The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-02-10
NUMBER 16.
The Church and the War.

Doubtless the great conservative element
in democratic country is pure religion
But that religion can never remain pure.
when II is prosti;uted 10 political purposes.
It's mission is 10 the heart oil the individual
person, and not 10 the collective body poll
TIC lis conservative and purifying Influence
must be efectual, il at all, on single men
aud women, the resulting effect being on
the public interests through those indiyid-
uals. la all countries when men have
brought The church into the strifes of na-
tlons or OF parties, the effect has been not
only 10 injnre or debase the church but al
SO to destroy its Influence for good over the
hearts of individuals. When it becomes q
machine for political effect, it ceases 10
have powerifor moral good. II makes no
difference whether the cause il espouses be
the right or the wrong cause. The result
on he church is always the same, aud al
1aya bad
The clergy, as individuals, have not only
right, but are under an obligation TO duty
as citizens. Their right to political opinions
aLd political preferences is an unques,on-
able right. AT the same time, in excer.
cising that right, they are bound TO be ex-
ceedingly cautious that they do not attempt
to use their holy profession for political
purposes. They are made men with duties
as men, citizens with duties as citizens
but The minestry which is entrusted to :hem
by their Master is not subject TO their own
whims and caprices, nor have they right to
use II for any other purpose than that which
is stated in their eommission-the delivery
of a message to mac from God the preach
ing OF gospel, not to nations or govern
menis, which are things of an hour, but to
the soul of man, which are 10 ou,Iast the
evancescent dynaslies which men devise.
II is impossible for a right-ihiuking man
TO avoid sensation.of pain, and perhaps a
deeper emotion, when he hears a clergy
man recklessly degrade his character and
mission by making il other than God has
made it. The danger OF this. has always
been recognized, and therefore in all civil
lied countries, aud even in barbarous co1n--.
tries, there has been uniform practice of
exempIing clergymen from some duties
which might lead 10 an intermingIing of the
two characters, the clergyman aud the ciii-
zen, so as 10 debase The influence OF the
former to the level of The latter. The clergy
for example, have been exempt from mill
taty duty, and in some countries have been
debarred from holding civil Office. The
latter provision has not met with general
approval. The fofmer has always been re-
garded necessary to the purily Of religion
in ali nations, until the radicalism o: onr
own country abolished the exemption and
broke down this important wall between
religion and politics. This was doubtless
the result OF the abolition effort which for
years declared that the accom- pishnent of
lis designs could only be achieved "oVer
the ruins OF The American Church and the
American Union The attack OF The in-
fideI forces was directed as against the
church against the Union, and it is TO be
feared that they have succeeded in doing
almost as great injury 10 one as TO the
olher
The in main, great success. The arrange
ments were made without distinction Of
poliliea! parties, ard both Democrats and
Republicans joined in il heattely, sinking
minor differences. Weli-known Democrat
ic and Republican public speakers address,
ed The meeting in patriotic speeches, say
ing nothing 10 offend or rouse the feelings
OF men OF opposite views as 10 the measures
OF the war. Rev. Mr.. Trumbull, an army
chaplain Shose service and suferings en-
the meeting, made an impressive address.
But the proceedings were marred by an ILL.,
timed address from a clergyman whose al
lusions TO the sacred scriptures were little
else than blasPhemous, certainly foolish
and calculated 10 do no good. He seemed
TO desire 20 create The impression that the
peoble of the South are unfit 10 De members
of our body polite, while we are pouring
out our blood and treasure 10 compel them
to be such, With a boys toolishness he
though, TO make a good point by telling
his hearers that Judas was the only apostle
borne in Southern Palestine forgetting that
the Lord himself was born in that South,
aud that his small wit was only a sneer at
The birthplace of Christ. We respectfully
submit to the clergy who stay at home, 10
preach TO the people that the illustrations
OF existing things with Us which some of
them occasionally seek in Holy Writ, are
not calculated to do good, bu, rather to do
evil The treason Of Judas is vastly too SOL
smn a story to be cited even in war meet
ing for The purposes of rousius haired and
indignation against class OF people, and
the aid which such citations afford to the
men who would bring religion into disre-
spect is great II is not necessary, nor is il
desirable for the public good, that men
should be called on to adress war meetings,
who drew their illustrations from those high
and holy subjects which belong solely 10