Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-10-04

- ---E--2.-lg..z.lEzr1e
, position which, az minister Of the RcspeI. I
z have taken. But whether have been riRht or
! wrong In making such speechea % I have, Il Il
clear that this Conference cannot single me out
FOR ceAsure from the number who have done
! likewise, without glaring Injustice. ---..'-'
A few words. Mr.. President, 10 another d.
rection, and have done. Let the Conference
beware OF what they do-gfave consequences
may follow their action in this case. Ills never
the part OF prudence, even II IL be sight, for
ecclesiastical bodies to intermsddle with poll
hes, or, at all events, to compromit them
selves with the issues Of q political party
Least of all, Ia 1t prudent or right for
such assemblies In our church to do 20; for
the lalty have no voice 10 them The clergy
and the laity have not always been found 70
agree On suoA subjects. History warns rs. Il
10 often urged thas the ministers Of the Gospel
are nearly all on one side Of the political ques-
tlons which now agitate the nstioDi and this 10
alleged as q proof that that side is right, and
that, at any rate, II will triumph. Thefact 10
true, bat the argument: Ia fallacious. Where
were the clergy in the unhappy days Of Charles
IL What was their position in the great case
OF Hampdsn on the question of habsas corpus,
when ell the dearest franchises of Eaglishmen
we're 10 peril7 What attitude did they hold
toward tbose heroic struggles OF fresmen which
resulted iDI6renching from the reluctant hands
Of the depot the second great Charter Of EGG.
lAh libe5ties--the Petition of Right 2 An,
sr. they were founddhEeling about the "Dvine
Right Of Kings" to do as they please, ami the
duty Of the people 70 be "subject TO the higher
powers" They had taken Lessons in ths OBJ
seqGloua echool Of Filmer, and we're ready to
surrender the stronghoids Of liberty at the bid.
ding Of the tyrant. Halam tells us that "nei-
ther the measures of Illegal severity against
the uneomp!iant, backed By iimid court of
justice, nor the exhoftations of . more pros
ntute s1d shameless band Of Churehmen, could
divert the nation from its cardinal point
Of faith In its own prescriptive franchIses."
What was hs result OF this bad combination
The people won the guerdoa for which
they et:uggled, hus tle king lost his head,a
the church lost her hold on the affections and
confidence Of the people. "Let him thst
readetb understand" Whom In the latter part
of the last century the French heart was heav-.
ing with mighty tnfoes 10 its passion for libef-
~. where stood the clergS7 Along eide OF the
champions of liberty7 No; but With the 4Gog-
srnment." They denounced, by all the dread q
sanctions. Of religion, those who songht to
achieve the Liberties for which the nation pant
cd. What waa the CONSEQUENCE Tbs heart of
the nation became GlienaIed from the church
and polaoned with inAdelity. Voltaire, ROs-r
seau, D'Alembert, and oihers of thai school,
became lhs idols Of the people, and the CRY
was re echoed through the length and breadth
of Franoii, Down with Tyranny! Down with the
Priests! These are but notable examples Of the
unfortunate positonin which the church has
too often placed hosself by meddDg with poll
ties Mr.. PIesidentJ snoh are the EXAMPLES of
history, and auch Ia the political philosophy of
tho case, that when SEQ the ministers Of re-
hglon sll arfayed on one eide In great publici
questions, begin TO suspect that the iaieTssts Of
popular lbstylie Onihe other side. "Pfiestc,aft'i
isa NO d OF terrific historical associations and
import The suspicion of IL 10 enough to
arouse the deepest resentmenta 10 the ear: of
q liberty loving people If you would turn
nation into inhdelity, let the church ally her.
self with power, and the work will be quickly
dolo. The religious element IN human nature
ignored; far less must II bemisled, # we would
promote the freedom and happiness of mankind.
When the Instincts of liberty and of religion
gsspple in mortal strife, then the piliars of the
social fabric are'feariully shaken. VI zcsoE
Already VIC have gone too far; let us rsirace
our stops. suspect II you adopt the Report of
the Committee and take the only action which
will then be open to yon, Jou will find when You
return 10 your charges, that to large class of
your supporters you hsos rendered youysslves far
more "unaectqfabLs" than could tesn 6s 10 any
OthsTs. acknowledge that there Is some difH-
Guilty, but not more In my case, II 60 much, as
in that of many others, If have publicly
avoWed my politics, 30 have they, and that in
the sanctuary and ON the Sabbath; which /
never did. Ii have given offence 90 o large
class of the people, 90 have they to q class
quite as large and respectable, and much more
Bat the difficulty is Hot ret insu-
perable. Though multitudss have left the fold,
and multitudes more will do 90 in spite Of any
thirg which We can do, yet By prudent action
We can do much to regain our hold on the
hearts of the people. Lot the brethren pass
my character as they in all Justice ought
Let me and all others bs treated without regard
to untounded political prejudice. Let us for
the future eschew "poliiics In the pulpit"---
And let the Conference issue an earnest Pas
torAl Address to the societies within its bounds,
sxhOrting them to lay ssds ell political preu- =
dlces among themselves. and to receive aud sus-
tain theif pssofs without regard to their political
prsdllectiols. By 80 doing We may safely pass
the rough and perllous aea on which We are now
driven, and In the more quiet times Of q hap
pier future, shall know that "the work of right
eousnesa 10 peace, and the effect of righteous /,
ness Ia joy and assurance forever" But II
you see hi 70 pursue snother coptse, trouble
and disaster may await you; for this Ihing can
not be done In O oornsr.n r-.ro-,.,--. .it