Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-06

confirms what have been enueaFoiluH "
show, and what have now by most IRE.
fragible proof shown, that the notions OF
men on the subject OF loyalty are vague
and inconsistent and contradictory; anu
that this Assembly, with all its wisdomand
learning, has not fixed, and, indeed, cannot
fix any satisfactory or clearly defined stand
ard by which the committee OF MISSIONS
can judge OF the loyalty of its mlssioha-
ries.
The objection, therefore, of my colleague
(Mr. Morrison) / deem to have been well
taken, as iJ certainly was well put.
But there are other reasons, Mr.. Modera-
tor, why this resolution ought not 10 re-
ceive the sanction of this body-reasons lar
more important than that which mas JUST
been adverted to. To some of these l ask
the serious and candid attention OF the AS
sembly. l' .f
And, in the first place, it is proposed by
the adoption of this act TO establish an en-
tirely new rule respecting the appointments
of missionaries by the Board. The rule
which has in all times past governed IN
this matter is one which commends itself TO
the Judgment of the whole Church. lt Is
that the Board shall appoint all missiona-
ries who may be recommended by thelr
Presbyteries, provided there are funds In
the treasury to warrant them in so doing
But now a new and widely different order
is demanded. A rule is asked for
which is not to be equally. applicable 10
all parts of the field and all portions
of the Church alike. A distinction ana
an inequality are to be established. between
the missionaries of the Church, under tne
direction of the Board. that is, to say the
least exceedingly invIdious. And this
without any adequate reason. For If 1t Is
proper and necessary to require "satlsfac-
torv evidence" of the possession OF the
qualifications herein described in respect
to our missionaries who are TO go into one
part of the country, surely it is equally
proper aud necessary in regard to those VINO
NAV be sent to every other part. These
publications, ifdemanded at all, are certainly
not less demanded in those who are to in-
struct the people in the North than they
are in those who are to be the teachers OF
the South. New England ought surely not
to be neglected in the operation of this rule
any more than Missouri or Virginia. III
the South and West need guarantee that
the men who come TO preach the Gospel
there are sound on the points named III TINS
resolution, no less do the North ana the
East need the like guarantee.
But again, this order does not stop with
merely empowering the Board to require
evidence OF "loyalty to the National Gov
ernment' on the part of missionaries ap-
pointed by it to labor in the Southern states,
and of their acuuiescenee in the testimony
of.the Presby terian Church on Loyalty
and freedom;" it requires more than TINS
1t empowers and requires the Board to make
inuuisition into the inm0st thoughts and feel
mas of those missionaries. 1t demands that
they shall examine concerning the hidden
sympathies of their hearts. 1t tforbids them
/ to appoint any man to preach the Gospel to
the scattered and stricken christians or sim
uers of the seeded or border States; no mat
ter how sound he may be in the faith; Oh
devoted to the order OF the Church; or un-
impeachahle in bis conduct as a christian
and citizen, until they have obtained what
then may be pleased to regard as "satisfac-
tory evidence" of his cordial sympathy" with
the various and varying utteralces OF the
PRESBYTERIAN Church on the political ques-
tivns of allegiance and~human rights. Is
this General Assembly thus prepared to
bring back again from the dead past the
spirit of the Inquistion, with its rack
and its iron boot and its thumb screw!-
But how else are we to wiring from men a
confession of their "cordial sympathes,'
or remuneration of their inmost hidden
feelings?
Nor is this all. Fatal as the objections
already urged ought to be to this PROPOSE
ton, there is yet, if possible, an objection
still stronger against its adoption. Sir, by
this act, if it should pass this house, the
Board, which practically means IN suct
connection, the Committee at Philadelphia
will be constituted into an Ecclesiastical
Political Prlvy Council, or, as l might say
a sort of Provost Marshal's Guard for the
Church, with unlimited authority over hel
ministers to decide upon their orthodoxy
as ministers and their character as citizens
1t puts this Privy Council above the Church
and the State both. 1t vests them with the
right-nay, more, it orders them to go be-
hind the certificate of recommendation o.
the Presbytery, and If they are not satisfied
respecting the "cordial sympathies" of the
man, to treat that recommendation as val
ueless and refuse to appoint as missionary
the minister who may bring it. That is u
say, Mr.. Moderator, this Privy Council
may in effect pass sentence OF condemns
tion upon minister as not sound in doc
trine; as not "loyaP' to the National Gov
ernment; or, as not in cordial sympathy
with the testimony of the Church on 10y
atty and freedom !" and thus virtually shu
him out of the pulpit and utterly destroy
his influence as minister of Christ. 1t |:
not enough that man should be in goot
|. and regular standing In his Presbytery; 1
is not enough that lie should be an Ameri'
| can citizen unimpeached and uncon
demned; it is not enough that he shoult
have the appreciation of his peers, to whom
by the constitution of the Church, he II
alone amenable. Something more Is re.
uuired. He must pass the iDquisition OF th'
Board" that is, the "Committee" of Mis-
sions composed of some half dozen gentle
men sitting in Chestnut street. Philadelphia
who by this act are to be exalted above al
| that are called Presbyteries or Svnods IL
the Church, and all that are ordained in thu
State to administer the laws thereof! Sir
is not this to be diSloydl to the State, thus t,
set up court in the Church to try the ques
tion of allegiance and to determine the
status of its citizens? And, sir, If In il
spirit this rule is disloyal to the civil power
because it would usurp one Of its highest
and most peculiar prerOgatives, how Is i
in regard to the Church itself? May moi
saywithout any disrespect to this Assembly
in view of the great principles at stake, ant
certainly without fear of successful contra
diction, 1t is in its spirit and tendency
whatever its intent, revolutionary and de.
structive to the faith, constitution, govern
ment discipline and liberty of the Presby.
terian Church; as she has been endowed
with these precious and inalienable gifts
by her King and Head; and as they have
been handed dowDrto her sealed with the
blood of her holy martyrs OF blessed mem
ory. And, sir. when can be persuaded to
give my sanction to such an act or to sub.
init to its enforcement. may "my right hant
forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to
the roof OF my mouth -.
Mr.. Moderator, / said awhile ago that In
the absence of any clear and well defined
standard of loyalty" and in the constan
shifting of the standard both amongst