The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1864-08-11
Communications.
For tho News.
Rev. George Beecher's Sermon and
the Hillsboro Gazette.

the Hillsboro Gazette.
A writer in the Hillsboro Gazette of
July 24th, animadverts upon dis.
course delivered in the Pulpit Of the
Presbyterian Church of H illsboro on the
Sabbath preceding the 4th Of July, by
Rev. George Beecher. The National
Anniversary suggested national topics.
The preacher described war, its horrors
and distresses, deprecating its destruct.
i've and demoralizing effects--the origin
and causes of our civil war were refer
red to, and handled in a tone of digni-
fed discourse from the stand point of
the Bible. National sins were enume-
rated and discussed in the light Of Di
vine truth. The subject of human
rights, as solemnly declared in the great
charter Of American Liberty, was
touched upon. In enumerating onr
national sins, African Slavery was
brought urder revew-.the duty and
necessity of repentance, and the forsak.
ing and turning from whatever had
brought down the judgments of God
upon the land, was insisted upon. In
this connection it was inculcatedt hat
our duty as Christian people was to
elevate the African-we must either ell
evate the African race, or they would
degrade our national character. The
two races could not exist together with
out reciprocal Influence upon each
other, for good or evil. The terrible
struggle through which we are passing
our feet wading in blood owes its
origin and its support to the perversion
Of the truth, the demoralizltiou and
alieation of the Southern mind, produc-
ed by the reflex influence of slavery
The prevalence Of this institution has
produced two forms of civilization which
havs developed into deadly antagonist IN
to each other, one or the other of which
must give way; we must either all be
plunged into the barbarism of universal
slavery, or emerge into the pure light
and lib erty of the Gospel.
Such were the high themes of this
discourse, which this writer character.
ICES as "the rant of a political declaim
er," as "a perVersion of truth" the
false dOgmas of a vain philosophy -
which "desecratcd the pulpit" and pro.
famed the Sabbath day.
The writer's reference to the preach.
ing and exposition, of ST. Paul was rather
unfortunate for his purpose, for certain
y no one of the Apostles taught more
fully the duty Of citizens to their Gov.
ernment. Paul, in writing to Titus, a
young and perhaps "unaodged" minis
ter, instructs him as a part of his
Gospel preaching, to teach "loyalty,
&c. Titus, III ch. I v: "Put them iu
mind to be subject to principaIities aud
powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready
to every good work" If the South had
regarded such precepts, there would
have been no rebellion. This rauting
scribbler proceeds to say: awe now wit
ness in the land of Washington the
rapid development Of delusion quit,
as irrational and more blasphemou:
than the false teachings of the Koran,
or the wild fanaticism of Peter the Her
nit" at is tho blind infatuation and
worship of the Republican or Abolitio
school, Of an Ethiopian idol, covered
and embelished with all the artist,
skill of New England theology, anC
hallowed by the puritan zeal Of tn,
Pilgrim Fathers. "
l will not stop to illustrate by quota
tion, worshipcrs from Washington anC
t Jefferson, who were of this "Abolitior
school" Of worshiperS of the ''Ethiopiar
idol, +" as is admitted by Stephens, Vic,
President Of tho bogus Confederacy.
This "delusiou" which has SO rapidly
developed in this land, was nurtured
and blessed by the godfathers o
the Republic. These teachings "quit
as irrational and more basphem ou.
than those of the Koran" are to be
found in the great Char ter of American
Liberty to which our fathers pIedget
their lives, their fortunes and their sa
cred honor.
AS this writer has endorsed tho poe
Cowper as good authority iu portrayine
the character and functions of a true
minister of the meek aud lowly Savior
| will make one or two quotations whiel
will show that he too was a worshipe
of the ethiopian idol"-,he too was
victim of the "delusion quite as IRA
Q tiOnal and more blasphemous tn an tn
false teachings Of the Koran"
"T would not have a slave to gill my gronud,
To csrry me to fan me while sleep.