Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-28
Onslow County, N. G., Sept. 8. 1864.

The minister that NEEDLES with party politics in
the pup: is looked at as dong entirely different
business from that for which he is employed and paid
for he is looked upon as using his Office to interfere
with the private judgments Of his hearers on polt.
ical subjects he is looked upon as destroying his
character religious teacher he is frequently
viewed as doing this for his private and person
al ends and the discussion of his performance divides
and distracts the religious society over which he
presides. There is no way for man to destroy him
self as spiritual guide, and to make men hate the
very office Of the ministry so eectus, as to preach
politics
But if preaching politics is so disgusting and in
furious, how much more 80 is it for ministers to
wholly partially lay aside the Study and teaching
of religion and its duties and to take up politics
business The people ask, where is onr minis
terri Are politics and office with all their disputa-
tons and intrigues and their tendency to make
men worldly and cunning-are these of more impor-
lance and better loved by my beloved pastor, than
the preaching of Christ and the ministration ofcom
fort the sick and bereave and the giving of those
moral admonitions in the family and at the way side
which every should feel proper and profitable
and preciousp Such reflections are as natural and
instructive among the people, as it IS for them to
breathe, and such thoughts degrade ministers and
the gospel which they preaoh in the public esteem
and confidence.
1t is said that ministers do not get salaries sufi
Gent to support them. Sometimes this is true but
sometimes it is not 1t is also that ministers
will not long command respect enough TO secure any
salary, if the love of office is so common and no.
torious among them. Besides societies would often
increase the compensation of beloved pastor, were
it necessary. Men who support the ministry in
these times do it from principle not from any legal
obligation orany requirement. of popular opinion,
and such men would q Thousand times rather make
greater pecunary sacrifices than their pastor should
be merged into mere politician. We fear it is too
true that in some instances, even where the clergy
have been bold enough to present the aspect Of their
political life in the journals that it is not sincere
that their support sufficient bnt they choose from
the mere love Of money and public notice, to assume
office for the sake Of gain. They minse with pub
lcans and sinners" not to bless them and do them
good, but to get their poney. This is degrading
view bnt it is a view which every one must take,
where the minister is known to have competent
support, or where his people would give him that
support rather than have him sink the ministery in
the political leader. And in such cases it seems
very ungenerous for those who have been honored
and beloved in the pastoral relation to choose
support aside from the ministry, rather than in it.
How TO REINFORCE THE ARNE-A correspondent
writes from Gen. Lees army 10 the Richmond Dis
patch in the following sensible strain:
"The Army of Northern Virginia needs reinforce.
ment to Its lighting matera0@ IhlS reinforcement
must come at oncel Can the government get them ?
I answer yes In the first place, there are to day
not less than fne thousand able-bodied detailed men
in the quarsermaster, commissary, medical and ord
nance departments of this army, whose places can
be supplied by negroes and disabled men-the ne
groes to fill such places as Transfers and drivers,
and disabled tho position Of clerks and messcn.
gers. Many Of these men, from favortism or other
causes, have been kept out Of service for years. if
indeed, they have ever shouldersd arms. Let Gem
eraf Lee and Secretary Seddon seiU ii, and these
men can be under arms and acting as good soldiers
in ten days. Again, there are men detailed for use
less and evasiye duty all over the country. Let
these be returned. hear it said that .1orty thou
sand names the muster rolls Of the Army of Nor
thern Virginia have opposite their respective names
the simple word "detailed." It is not necessary
to rob the States of their judges clerks and sherif
to fill the armies. 1t is not necessary to destroy
States rights. The material for recruiting the
arms bearing soldiers is in the army and xader the
control Of the War Office The men can be fur.
nished in ten days if Secretary Seldom determines
that it shall be DONE"
RAID INTO MITCHELL CoUnTY-Some 75 mr. IN
tories made descent upon Mitchell county a few
days since. They shot two men, McTnturf and An
other whose name we have forgotten captured about
r