The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-06-29
NUMBER Sc.
By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them
Religion and Politics.


fciency of zeal and interest among their
members of their respective churches. The
administrations of the Gospel are not well
atiended-chorch menbe rshi ps'are decrease
ing in numbers-the ministry are not sup
poried-and worse than all, veneration for
religion itself is failing, and i'm morality and
unbeisf are rapidly undermining the ioun.
attribute this tendency TO the excitemenls of
the day, calling away The attention of the
public mind from rel igious or secular
pursuits some speak o. it as a visitation Of
Divine displeasute, and punishment for
national sins by the Withdrawal OF grace.
These papers seem TO sedulonsly seek Tor
any other Than the true cause for this decay
in religious growth They need not go so
fart is in The pulpit itself where The eyil
lies, and where the remedy must be appli-
ed if any is desired This lack OF interest
i'll religious matters is c pevil with the intro-
drction Of political topics in the sermons of
the ministry and not only in the ser.
mons bet ia the prayers with winch the
God OF Truth, Love and Mercy is insulted
weekly from ten thousand mouths, spew-
ing ont profanity, haired and revenge.
From the time pulpi's were turned into
political platforms and The dispensers OF
Gospel truths became the special advocates
of particular Administration. the cause of
the present complaints began to accrue.
And they have gone on accrning, and will
continue TO increase as long as this course
is continued
We believe that the writings OF Paine,
Vol;are, Rosssau, YelneY, and the whole
lis; OF that class OF writer's, have produced a
less injarious effect upon the church than
the preachers of The various denominations
have inflicted upon i; by eirsction in this
matter. Thousands OF them have publicly
displayed feelings and sentiments so en-.
lirely in conflict with the frs, lessons of
the great Tescher whom they profess TO
adore, and so incousisiant with even ordi-
nary charity that they have made, in the
minds al many of their hearers, both them.
selves and their cause objects Of disgust
and contempt. Men possessing common
sense aud any knowledge OF the world,
with lis errors and frailties, cannot sit, even
in cushioned pews, and listen TO these pul-
pit diatribes overlooking with ignorance,
conceit and maIice-to discourse such as
the devil would p!esch, where he in The
pulpit. Iii too great tax upon either the
good sense or the good morals of any COM
muniiy. The consequences are seen in the
universal depletion of The churches. Thou=
sands OF men and women can hear mors
true Christianity al home than they can hear
under a church bell, and they stay away.
Many men are driven by the demonicai
ravings OF these Abolition howlers, for
more blood 10 find recreation in enjoyments
that lead them far from the influence of
either home o! church. The effect is rus
nous. The destroyer of the church, and
the age is unfortunate in not having anolh-
er Saviour 10 purge them from the temples
they de,ecreae.
This subject is beginning TO attract the at.
teniion Of some OF the religious journals
whose denominations have suffered largely
! from this error. They are late abou, it, but
, they are wise TO begin now rather than still
later. Among them we notice particularly
the True Presbyterian. In late .cathing
article upon this suhlec, it remarks:
"Amd this furious bubble of politics and
war. we look in vain for the Magma Char,a
of the Annunciaion, GLORY to God in the
highest on earth peace, good will 10 men,
1t is appalling TO see the Church of God
spue from her mouth the Gospel Of peace,
and bawl herself hoarse in stimulating the
ferocious passions OF men and in canoniz=
ing the red handed iend of the battle field
Where is her former haired OF Abolitionism
now that she is causing Them her own chill
dren 10 pass through the fire OF Moloch and
is gloating over the prospect of servile in
surrection What shall we say of the dis
( iinguished clergyman who so loudly ap-
plauded Mr. Van Dykes sermon on that
subject, aud who nov lift up their hands
and roll their ewes in plous horror al the sin
! OF slavery Shall we say, as the world
says of them, lAal they have either been
practising gross dece 6iion all their lives,
/ or are now basely yieIdiug-lo unmanly fear!
! Shall we adopt the humIlia.ing charge so
/ freely made, that as body, the clergy OF
! this country have been less reliable, more
! unwilling sacrifice their positions TO prin-
| clple, more shutting, and cowardy, and
! bloodthirsty, than any other class OF men
! in il Shall we repeat the sneer, that rath-
er than give up their places and their sala-
ries, they will preach and pray under The
| dIctation oil a turbuleat faction in their
| churches or the bitter iaunt OF The soldier,
who on being reprovej BY one o. them for
swearing, replied I will not be febuked
by you, sir! have exposed my life fot
/ three years in this war, and but for the
preachers there would have been no war =
We desire 10 bring no railing accusations,
neither to judge any man but oy their
fruits ye shall know them, and the fruit OF
all their labor is that they, the Chufch, and
/ religion itself, are brought into contempt
among men. The Lord Jesus seems 20 have