Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-11-15
Religious Unity.

| That there is no unity of feeling between
the North and the South has for some time
been apparent to all who are not wilfully
blind. In political affairs this fact is clear
ly deducIble from the spirit prevailing all
the political bodies yet assembled in the
South but in the religious assemblies, where
the restraint felt by politicians just now
does not intrude, it is too plain to be mista-
ken.
In every religious assemblage of the Pres
byterians, Methodists and Baptists held in
the South, since the close ofthe war deter
mlnation has been shown to maintain intact
the southern organizations of those denomi-
nations; and even in such bodies as the
Old School Synods of Kentucky and Mis-
sour, which yet remain in union with the
Church North, there is arampant spirit of
defiance and resistance to the anti slavery
action of the General Assembly There is
much more probability that these Synods
will go over to the ultra southern church.
than that the General Assembly will be able
to cure them of their disloyalty.
In these southern religious bodies the peo.
pie of that section act without restraint and
consequently manifest the real spirit that
animates them. We are able, therefore,
TO see themfree fromthe concealment and ar
tifice shown,by politicians; and they stand re-
vealed in all the bitterness, malice and hos
tility to the North which actuated them be-
fore and during the war. There is no
change in their temper. The war has not
transformed them and their persistence in
keeping up their sectional religious organi-
cations shows that we have nothing to ex-
pect from them for some time to come,
but continuance of the war by its transfer
from the battlefield to the pulpit and the
forum.
1t is true that the loyal organizations of
all the denominations referred to have made
progress in extending their borders south
ward; but they have to organize anew, In
every instance, and have not succeeded any
where, in winning more than a small por-
ton of their former friends back. The
southern religious organizations are all, as
organizations, against them.
The only exception to this is the Episco-
pal Church. 1t has won black the Episco-
pal organization in three or four States but
it did so, not by changing the spirit of these
southern organizations, but by debasing its
own to their level; and in doing this, in
stead of promoting unity and harmony, the
House of Bishops was unable to agree upon
a pastoral letter to the flock. Two were
framed, and both will be published, a part
OF the bishops signing one and a part the
other. Thus the church speaks with di,,
vided voice In abasiDg itself to obtain .
nominal unity it has sacrificed what real
unity it had.
These facts may be regretted, but they
are still facts and they teach us the folly
Of all this hurry to bring things back into
their old channels. However desirable the
unity fought for may be, both politically and
it cannot be attained to-day, nor
% morrow, nor perhaps for generation to
come. The hatreds and jealousies begotten
If thirty years struggle, which eliminated
n four years war, cannot be suddenly OBJ
itera:ed. The Constitution is and must b
work OF time and it were better to wait
or it, if need be, until this generation pass
IS away, than be completed to reap har-
,nion a, without unity q su;1is. e 1is.e-Hss5s~gh
Goxette ed