East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-11-29

Decliae OF tho Churches.
M From the Manchester, n. IL, Union
AT the recent Baptist Convention in
New Hampshire it was stated that
there were to-day three thousand less
Baptists in New Hampshire than there
were twenty years ago. Why, is a
UNCONVENTIONAL problem that will
doubtless be investigated, and perhaps
solved,-N H. Journal.
The same general fact is probably
true of nearly al the religious do
nominations in this country. 1t is one,
however, which requires no "investi-
CATION" for the "problem was long
since solved. The Democratic party
have been driven away from most of
the religious societies in the State
and SO far from feeling it to be duty
to encourage and sustain them, the
deliberate and enlightened conviction
of their judgement and their conscien-
ces forJias them to do 30. 1t is un-
fortunate that such state Of affairs
exists. Democracy and Christianity
are natural allies. Both "are con-
"servative and reformatory, aiming
cat the greatest good for the greatest
number" They both inculcate the
gospel Of good will, fidelity, charity
and forbearance. They seek to make
their conquests by tho power of love
and reason. For many years they
labored in harmony in this state and
if the reader will rectr to the time
when the reputed expounders of Chris
tianity broke the alliance, they will
find that the social and moral condi-
tion Of our people was infinitely better
than il ever has been since. Demo-
Gratis contributed their full share TO
tho numbers and support Of the
churches Of all denominations.
In an evil hour, the clergy came
down from their high estate to dabbe
in politics. Take three prominent
questions. Fine progress had been
made for twenty years in the temper
ance reform, as a purely moral qhes-'
ton. Still, too much liquor was used,
and the clergy appealed to the State
to stop it. Democrats didn't believe
the matter could be improved by such
action, and they opposed it. Then the
clergy denounced them as t'rummies,"
and considerable alienation grew out
of this controversy. WeH the clrgy
hare had their way, and where one gallon
Of rtm ,caS consumed ten, .ftty gallons are
conSnmedno,c. Again, the clergy wanted
to bring the power of the state TO bear
against the Catholics. Democrats
could not favor such a policy, and they
were denounced again. Well, has
Catholicism been suppressed, or is it
increasing by the very measures used
to arrest it? So of slavery. Demo-
Gratis never asked more than good
morality and genuine Christianity
enjoins upon every mah-fidelity to
the Constitution and laws. But the
clergy joined heartily in the crusade
against slavery and denounced every
us slaveryis destroyed. likely enough.
But what else Is destroyed ? Two
millions Of lives, our free institutions,
the moral tone of society, most of the
property Of the country except that in
tho hands of the bondholders, and in
the end, it will be seen, millions of
blacks i'll whose behalf the war was
waged. For all these calamities the
clergy are responsible.
The Democratic party was never
wrong in its fundamental theories, and
the true disciple clings to his faith
with the tenacity of a martyr; for he
knows if tho country is prosperous and
happy, or tho Church successful in its
mission that these results must flow
from the practical operation of his
theories. When the Church inculcates
opposite theories and denounces all
who won't accept them, Democrats
have no other alternative but to leave;
and herein is the solution of the
''problem" to which the Journal refers.
Christianity and Democracy are har-
monious and eternal.A They will live
and act together for the common good
long after the priests and politicians
of this generation shall have passed
away. Posterity must indeed be stu
pid if it cannot profit by the blunders
and crimes of its progenitors.