Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-06-26
4 sCnininR nsbGke TO the war
CIerEy

more than four years ago, no one thing
has so terribly shocked the moral sensible
tiles of the whole country, as the constant
and shameless prostitution Of the sacred
functions Of their Office, by professed min
isters of the Gospel OF Peace. The turning
Of pulpits into political rostrums and the
howl for blood that has gone up from
protestant churches, so long and persist
emily, has led thousands Of people not only
to question the piety and faithiulness of
the preachers themselves. but even to dis
regard and ignore the holy sanctions Of the
Christian Religion.
No wonder that so many true and sim
cerc christian people have been called upon
to lament the low state Of morals and re-
ligion in the eland, when the fact is apparent
to all that vice and wickedness have sweIt
like a destroying food over the whole
country, and multitudes who wero once
held in restraint by the wholesome and
purifying influences of the old fashioned
preaching of the Gospel of Peace and
Good VIII, have given full sway to passion
and licentiousness, regardless alike of the
dictates of reason and the requirements Of
human and divine law.
The so.called secular press ofthe country,
it is true, has often rebuked the conduct Of
these political preachers, but as a general
thing the self-styled religious press has
been criminally silent. There is some
reason to hope, however, that better and
more encouraging state Of things is in
prospect and we have been led to these
reflections by the perusal of some extracts
from sermon delivered by the Rev. Lewis
P. w, Balch, d. d., a clergyman of the
Protestant Episcopal church, at Shepherds
town, Virginia, on the 1st of June, on
the occasion OF President Lincoln's death.
The sermon was reported at length in the
Baltimore American, which paper fully
endorses Mr. Balch as n "loyal" man.
We annex brief extract from the dis
course, which we respectfully commend to
the serious attention of the war clergy in
this vicinity and elsewhere. Its perusal
can do them no harm, and may result in
good. We know it will be of great benefit
to all concerned, if they will but give
earnest heed to the salutary admonitions
it conveys
begin with the Clergy
need not tell my reverend brothern oi
every name that Scripture truth always in,
wolves Scripture duty, If the clergy obey
not Gods law, how can the people be expected
to maintain human law And il q mao observe
not the highest of all laws, Interchangeable and
perfect how can we keep those Of human
origiu, neither perfect nor unehaugeable
Part Of the ordination vow is this: "The
Lord being my helper, as much as lielh in me
will maintain and settorwardq quieness, peace
and love among alI Christian people"
And the original commission OF the Prince
Of Peace reads thus: las the Father hath sen
me, even so send you, e.,
Bnt did the Father send the Son 10 preact
political serm ons-to stir up strife-lo sanctify
war-aud to baptise men into the spirit o
Csin2
The Prophet says, "how beautiful on tn,
mountains are the feet at them who publish
peace r. Could he have said this, If those
neralds bore iu their hands the bloody torch o
WARP
Our Redeemer came to bind up the broker
hearted, to give liberty to the captive, to com
fort those who mourn, not to break the bruised
reed or quench the smoking fax. Can Hi
ministers then be foremost to urge men Il
battle, the source Of many of the most fright
full calamities which can affict our race
When, in the history Of nations, this fa'a
and dread necessity arises, there are mel
whose duty it is to engage in and promote
8 war Bat these men are not the clergy
have seen prosecuting attorney weep il
court when painful duty compelled him L
, press conviction on the panel unto death
Those tears touched all hearts and proved lha
he had the noble attributes Of man. Blu
how should wo feel to see a minister Of reli
{ gioD, with eager zeal, volunteer to prosecute
the ielon aud shrek for justice on los
brother2
1t is, indeed, cause for sadness on thi
mournful day, to think that much Of thu
terrible war may fairly be charged to the mis-
taken views of the very men sent to preaci
only peace, good will aud forgiveness among
men.
The Office of the clergy is all times one
love. God has given TO rulers, and those il
civil or military authority the stern duty 0
being a terror to evildoers. Tothem it right
fully belongs not to the clergy. What
strange perversity Of function would it be. I,
see the public eSeculioner administer thl
Sacrament Of the Lords Support And, yet
far more shocking to all sense of propriely, t,
ssy nothing of the higher sanctions of Christ