Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-02-06
The American Church.


When the Abolitonists, for years in
succession, offered and adopted in public
meetings their famous resolutions that
"the only exodus Of the slave is over the
ruins of the American Unon," they al
ways coupled with it, also, "the ruins of
the American Church" 1t was always
part of the plan of the radical Aboli-
tionists that the purity of the Church
be invaded, its creed changed, and its
healthful unity destroyed, at the same
period when the treason which they plot
ted should be perfect in its work and the
once happy republic reduced 10 be but a
desolate memory. In the progress of
their work, brought SO near to final sue.
cess as it has been by bargain with DEM
agogues and political managers, the in.
telligent observer has not failed to note
the undermining process by which they
have shaken the foundations Of the nation.
Hence the frequent warnings which con-
servatve men have sounded in the ears Of
the people, warnings UNDECIDED until the
catastrophe became so imminent that it
seemed next 10 impossible to avoid it. 1t
has not been difficult to see the points of
attack on the Union, where Abolitionists
have worked with all their forces. When
the war began they were disappointed
A war for the Union was not what they
wanted. 1t will be remembered that
they we're advocates of the right of seces-
sion, and in their principal organs strong.
ly maintained the ego in peace doctrine.
A separation of the States would have sat-
isfed their immediate demands, but they
would probably have advocated war
and invasion OF the Southern States at a
late period for the purpose of effecting the
destruction of slaveho lders, against whom
their animosty was fierce, For it must
be borne in mind that the real dNinauS oi
Abolitionism has always been hatred tc
the STAKEHOLDER, and not love for the slave
The war coming on, it was the Abolition
lists plan to prevent its remaining a wal
for the Union and convert it into q wal
for abolition. The determination Of the
whole body of Abolitionists, original and
recent, is openly avowed to be anti Union
now. A conditional Union Of some sort
is held out as a pretence on which to rest
the claim of Unionism. That it is but q
pretence needs no proof. But while all
this has been so plain, it seems that the
other grand object Of attack, the Ameri'
can church, has not been guarded, mol
have men seen the stealthy and incessant
efforts which have been made to destroy
it, until now the effects begin to be visible
and the blindest must open their eyes tc
the painful reality. In many directions
we find the unity Of the church broken W
and the fragments arrayed on one or tht
other side Of political or national questions
In many pupits, North, South, East anC
West We hear denuneiation instead OF IN
struction, war instead of peace. The
clergy have, in a vast degree, lost theiI
hold on the affections and the respect o.
the people. The most exciting poIitica
meetings are held in churches on Sundays
and the harangues are interrupted will
tumultuous applause. Nor are these thu
only or the most serious evidences OF
dangerous change. The inlideli.y which
is preached from pulPits, appla il
newspapers, and instilIed into the minds
of the people, young and old, is becoming
more open, unblushing, and defiant Th'
supremacy of reason over the Bible is as
serted in hundreds of pulpts commonly
called "orthodox." 81 would not believe
such a doctrine ii / found it in the Bible, ,
or H would reject the Bible if believed
it contained such doctrine" is the FIRE
quent assertion of this supremacy on th'
lips of religious teachers. The fact that
the Bible does condemn many OF the ia
yorite doctrines and practices OF modern
! .l;.,Ii.r, has slready led TO want {