Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-12-29

I
Telescope, ia answer to a scurrllous attack OF
that paper upon the parties engaged in the
enterprise Of new church in this city, and
the same being greedily copied into the
journal, and also the comments Of the editor
OF the Telescope upon this communication
Everything OF a political charaeler being
purposeiy avoided in the communication o. be-
ing lrreisvaut) will you please copy into your
paper the Article referred 10, so that the public
may mote fully understand the motives Of
the parties niisreprssenting us, and who there
by serve the Devil under the guise Of Godli-
ness
10 the Editor Of the Religious Telescope"
Sla-ln your paper Of the 2lst inst, there
ia an article appearing editorialy. headed
"Coniederate Democratic Church which
does gross Injustice 10 the parties engaged ia
the Organization Of another Lutheran Church
IN this clty; aud you must have been entirely
misiniormed as TO the purpose of The parties
CONCERNED, oryou would surely not have made
the unchd'itable remarks that YOU did IN re-
gard to the matter. Believing that yoG would
not Intentionally boar false witness against
your neighbor, We ask oi you, as an net oi
justice the publication OF tle following facts,
which will explain TO the public some Of the
causes that have led TO TIE organization OF
the new church, and the purposes OF those
ems age d IN it,
Il is not, as your article implies, a move
ment 10 introduce politics. as an element, iuto
any religious organization, but it is an tfort
in the directly contrary direction. 1t is 70 re-
buke that cies Of p0Iii cal intolerance which
has expelled Mr.. Sieck from his charge and
which, Il endorsed aud approved Of by the
Christians OF this community, may lead 10 the
rupture OF other congregations, and to the
most unfortunate resulls--iOr it may not be
improper TO state that there are many mem
oers IN all OF the Christian churches of this
city, and elsewhere, who are Democrats aud
who are none the less true Christians on that
account
Members of that political party subscribed
hOerauy and cheeriully 10 the erection of the
new Lutheran Church, just completed ON
Main street, hoping thereby 10 have a com
Portable and pleasant house in which they and
their families could worship the God of their I
fathers and they were still willing to contrib. ;
qte their means and influence to the promo.
ton of the harmony and usefulness Of that
organization; but they could not regard it as
either brotherly or Just TO be ostracised from
the church they helped TO build by having DO .
htical tests introduced, which has led 10 the
expulsion of their faithful and efficient pastor
and heuselves thus stgmatized because they
do not entertain views upon political cues.
tons agreeing with those of the Church Coun.
Gil.
The removal of Mr. Steck was wholly dis
connected from any charges impuiDg to him
uniaithiuiness or unftness in his conduct as
a pastor his iaithfulness and fitness being
approved by all. His olfense consisted sim,
ply and entirely in the quiet enrolment of
political sentiments different from those en-.
tertained by the Church Council, and the ex.
ercse of the right Of suffrage according TO
the dictates of his own judgment and con
science
1t was earnestly hoped by many, that, after
the subsldence of the excitement naturally in
cldeht to an important presidential election,
we Would-and especially those protesting
inclined to kindher and
more charitable dispositions, and greater tol.
erance ID regard to political differences, as il
Is impossible, even we're it desirable, for all to
think alike; and it cannot but be depIored
by all right-thinking men, that this intolerant
spirit should first display itself in one of the
leading and most influential churches in our
city,
The sympathy for Mr.. Sleek, who is the
victim of this unchrstan spirit, will not be
confined to those who agree with him politi.
cally, either inside or outside Of the church,
but viii extend to the liberal and enlightened
Christians of all denominations in this com
muuiiy, and elsewhere and in Withdrawing
our membership from the First Evangelical
Lutheran Church, and in organizing st.
j Johns Church, we have not been aetuated nv
any unchristian feeling toward those with
whom we were formerly associated, bat an un-
Willingness to submit to spirit of political in
tolerance, which, II allowed to 60 nnrebuked,
must prove fatal to all religious organizations
and destroy their influence for good--must
loose the very bonds of our social system, and
arouse antagonisms which wou ID eventually in
volve us in violence and ruin. We disclaim
all connection with any political party, and
desire only the preaching OF the Gospel of
Christ, and the Advancement of his kingdom.
Such is our purpose and aim, and such we
know will be the course of our worthy pastor,
Whatever aspersions or misrepresentation
may be made by parties interested in defeat.
ing the new church enterprise, and however
much we may regret the manifestation Of such
a spirit from those protesting to be followers
OF the Prince of Peace
Very respectfully,
A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH.
p. S-The article above alluded 10 having
been copied into the Dayton Journal, will the
Editor do US the justice to publish this com
munication also2
SHoDDY LEArHER-We have seen within
a feU dava anna ,f II