Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-11

Of 1882 which held its sessions In this city,
and that he took high ground against the
fanaticism of the hour that was running
riot throughout the land, and even then
threatened TO destroy the Churches that
had been heroically and successfully resist
ing its power and influence. He believed
in pure Christianity, and labored against
the desecration of Presbyterian Pulpits by
Political Demagogues, who had put on the
livery OF Heaven to serve the Devil ill.," He
held, in the language of the Constitution of
the Presbyterian Church, that, t,"Synods and
Councils are to handle or conclude nothing
but that which is ecclesiastical, and are not
! to intermeddle with civil affairs which con-
cern the Commonwealth" He declared,
/ that ''the Church, as such, owes allegiance
only othe Lord Jesus Christ; His kingdom
is the only kingdom she is bound to uphold;
! His Word is the only Constitution that she
recognizes as authoritative, or is at liberty
| to interpret. The citizen owes allegiance to
| the State. The citizen is bound to uphold
and maintain the civil Government The
Constitution of the State binds the citizen.
The citizen, by becoming Christian, comes
into no new relations to the State. His
Christianity binds him with solemn obliga-
tions to do his duties as good citizen, but
does not change them"
Views like these were not to be tolerated
by bigoted fanaticism, and the hypocriti-
cal devotees of 'loyaltyn commenced Bit
ter and relentless warfare upon him. both
at home and abroad. His own Church and
Congregation stood by him-except little
''loyalr clique, who wanted him to recog-
nize ABRAHAM LINCOLN as the chosen of
! the Lord, and who would be satisfied only
with Political Demagogue in the Pulpit
of their Church. The Presbytery of st.
Louis, at the instance of this little clique,
dissolved his pastoral relation with the
Church, and forbade him to exercise his
ministry therein. Against this action of
the Presbytery, the members of his church
and congregation protested; and from 1t
they appealed to higher tribunal of Pres
byterianism. But the late General Assem-
bly, at Newark, n. j., seems to have been
almost as disorderly and fanatical as the
one at Dayton; and hence, the case was de-
cided against DR.. McPHEETERs and his
Church, by a vote of ll9 to AZ.
The following satisfactory and truthful
statement of the case, We find in a letter
written to The Journal Of Commerce from the
General Assembly; and we take it, that the
writer is the Rev. DR.. PRIME, OF The Neu
York Observer. Speaking of the case ofDr
McPHEETERs, he says:
This was the appeal of Rev. S. B. Me-
Pheeters, d. D., against the action of the
Presbytery of st. Louis, forbidding him to
exercise his ministry in the Pine-street
Church in st. Louis-his pastoral relation
with said church having been previously
dissolved by the presbytery-bu an appeal
having been taken by the representatives oi
the church against this act of presbytery to
the Synod of Missouri, aud said appeal hav-
ing been still untried. This case is astriking
illustration OF the persistent endeavors of a
certain class of politicians to compel minis
tiers to be their mouth-pieces, and make the
pulpit, cOnsecratcd to utterances of peace
and consolation, an engine of partisan and
|
absent from home on account of his health
when the troubles in Missouri began in the
spring of 1861. He wrote a pastoral letter
to his people, eXhorting them to mutual
| forbearance, and the preservation
of peace and love, undisturbed by
political troubles. Upon his return he
found no discord among his people.
He laid down and rigidly adhered to de-
termination to discharge his whole duty as a
citizen, and that he would take 10 part in
! the civil conflict agitating his State. He
persevered in this course with happy results
| to his usefulness for more than a year. Some
of his people, however, were so loyal that
they were annoyed at his silence. They
suspected that he sympathized with the Sc
cessionists, as he had brother and other
| friends inclined that way. He had never
uttered word which was disloyal. On the
contrary, he had taken the oath prescribed
by the authorities for all citizens, and had
sacredly observed it. But this was not
enough. They were disquieted by his 81
| lence. They insisted upon his becoming an
| open advocate of their views, and if he
| would not, he must take the consequences.
Some of this loyal minority addressed him a
letter, stating the rumors adverse to his
loyalty. which they had heard. (i) and
| demanding q statement of his views
upon the political questions dividing
| the public mind He respectfully de-
MED their right to make any such
demand, and declined taking a step
which would compromise his usefulness
with large portion of his people. Short
| ly after this, the Provost Marshal ordered
| him to leave the State within ten days, to
| give up the books, papers, keys, and other
| property of the church, and stated that the
pastoral relation between him and his
| church was dissolved. Astounded at this
summary proceeding, he visited Washing
! ton, had an interview with President Lin
/ coin, and secured a reversal of the decree
of Punishment. But the General command
| ing forbade his preaching in st. Louis. An
effort was made by his friends to have this
restriction removed, and they declared they
would vouch for his loyalty. The General
declared that the oath DR.. McPheeters had
| taken and observed, was not sufficient evi-
dence of loyalty. He wrote to DR.. Nc
Pheeters, saying that if he would answer
affirmatively two inquiries. the restriction
upon his preaching should be removed
| These were: 1st, "Do you wish the rebel
| lion crushed, and are you in favor of the
national authority over the whole country?'
| ID, ain the conflict of war now existing
| do YOU desire the success of the Federal
| and the defeat of the rebel forces?"
DR.. McPheeters declined responding tc
these questions, as he would not acknowl-
edge the authority of the military power IL
| ecclesiastical matters; much less would ht
admit the principle of punishing mar
upon suspiciop--ass his guilt and ther