been "as busy as nailers," ever since the
republican party arose, and the abolition
wing of them much longer, in preaching
partisan politics in almost every pulpit
throughout the North, to disaffect the
South and encourage opposition to slave
~ and resistance TO the constitution Of the
United States? Were there any more po-
tent means used to bring on the war than
the abolition SERMONS and publications
which were preached and circulated by
the clergy and their alliesG Where were
there moro active agents for the " Helper
Book" than among the clergy9 Who
held greater sway over the political con-
sciences of the multitudes of protesting
christians than the clergy? Who, by
threats of accommodation from the
churches, caused many democrats TO vote
the republican ticket in 1860? The cler-
gy. Who we're the loudest in their de-
nunciations of slavery and the provisions
in the constitution for fugitive slave law 2
The clergy. Who were foremost to ex-
press their willingness to free the poor
slaves, their colorod brethren, by force of
arms, if need bol The clergy. And the
clergy have been the principal instigators
of the disafection, alienation and strife
which caused the war. Who sought to
dictate Congress, " In the name Of AL
mighty God," to favor abolition schemes
Three hundred clergynoen! Who "press-
ed" the President Of the United States
TO issue the Emancipation Proclamation,
until he fairly groaned under it9 Il con-
vention Of clergymeni Who are the
loudest in their denunciations of demo
Gratis who are loyal to the constitution,
and wish the war directed solely to its
support and the restoration of the Union
as it was and the government as our
fathers left it? THE clergy!
Why, Mr.. Church man, if the clergy
had not counseled the people to resist the
enforcement of the laws, nor labored to
stir up strife and dissension between the
North and the South, we had never been
cursed with this fratricidal war. Then
who ought to suffer the terrible conso-
quencos of war more than they? None !!
The greatest burden of the sin of this
war lies at their door, and they ought to
bear it. For my own part do sincerely
wish every clergyman in the United
States, who ever preached an abolition SER
mon, or urged Others to 60 to the war for
abolition purposes, was placed in the front
rank of the hottest battles until the SUI
premacy of the constitution and the en-
forcement of the laws shall be fully and
fairly indicated.
The young have been instructed too