North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-01-13
:. The IIistory1Of the SANITARY Commissio


. Sanitary cSmmi sson, compiled from docu-
ments-and fropp private papers. Its orgahi-
zation, its Branches, its Department of In
'spectioA are all treated of; and all persons
desirous of knowing the truth about the
Sanitary. ComnEmissiOR are requested to read
, IL, all WHO aresdesirous of aiding the Sanitary
Commission are requested to buy it, for the
entire profits of sthe work will be given to
the treasury of the o. S. Sanitary Commiss-
ion. Price 81, cheaper Edition, IS cents.
For sale at Messrs. Little & Browns pub
fishers, Boston Mass.
Orders can be sent By mail
In publishing the foregoing notice we de-
sire to add that So far we are informed, it has
been the aim Of this Institution to hold itself
from party politics, and confine its entire eff
forts to its own proper mission. Even its
Republican President, who sometimes drags
politics into his pulpis has we believe, hither-
to abstained i5om connecting politics with
this enterprise. In reference to work of
this kind the public conscience, and the com
mon sense of all menwho have any interest
in the RELIEF of human suffering will unhesita-
tingiy endorse this course. To enter upon
an argument to show that to connect party
politics with organized effort to relieve the
suffering and supply the necessities of our
friends, neighbors, sons and brothers in our
armies would prove vastly prejudcial, and
ultimately destructive Of he utility OF such
effort, would be idle because all men of
common sense feel that this is so, in advance
OF any argument-so true it is that the cause
of humanity, as well as that of religion must
always suffer from contact with party politics
Why this is so we do not propose to dis
cuss in this connection. The fact itself is
ono upon which political preachers especislIy
may reflect with much advantage to the
cause they propose to serve.
We are not of those who believe that those
who ale called to preach the gospel hare no
civil duties to perform in connection with the
administration of the government. 1t is not
cause our system of government refers all po-
Utica! vuestions to the decision of tho whole
people and no man, strictly, has a right to
shirk his share Of the responsibility. Our
theory of government contempIates that ev-
cry vote shall be the honest exI Ionent Of each
voters sentiments, whatever they may be
and not Of tho nf onv pfhaP nr
set OF men, and holds him responlble for such
expression TO no nan, or set OF men. Even
ifhis political opinions are wrong, it Is none
the less his duty to vote in accordance with
them Upon no other principle can a govern
ment like ours survive.
But this IS the only civil dIty in connec-
tion with the administration of the govern
ment, except that of payment of taxes that
the theory Of our government imposes upon
the ministers of the gospel: and this only
because they are men, as well as ministers.
But while human natvre shall continue to
te-what it has always been, the preacher can
not 60 beyond this-cannot avail himself of
the opportunity afforded by the presence Of
his audience sssemgIed for divine worship to
engage in the discussion ofquestons of party
politics, without destroying his own useful
ness, creating bitterness and division in his
church, driving out Of it for the time land per
haps permanently all purely religious emotion
Z and sentiment, and giving to the thing, of this
world endure precedence over the demands
OF Eternity. No ma tier upon what artful
pretext the subject may be introduced, its
presence in the pulpit is more fatal 10 the
spiritual welfare of these who approve and
enjoy II, than TO that Of those who lament
and dsnounco it, already, in places the for
rner are'besinning TO regard those ministers
who abstain from political preaching with
ermity, because such abstinence is an i'm
Piled rebuke to those who indulge in and ap
pland the practice
7@ strange! that men who can readily per-
eeive the misrhiefs that woald inevitably rs-
sult from the connection of party politics
with the stupendous work of the Sanitary
Commission in the cause of Humanity, can
not also perceive the mschiefs that have
followed and ere still following the fatal al
fance between politics and Religion that the
same cause that would bring peril and death
TO the cause of Humanity, must prove equal
~ fatal to The cause Of Religion Strange.
that men who have devoted themselves to
the service of Him who scourged the traffick
eFs from the Temple, should SO forget the
mission of their master as to bring into His
Sanctuary the stormy passions that surges