New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-09-09
sog-THERS CHURCHES.

The churches in Ncw-Orlcans, as wen rs
throughout the South, have been among the
most devoted champions of Slavery and the Re
bellion. Even now, after they have so long
been cut off from intercourse with the Conied-
eracy, they keep mp and foster disloyalty az far
as they are permitted.
We obtain some interesting information re-
specting the Presbyterian churches OF New
Orleans from the report Of committee APP
pointed by Gen. James Bowen, ProTost-Marslai'
General Of tie Department of the Gull to
"asccrtain and report the names OF the trus-
tees of the several Presbyterian and Baptist
churches in Ncw-Orleans, Algicrs, and
Ca-rollton. and whether the Trustees OF these
churches have taken the oath Of allegiance to
the United States" Iiappoors from this report,
that the charter of each OF the five Presbyterian
churches of New Orleans expressly provides
that the said churches slall be governed by the
doctrine, discipline, rules and regulations oi the
Presbyterian church Of the United States. aud
that the officers of the church shall have no
power 10 establish any bylaws and regulations
inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws
OF tbs United States. Nevertheless, all Of
.hcsc churchcg. through their officers and
large majority ofthcir members, identified them
selves with the rebellion. They separated
from the General Assembly OF The Presby-
teran Church Of tle United States, and con-
nected themselves with the so-called General
Assembly Of the Confederate States, and since
the occupation OF the city New Orleans by the
United States government, they have constituted
themselves into an independent Presbyterian
Church. One of these churches is now IN pos
session Of the military authortics the others, so
far as their pulpit supply is concerned are W.
tualy vacant, IA they hive no regular pastors.
There are still in these churches many members
Of undoubted loyalty, but most, II not ali. the
church officers who yet remain in the city, and
have not gone within the rebel lines, are strongly
suspected Of disoyaliy. The loyal members are
anxious to have the churche, opened to ministers
OF approved loyalty. but all applications OF this
kind made 10 the church officers have been 70
fused. The committee express the opinion that
the General Asscmb. of the Presbyterian Church
has. by noaction OF the Now Orleans churches,
been derived ~ the powers vested in IT 10y the
constitution Of the Presbyterian Church; ana
that it still has the right to - deal with tho re-
cnsant of their body, and correct the evils which
have existed" but that " it is necessary for
some other authority 10 take present action,
with strong hand, in aid of loyalty 50 that the
necessary proceedings may be- initiated by which
The General Assembly may obtain such iniorina-
ton aswil enable it 10 act upon the powers IN
hcrent therein
The hope of the Committee that the loyal
Pfcsbytcriaus Of New-Orcans may be able 10
reorganiza loyal churches, and become instru-
mental in breaking the influence of the pro-
slavery and Rebel churches, will be joined IL by
every LOYAL man. But the Committee, like
many Of the officers in the Department of the
Gulf do not seem to guard sufficiently against
what President Lincoln aptly called the ruin
ing of the churches" They denounce the sep
aration OF the Ncw-Orlcans churches from an
Ecclesiastical Connection, a matter with which
no State Government has anything to do.
The Government has an undoubtcd right
10 prevent disloya ministers from preach
ing treason, congregations from joining
a religious denomination, whose very name
involves treason; but whether the Presbyterian
Churches of New Orleans choose to remain IN
the communion of the general Assembly OF the
Presbyterian Churches OF the United States, or
constitute an Independent Prcsbytery OF New
Orleans, does not concern in the least any OIL
Ger OF the Federal or State Governments. 1.-THE
LOYAL members of the congregations have claims
TO the property of any of the Churches, they
viii find protection from loyal judges; but with
their merely ecclesiastical connections, neither
the law nor the Government Of the United
States has anything to do.