Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-04-05
"----Nothing sItenuRte
Or ought set down in malice"

believing that wholesome rebuke, humbly and
honestly administered, will have a purifying
influence.
For the past four or FIVE years Rev. W. C.
Barnett has been the Pastor OF this church
For the first two or three years. every mem.
ber was profuss in praise Of his good qualities.
He was said to be unostentatious, kind and
gentle; that he possessed the Christian virtues
with scarcely an Admixture of the worlds
dross, and that his talents we're at once pro.
found aad veraatile In politics, it was al
ways known, that Mr. B. was, with gentle,
yet unbending majesty, an answering Dem.
ocrst When the present national troubles
commenced, Mr.. B. was one of the very few
clergymen Of the land, that outspoke the great
Law Of Christian kindness, and opposed his
whole strength TO the rule Of urging hatred
as an antidote for our woes. He believed in
waging the war no longer than was absolute
ly necessary to vindicate the laws His
church members began to wage war upon
him, for many of fthem are fanatical abolition.
ists, and would at any time burn down their
beautiful little sanctuary and Join in q mad.
dened dance around the flames, for the priv.
ilese of wrestling four niggers from their own
ers and taking them to their crazed embraced
Mr.. Barnett's mental power, gently aud
properly welded, as it was, proved too much
FOR all opposition for year or two, but ia.
natieism will not long listen TO reason, and
this case was no exception to the rule. A
year ago, q church meeting was called by the
executive council, for the svowed purpose of
turning Mr.. b. adrilt from the church. His
friends hocked around him and defeated the
movement Outsiders literally subscribed 10
his support. The wsalthiest members of the
church being in the conspiracy, contributed
nothing he eontiuued preaching until few
days since, when his year expired A church
meeting was assembled, by direction of the
Council, on. Saturday last, Ito decide upon
employingG Pastor" Mr. BIS. friends ad-
vissd him Rot TO be candidate and not to
ask his Church friends to attend. He acted
upon this advice, but attended himself as bis
duty required. The. discipline of the church
makes the pastor er o6Fcio the Chairman Of
these business meetings The conspirators.
refused 70 pernait him to take the chair, plac,
ing one OF their own number in his stead, re.
i1sed to entertain motion that he made, aud
when q the close Of the pnheard Of proceed
inRs, be attempted TO speak in proper aud
parliamentary way, they voted an adjournment
and virtually drove him from the house In
this christian ~ demonstration, in a miuia.
tnfs way All the proceedings Of Herod,
Agrippi and Festus we're outdone Those
Outside barbarians" listened to the accused.
Oar WspakOneta christian exemplars, refuse
20 do iti .,goi -dath 'A4' '
So il will be seen, our town has, like hnn6-
reds Of others, during the past two years, been
disRraced by church fapaticism.
We now ahd here assert, that no fault Of
the slightest character, has ever been fOuDd
with Mr.. B. except as TO bis political opinions.
His prosecutors eoneede this He is scarcely
ever found in public place where his profes-
son does not call him !. He never essays to
inAict his political IDEAS upon others. His
time is wholly occupied in his proper calling.
Still he never disguises the fact that he is
warmly attached TO the Democratic party, and
upon all election days among the irst that ap-
pear is Mr. B., humbly, openly, boldly and
proudly voting the Democratic ticket, without
scratch or blemish. This. is the sum Of offead
ing-this is thai that rankles-,hs ls the
crime Of which be stands charged
Z, Mr.. Barnett is in the hAnds og his friends,
and their ,nhpaS i legion BE viii be known
in high places and pleasant circles, long after