Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-08-31
The Gazette &Gontet
The state of fire Churches

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supposed to be thoroughly ortho.
dox. 1t rebukes the spirit which
has been speaking 10 and through
the churches during the dark and
bloody years, and which still cries
anathemo and marnnatAa instead
of peace on earth and good will TO
ward men:"
The clergy Of the Protestant
Churches are now the most blood.
thirsty Of any class Of citizens. -
They have been preaching a gospel
Of blood and destruction for four
years. Now phases Of thought.
and forms Of denunciation have Ia
ken possession Of the pulpit, and
have iamiliarized their hearers with
manner Of thought and sentiment
which in old times could only be
found In the abandoned characters.
This is now the height of religion
praisewortby zeal in q good canse.
The clergy, as far 20 the public can
Judge. are more bloodthirsty than
the generals or soldiers, Several
Of the most eminent generals have
laterally shown a commendable
tenderness of life, and to their credit
in many instances have exhibited q
magnanimity which belongs to
greatness Of character. But the
clergy, whether in their pulpits, or
on the platform, when they assem-
Bile with felIow-citizens, still howl
for more blood, and demand great
er sevreity. This. too, ID done by
them of q time when the country
could we'll afford to be- mercifnl,
and when the masses of the people,
if they were permitted to follow
their better instincts, would be
merciful, hut the clerical leaders
all agree that Mr.. Lincoln, was per.
mitted by Divine Providence to be
taken away in tho fearful manner
Of death by assassination, because
he was too merciful. On this they
arc perfectly agreed. These clerical
leaders differ on points OF religious
doctrine, but they all converge from
all points of doctrine and creed on
the meaning and lesson Of the Presi-
dents death. Methodist and Epis-
copalian, Old School and New, Bap
list and Congregationalist-a all bar.
monte, and speak with as much
confidence as If they had been upin
Heaven, and were authorized here
on earth to proclaim the mind Of the
Lord Some Of the weaker brethren,
astonished at such spectacle Of
unity among those who formerly
disputed with DO little rancor, cry
out the millennium is coming, and
that it is even now present. In wild
fanaticism they preach this to gap.
ing people, and the gaping people
admire--if not the millenium--the
wonderful progressivcness OF the
preacher, and his ready proficiency
in the spirit Of the times.
This is what we are compelled to
witness. 1t il painful to the Chris.
tan who desires in times of trouble
to retain the fear Of God IN his
heart. And what shall be the end
of such preachers and hearers2 II
il written If the blind lead the blind,
both shall fall into the ditch,
AS the Prophet Elijah was bid fol-
three years, when Ahab and Israel
we're given over to idolatry, and God
had at the same time reserved sew
en- thousand besides, who bad not
bowed TO Baal, SO there are many
ministers now, in silence, in obscur-
ity, in Punishment, in disgrace, who
have suffered the loss Of all things,
rather than prostitute their office to
political uses. When God needs
these men and opens way, they
will come forth prepared with new
baptism of suffering for preaching
with new power the gospel Of peace
to sinners. From the great Metro
politan Church, from the humble
"Zion Chapel" which seeks to fill
it's pews from surrounding lanes,
from the Theological Seminary,
which moulds young preachers for
the age, we hear the cry of blood,
more blood. But this fearful gos'
pei will exhaust itself. 1t will only
last while the passions of men are
excited. Then will come a time
such as has been rarely seen, tor
preaching the glorious gospel of the
blessed God. There are thousands
of people longing for this gospel,
and waiting till il be again permit
ted to enter the churches. This
writer knows several who have
not crossed church door Of any