The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-07-14
From the Easton argus.
The p esbyterian General Assembly.


We see in reading the proceedings Of the
above body, the leaven working for the de-
struction of good, old-fashioned Presbyte-
'ianism in this land. The faith of our
fathers is being corrupted and the good
old constitution and laws for governing
their church, are fast becoming odious to
their degenerate descendants. The con-
vulsions that have distracted our country
for four years past, have thrown into that
body preponderance of the progressive
element, and ct every recurring anniversa.
ry of its meeting we find them more nu-
merous and impudent. One of our old
ministers remarked in that body, that he
had hard work to conceive himself in any
thing else than a political convention.
The most prominent feature iu all their
transactions was bitterness towards the
South. 1t runs through every subject be-
fore the assembly. The only feeling of
humanity they show that way is for the
"freedmen," Git used to be the "negro,")
and he is made the burden of every speech,
memorial and resolution. The opening ser.
mon introduced him, and the first business
before it was the reports of the Eastern
and Western committees for the education
of "freedmep." They have had mission
aries throughout the South last year, spy
ing out its nakedness, but whether they
have returned with grapes of "Eschol' or
not, does not appear. One Of their agents
stated that Provost Marshal had helped
him to secure $4,000 worth Of proper
ty."
The Assembly recommended prompt
and powerful action by the churches to
send hosts of missionaries Cor emissaries)
into the benighted regions of the South,
and allow none but "loyoT men to act
for them there. All their agents must be
examined as to their loyalty to the Govern
n,ent, (Church and State They are not
commissioned to preach peace and union,
harmony and love, not word is said
about either. They are told to 60 and "col-
lect together the loyal remnants of congre-
cations, Presbyteries and synods" If
they can find "threc loyal ministers in the
bounds of Presbytery, they are the pres
bylery, and we recognize them as such,'
organize them as such, and"secure houses
of worship if possible" no matter how large
a majority of the disloyal are against you
Some of these amiable shepherds may read
in the good book about d certain king de-
string a certain vineyard, which the law
did not allow the owners to. sell to him.
A few days after his wife told him, "Na-
both is dead, 60 in and take possession"
The Prophet met him on the grounds, and
"Elijab said unto him, hast thou killed aud
also taken possession Thus saith the
Lord, in the place where dogs licked the
blood of Nabotb, shall dogs lick thy blood,
even thine" The words "loyal and
loyalty, Soocur about fifty times in their
proceedings, where that OF the Saviour oc-
cur only once. DIR. Breckenridge wanted
no new terms of admission to the church,
as these loyalists are pressing upon it. In
most instances these zealots place the civil
government superior to Gods government,
in matters of faith and practice in the
church. The first qualification of mis-
sionary, is "is he loyal to the govern
ment?" One would think by the ac-
tons of this body that the rebellion was at
its height, instead of every Southern army
being disbauded and civil power in the
rebellious States being rapidly and quietly
restored.
Our government, against which the war
was carried on, is manifesting forgiving
spirit, the true spirit of the gospel, as we
understand it, toward its former enemies.
1t pities and feeds the poor and starving
victims of misguided rebellion, and holds
out every iuducement consistent with ma
tional honor for States and individuals to
return to the old fellowship and union,
and they come back gladly. Not SO the
ministers of the "Prince of Peace" against
whom no overt acts were committed
They like the "sword of Gideon better
than the "sword of the Spirit" They
now proclaim aggressive war upon the
Southern churches, and mean to "pos.