Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-09-21
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universally known to be true, that need
scarcely affirm it here to-day. Com
mencing Cat least in its outward mani
testation) about the year 1882 so rapid
ly did Il pro-slavery sentiment spread
and prevail in the South, that in 1914
even the Southern wing of the Meth
odis' z. church had become 50 infected
with it, that they seeded in a BODY
from the old church and the old prin-
! ciples, which till then, they had them
selves both held and propagated.
After this, no anti-saverY Methodist
preacher burst open his lips in all their
territory, on this question, under pain
OF personal violence. A small Meth
odist conference, which about n dozen
years ago, was got together in Texas
while quietly holding its session, with
oar own Bishop James at its head, was
violently assailed and broken up by
mob, composed in part ofjudges of the
court and civil magistrates. Our own
Bro Buelly too, because he would not
bow the knee to this Baal, aud pre-
claim slavery Divine institution, was
cruelty hung to the limb of a tree till
he was dead.
So thoroughly indeed bad the whole
South changed on this subject and so
radical had they become, that all free
dom, Of either speech or the press,
had passed entirely away And fl
nally, about the time Of the breaking
out of this war, even much Of the
North itself was rapidly drifting in the
same direction.
Thus, like the sinless and God ap-
proved babe, changed into the sinful
and God-accursed man, had we as a
nation changed, and were rapidly
changing more and more.
And now, what were the cOncom-
itants of this fast spreading change?
Why, first, indications of gathering
storm next, the muttcrings of distant
thunder; then, the blackenjng of both
the political and providential heavens;
and then, three years and a half ago.
the bursting upon us of the fearful
storm of this desolating war.
A0W, # ICE hare changed IN our dtti
tude toO srd SldUery, mas not God ch0nged
an his 0ttitude t0w0rd as j.? And as it not
fair to conciu that he has chamged BE-
cause ne haze cho"gcd@ Who can show
that God ever yet changed toward a
people for the worse, without a cause,
and who can show any other change
in us, for the worse, corresponding TO
Gods change toward US for the worse,
than in slavery?
Am L told that we are great sinners
in other respects, and that it is our
other sins that nave brought down up
on US the vengeance Of God?
L answer, we were no greater SIN
ners in other respects when this God
sent war broke out upon us, than we
were all along before. We had not
changed in these respects toward God,
for the worse, and consequently he
could not, for these things have changed
toward us for the worse
Nay, | am prepared to show that in
other respects than slavery, we not
only had not changed for the worse,
but that ne had changed and acere con
staaAy changing, more and mare, for the
better, up until the very time this God
sent war burst upon us.
Why, shall only affirm what all
know TO be true, when say that never
before, in the history of our country,
were our churches so strong, so nu-
merOus, 50 pure, so active. Millions of
dollars, and with constant increase,
We're annually being given for the
printing and distribution of the Bible
Other millions were annually being
given for the conversion of the world
through missionary operations. While
sinners at home, by thousands and
hundreds of thousands, were being con-
verted in all the land. New churches,
filled with anxious and devout wor-
shippers, were being daily multiplied.
Institutions of mercy and benevolence,
such as intirmaries and asylums, for
the young and the old, and the poor,
and the blind, and the deaf, and the
insane, were springng up on every
side. righteousness was prevailing
more and more. So that, ocih at our
other sins, zee eoere better peopie Uhen
this a00r broke out than ace had eUer been
before.
Having changed therefore for the worse,
onIy an regard to sto0ery, this Dor must
be apon us because of stavery and because
Of 1t alone.
Now this point and conclusion
know is plain, and cannot be palmer.
And yet, not by way CT strengthening
its truth, but simply to show its pro
priety, let me add, that the sin of sla-
very is like no other sin, and therefore
its proper punishment is like no other
punishment.
All other sins are personal, and com
mitted upon personal responsibility,
and upon that alone. We have no
State or National law which upholds,