Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-12-08

S~% oOmE OeIy TciIBlOus iHulVluual, VINO
seeks to aid the editor of the Gazette in his
crusade against Christianity and the church
es, furnished that paper last week with an
attack upon the churches of St. Clairsyille,
in doggeral rhyme.
1t is a little remarkable that these Con.
perhcad church goers (2) are so ready to
construe every reference by Minister of
the Gospel to the country, the officers of
the Government, or the officers and soldiers
OF the army, either in prayer or sermon,
into political preaching "-and equally SO
that they should manifest such a persisten Mt
determination to force the ministry to quit
praying for those in authority" as di-
fected by Paul, or, if they cannot do this,
to break up the churches.
They claim to be good Union men, but
cannot tolerate prayer for the success of
the Union cause. They profess to be in
favor Of the overthrow of the Rebellion.
but think it wrong for minister to ask the
God of Battles to hasten that event. They
declare themselves in favor Of sustaining
the Government, but the preachers should
not ask the Ininite to give wisdom to these
whose duty it is to administer it. They pro
less to be the friends of the soldier; but if
a minister, in his discourse on charity or
benevolence, asks his congregation to con-
tribute of their substance to the Christian
or Sanitary Commissions. they declare him
apoht'cal preachcy, and will not 90 to hear
hin.
To such q remarkable extent have these
Anti-Poiiticaf Christians carried their pre-.
JUDGES upon this subject that they have de-
privcd themselves almost entirely of church
privilesss-for, thank God, the churches
are loysl to the Gavernment, and the min.
listers true to her cause, and pray for her
success and the welfare of her brave armies.
Tbs following occurrence, we think, very
fairly represents the extent to which these
saints have carried their morbid sensbili
ties upon the subject of political preaching,
and at the same time shows heva ridiculous
a position they sometimes take upon this
subject: Two neighbors, in an adjoining
town in this county, belonging to different,
churches, met, and. their converse ton turn
ing upon church matters, one Of them,
whom We shall name Copper, said:
:" have quit going to church, for the
preacher does nothing but preach politics
The ether whom we will call LoyuAy, said:
Does your preacher preach politics ?"
Copper" Yes; he can scarcely preach
ANYTHING else. 1"
Loy,lV-" Well, just do you come ovcr
next Sabbath and hear our preacher. H,
never mentions politics in the pulpit. +"
Copper" Well, l will come and hear
him, for l am thoroughly disgnsted with
political preaching. and would like to hear
"a sermon that had none Of it in it. -
The next Sabbath, true to his agreement,
Copper, in company with Loyalty went to
hear the preacher who never preached poll
tics. The minister took his text, l Peter,
a, lS: "If the righteous scarcely be saved
where shall the ungedly and sinner appear?"
and preached regular orthodox sermon.
After service Loyalty said:
well, how did you like that sermon? "
Copper" Did MT like it at all too much
bAtitics in il. " fa
Lsydly Too much politics Why
t.sere Was no politics in it at all !"
Ca, ,nD~-"Yes there was. Did mt he
take fey lis text: If the r. ..ghteous Repub-
licans scarcely be saved. whel g shall the un-
oodlv nemoc, ats and sinners a,,Uear? and
aid Mt he talk ali the way through about
s6e angodly Democrats? III never go to
hear another sermon preached until m, MIS-
ters qaat preaching politics.
Since that time Copper has kept out Of
The Church, but he is very regular attend
snt Al the meetings-of the o. A. X.
s~OUR yaIENDs, in writing to the 43d,
SD, 9sth. or other regiments with Sher-
han. should diraet their letters "Via, Wash
ington City. D. c." II is good time now