The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-01-13

Pubiic sieet.nr,

public meeting 10 take into eonsiderr-
;icn the propriety Of ;nrg measures to
increase the spread Of Methodism in
this city, alarm having been produced
by the contemplation of the fact that
oar Church IS absolutely but little
stronger than it was twenty years ago,
and therefore relatively much weaker.
We hope good vii! grow out of the
movement. v- F7-l--. ..-s
We find the above in late number
of the Advocate and Journal, II lead
ing Methodistpaper, published in New
York City. We take it that the .Ad-
vocate does not misrepresent the con-
dition Of its own, Church, when it
tells US, sit is absolutely bpt little
stronger than it was twenty years
ago, and therefore relatively much
weaker" Why that is SO, is very
natural subject of inquiry. The an
swer, in our opi@pn, is just as ready
as the inquiry is pertinent The
Church has, for sore time past, mis-
taken its true mission, Instead Of
preaching Christ and him crucifcd, it
has combined religion and politics SO
well, as to make it difficult to say,
which Of the two was the object of its
mission and love. Especially have its
clergy distinguished themselves in ef-
forts to bring discredit upon the cause
Of the great Master whom they pro-
fessed to serve. They labored long
before the war broke out to produce
ill.will and strife among brethren
They assised in sowing the seeds Of
hatred and bitterness, where love alone
should be cultivated. And since the
country has been engaged in rcaping
the harvest Of their sowing, no class
have been more devilish in their sug
gestions, or more cruel and blood
thirsty III their desires, respecting the
mode in which the war should be con-
dccted h..
The absence, Ill their case, Of that
spirit which sheds halo Of beauty
and gancc about the Christian charac-
ter, has not been unnoticed by the
world. The In6del has taken advan-
tage Of it, to prove the truth of his
doctrine that Christianity is the inven-
ton of the Priesthood The scoffer
has wrapped it as sweet morsel un>
der his tongue. Tens Of thousands,
who we're Church-goers, but not mem
ler., have had their faith weakcnedin
the reality Of the Word of God. An"
thousands more, who were members,
have been driven from the Church, to
geek elsewhere the spiritual comforts
they were entitled to expect and re-
eeive while reposing on its BOSOM
No wonder .hould there be, that ga
larm has been produced by the conten1-
plation Of the fact chat the Church is
absolutely but little stronger than it
was twenty years ago, and therefore
relatively much weaker"
We are told that call is signed by
many leading ministers and laymen
for public meeting, to take into con-
sideration the propriety Of new meas
ures to increase the spread of Metho.
dism in the city Of New York. That
is well. We think some NEW measures
should be resortsd to, to accomplish
that object. Shall we be permitted to
give little advice? Then we shall
say, let the Church get rid Of its false
priests; to purify itself Of the pollu
ton that has attached to it, by dab
bling in the dirty pool, Of politics; and
to preach the doctrines of Ch:ist and
his Apostles in their purity and sim
p!icity. But, first Of all, get rid Q
the false priests. A false priest i
like the dead fly in the pot of oint
ment, which csuscth the whole luml
to stink. That is first necessary t.
thorough purif-ation. ~, IA Z -
Movements are being made, all owe
the country to get up a. new Church
They spring from that 'yearning of tn
soul for the sincere Worship of GoD, il
spirit and in truth. And that craving
OF the Christ in humanity will have
to be satisfied. If the "new meas
ufes," the propriety Of which are II
be considered in the propored publi,
meeting, shall not satisfy this want 0
the soul to which we have referred, {
new church will be founded, at who's
altars the hungry spirit can be fec
with the bread Of life, and those tina
are athirst can drink of the fountain
of living waters, without being sub
jacted to the annoyance Of politica
priesthood.--EEnq. t.ie
----~uzo-~-<s-e -
ANOTHER TuTEE ARpEgTED Thas