Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-09-13
From the =. 7. Journal Of Commerce.
The s.Auroao< ~ m. ~o.,h

From the =. 7. Journal Of Commerce.
The churches OF the south.
The separation of The great church bodies was
one 81 the most important steps in the progress
Of sertionalism beiOrs.she war, add was sincerely
lamentsd by all who Looked on The church ~ de
place OF refuge from the sirifesof nsn. Is Is
unnecessary jus. now % discuss who vas 90
blame or what we're the means of avoiding these
melancholy divisions. They were accomplished,
and the bitter fruits Of the division have been
borne and eaten -.-,.-.
Nov. bowsver. the lovsrs " pnrs AID pnde-
died religion OF the Cross earnestly desire to see
the churche. reunited. Ii not for political
purposes tAat they desire e. Il i not With ref
erence 70 toe good OF the country, except as q
secondary purpose The Christian seeks the
peace Of the church ior higher reasons than any
which are earthly. Ii is true that the general
subject Of church unity has two sides to be view
ed from, aud il is by no means certain that the
division OF the body of Christians into various
churches, so called, Is not for the best interests
OF religion. We arc By no means sure that there
was not vsEy great difference. N some respects
between the church At Smyrna and the church at
Pergamos, and the chuyeh at Antioch and the
various churches Ia Apostolic times But We
psy well desire that churches should be reunited
which have been divided, especially when the
divisions have proceeded from human passions
and errors IL would certainly be better for the
interests Of the church and its peace II there
were but one Methodist church extending through
all the country. and but one Presbyterian and
but one Episcopalian, and so on through the en-
tire list of church bodies. But there does not
seem any prospect Of such reunion, and the
question arises whether the members and mana
gers of some of the churches at the North really
desire II, and are seeking il at all. We have
great doubts the subject IL seems, on the
contrary, as il the leaders in these Northern
churches are hankering after the same sort of
victory which Grant won over Lee. They want
a surrender of tho Southern churches. They IN
sist upon a formal capitalization. Now this is
worse than nonsense. 1t is great and grave
sin. e regret that it becomes necessary for
secular paper 10 administer the rebuke which the
religious press ought to give 70 these church
bodies. The Princeton Review has already ex
pressed sound views on the subject. but the re
ligIous press has singuarly enough failed 70 see
the evil effect which is produced in the church by
this claim of the Northern sectarians.
In order that We may not be accused OF mis-
representation, We quote from the Evangelist
statement of the requirements of the Northern
Methodsts. That paper saws:
Nothing more be asked from their
Southern brethren as the condition OF cordial
union than that they should unequivocally de-
clare their loyalty TO the General Government
and accept in good faith the fact that the servi-
tude OF the eelored race had forever ceased
This would seem to be veiy easy. indeed. but
not so easy alter all when We remember the high
aud commanding position which the Church of
Christ ought to take The test of membershio
OF that Church is not ties. of human politics
Imagine the soul of man dying in Alabama
receiving at the bar in Heaven the reward of its
deeds. II we understand the faith OF the church.
Protestant or Catholic, Methodist or Presby
will ho IL -.
soul OF the Soutberner this: do you unequi-
vocaly declare your loyalty TO the General Gov
ernment of the United States?" If we have been
correctly taught the doctrine OF salvation by
faith or works, or any other method of salvation
as held by any Christian Church, Unitarian and
Trnitarian, there will be no such test applied at
the gate of heaven as this: "DO you accept in
good faith the fact that the servi,ude OF the
| colored man has forever ceased?"
What are these men, Methodists or Presbyle-
| rlans, or what not, who dare attempt to bind On
| earth what God has not bound and will not bind
| In heaven! Is the Methodist Church North so
much holier than heaven itself are it's robes so
much purer than the robes of those who walk in
white, are Its teasts so much better than the ests
scenes at the Princes own table, that they ma '
make rules for the exclusion of associates here
which He will not make there?
These men are making grave error. The
|
g man of them, from bishop to the lSst convert
| az the last meetings. Fl, TO sit down az the TIA
| Die of the Church on High If We should w
dertake to compare the fitness of Northern
| Christians with the fitness of Southern Chris
| tians TO be church members, ii would be found
| of both that the mercy of God alone could save
them. No Pharasaicsl self-righteousness would
avail either in the sight of just judge. HUI
| mlity becomes both classes. Ii is Just possible
hat hx1fh h o. Il. =
| ft for church membership as the other A com
parison of Northern sins with Southern sins
would show quite as much to be repeated OF by
one race by the other. And that BODY
which excludes from its terms of membership
all political tests. and relies only or the
mercy of God for salvation, teaching and
preaching only the doctrine of the Crucifed will
be the church nearest like the church above We
admonish the Northern men who demand sur
render OF the Southern church and formal con-
fession of sin and profession of future political
good conduct, that they are exceeding the COM
mission Of their Master. Aad if they do not
heed our warning. the day will come on them
like thief IN the night, when they will stand
before the Judge, among assembly of the
| church called out of all nations and ages, which
Judge and assembly will look on the affairs of
the American Republic in this year 1865, with
no more interest, no closer regard than on the
AFFAIRS OF men IN the days OF Moan, or the LOYALTY
OF Egyptians to the first Ramesis y
Ne beseeeh the Christian Of the North to
ponder this subject. The relations of the church
to our social and political life have been sadly
perverted. If men will only look to the unity
of the church; if they will seek only for tests
which will make it possible TO be members of the
same church with Noah. and Abraham, and
Paul and all the long line ef patriarchs, saints
and martyrs 10 all the ages-the church which
is one on earth and in heaven to day-they will
see the folly, the sin, of erecting these political
tests OF church membership.
Land OF Clam Sonp.
lew months ago, just before dinner time,
hungry looking man entered the refectory Of
Mr. Warner, and propounded the usual nterrOg-
atory-
is this the place where they keep clam
soup?'
Yes, sir, said Mr. Warner: chow much will
YOU hGveI"
Well" replied the customer, "a guess III
take three cents worth"
Three cents worth" exclaimed the aston
lshed host; why, mana live, where are you
going to put three cents worth You Ger
tAinly won't pretend to eat that quantity at one
timer
how do you sell it2'' asked the astonishsd
counryman.
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