Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-16
THE PATRIOTIC DUTY OF THE CLERGY

H.
1t was proposed several weeks ago by political
writer more remarkable for his zeal than his dis
erection that deputation Of popular orators should
be sent TO the Army of the Potomac (Which was
then in very Respondent mood for the purpose
OF f" cheering the spirits and increasing the conf
dence OF our troops by regular system Of public
speaking"
The plan had the merit Of originality, but did
not seem to meet with much favor Some friends
OF the soldiers not wishing to their patriotism
and patience tested in the way proposed, made light
OF the expedient, and our staid contemporary, the
Boston Daily Advertiser, intimated that as they
had already had "shappy exemption from speeches
1t would be cruel indeed to break down their cour-
age by such an aggravatlon Of the hardships of
war as was thus suggested"
More recently highly .esteemed gentleman
we allude to ex-senator Wright, of Indiana--has
proposed that "clergymen throughout the Loyal
States take hold and assist every where in the
organization of Union Leagues" 1t is added
that there is no class of men that can do more
than clereymcn in behalf Of this patriotic move-
ment, and certainly there is no grander work in
which they can engage than in that of saving the
Union of these States"
The New York Evening Post, in adverting to
this recommendation, endorses it fully. Our con-
temporary says:
While the Clergy at the North, in the emergency
which upon u.s. have contributed greatly to TIE maine
nance OF sound political virtue among tho people, they
have by exered their full power in this cton
of ahorn
az large among the masses of population asserted that
cosmopolitan influence which at the South the clergy as
body have exercised by direct part cDation in the work
of the hour general effort in our eaurches of the cha
racter suggested by Gov Wrgb himself actively denti
fed with the church interest OF the West would stimulate
Individual patriotism and compact the loyal sentiment of
the country"
We certainly have nothing to say in disparage-
ment of the patriotic purpose which leads men to
congregate In Union Leagues provided that pur-
pose be what it purpors to be from the name as
sumed by these associations, and is not, as one of
their latrons has deliberately" declared, a de-
vice by which to " control" tho next Presidential
election in the interests of single party. But we
trust it will not be deemed either unpatriotic or
unsympathetic if, general principles, we express
the opinion that the clergy have duties and en-
gagements which claim precedence of those as
signed to them in the service of " Union Leagues"
The Evening Post, in citing the example of the
Southern clergy for the imitation and emulation
OF their Northern brethren, would not seem to be
particularly happy. The cosmopolitan influence
exercised by the Southern pulpit has been pre-
clsey in proportion to the degree in which it has
departed from its paramount function by mingling
things secular with things sacred. And we cannot
say that the language and conduct of the North
ern clergymen who are most conspicuous for the
part they take in political affairs, have always been
such as to Justify the hope that they might be uni
versally followed.
Edmund Burke was certainly no enemy of regu-
lar government and just little was he nsensible
to the influence exerted by the reverend clergy but
ne has left on record the expression of an opinion
to the effect that neither the Church nor the State
is likely to be the gamer by such confusion of
duties as always ensues from the combination of
political and clerical abors. He said
Politics and the pulpit terms that have little agree
ment No sound ought to be heard in the church but the
healing voice OF Christian charity The OF eio b
erty and eir rernment gains little that of religion
by this confusion Of duties Those who quit their proper
character 10 what does belong to them are for
Tue greater part ignorant Dotn OF the character they leave
and the character they assume. Wholly uuacquaiuted
with the world in which they fond Of meddug aud
inexperienced IN al ia affairs which thew pronounce
with so much confidence they hare nothing IF politics bat
The passions they treits."
The duty of rendering obedience to " the powers
that be " forms proper and necessary part of the
pastors mnistrations, but that cosmopolitan in
Auence" which enters into the activity Of the
Southern clergy in the cause of sedion had better
we think, be avoided by the Northern pulpit in
the performance Of its appropriate work while con-
tributing to the dissemination of just views as to
the divine sanctions of "loyalty." For true "loy-
atty" has such sanctions, and by none can they
be 80 properly enforced as by those who are set
for the defence of Christian doctrine
GEN BALLECKS LETTER