The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-12-02
sCouscie5ciouiscrufies..


one of great importance and it be-
hooves every Christian man over the
age of twenty one to do duty which
in importance never had its equal
liberty, equal rights and self govern
ment were Mt stake.
We find small denomination who
term themselves Christians of the an
ti-slavery school, who, under a law
of prescription, made up among their
leaders, refused to act according to
the dictates of their own conseicnces
for the sake of obeying their dicta-
tors, who are seeking Legislative fa.
vors for themselves and their flock,
which they hope TO gam through the
sympathy of those who arc willing
tools, to show how much they will dc
for religions sake. Now let us sec
whether these so-called Christians
deserve these special favors or enact
ments OF our Congress. The found.
er of this class, called Tunkers, was
Alexander Mack, at Schwarzennn,
Germany, who had seeded from the
Presbyterian Church in 170S. In
talking the matter over among his
neighbors, he soon found that his
doctrine would be supported, and
thereby made himself the head oi
that faction. Among those that fol.
lowed him to the water were Kipin.
Grevy, Blong, Fetler and Ncthgiam.
Mack was 70 baptize them; but he,
deeming himselfin reality unbaptized
refused; upon which they cast lots to
find who should be administrators
On whom the lot fell is not known to
this day. They were bnptised in the
river Eder, which deem was no bap.
tism at all, because Mack confessed
that he had no right to 10 it, and the
rest were in the same fix, being Pres
byterians and one Lutheran, hence
there was no ordained minister on
the spot 60 baptize with the baptism
they had adopted-three times face
forward under water, the subject
kneeling; all other modes of baptism
being condemned This baptism he
ing unofficial is no baptism. Not
withstandiog their error in thciI
creed they this day preach the utter
and everlasting damnation Of all 9th
er denominations. They claim that
not a soul is saved only through and
by their church.
Now that these men claim TO b,
the true followers of Christ and ODE,
all his commands, why did they not
do TO others as they would wish t.
pc done byY Thousands of their fcl
low men, who are now shrieiing witt
chains around their necks and the
tyrant's heel upon their heads. asking
all Christians to come TO their aid tc
relieve them, not with the sword il
hand, or cannon, or musket, no Cap
tains or Generals, but simply to gc
quietly, on the Sth of November, ant
deposit II small piece of paper peace
ably in the ballot-box, signifyina
their kindness toward those who ar,
under the yoke Of the tyrant; but, q.
factions speak louder than words, =
we take it for granted that these mer
are not the friends Of the oppressed
rs they wish to be understood. Re
fusing to 90 to the polls is clear de
nyal Of their own expressed faith
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is
there is liberty. I'D Cor. II. J.
Now. that these men claim to he fill
ed with the spirit, why did they suf
fer themselves to be prescribed ant
not exercise that liberty which they
generally have done on former occa
sions; il the spirit of the Lord i.
their guide, why did they not com,
forward and show by their action,
that they desire to have the oppress
ed 60 free? "God is no respecter o
persons. II Peter, l0th) 1t seems
that these non combatants, from tn,
Quaker down to the last school 0
Tunkers have no respect but each 70
their own. The Quaker deserves
tc be favored because be uses no wa
ter in his religious ceremonies tn,
three schools of Tunkers desire to b.
favored because of the much waite
they use in their religious ceremo
MES. Now that the government ha
been favoring these classes more o
less, they seem to withdraw furthe
and further from the requirements O
our government so as TO be still NOR
| favored. As God is no respecter O
persons, our law makers should b
careful how they proceed. Favorin!
one class more than another, in
military point of view, is giving tn,
unscrupulous chance to swear tha
he is conscienciously opposed t,
fighting and that he asks no protec
tion OF the government, when, at th
same time they are swearing, the,
are seeking the protection by the gov
crnment of the very law that give
them the right to swear. They will
not vote because they claim the,
might rs well take the sword The,
have voted heretofore; why not now
Have they only discovered, lately
that it is wrong to vote, or is it be
cause the government grants then
the privileges to swear and clea
themselves from the service of til,
United States for $500, instead o
the ordinary substitute fee. an
credably informed that they will b,
entirely excused from performing an,
military duty on account of thei
Conscientious scruples. A cowar,
NAV have conscienc cious scrunIas n