The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-06-03

We bear the wine and oil;
For us they faint, for US they bleed.
FOR them our gracious toll
0, Father, bless the gifts We bring
Cause Thou Thy face to shine,
Till every nation owns her King,
And all the earth is Thine
ElsKoP Mc!LvAlNE ON PoLl11cAL
PREA following letter, ad.
dressed by Bishop McIlvaine to clergy
man well known in Cincinnati, will be
read with increased admiration for its
venerable author. The Galesburg Free
Press briefly states the circumstances un-
der which this letter was written, and we
quote its explanation, though Mr.. Graz
CATS prosecutions have already been des.
cribed in our columns:
1t is we'll known by the peolle here that
the Episcopal clergyman of this place, the
Rev. Mr.. Cracraft, has been subjected to
great annoyances growing out of The COM
plants OF some few members of his con-
gregation, 10 the Bishop Of this diocese, on
account o: his preaching what was called
political sermons. These complaints were
formally sent by Bishop Whltehouse, of
this diocese; to Bishop McIlyaine, OF Ohio,
las Mr.. Cracraft was member of that do
cese,) in order that he nigh. be tried for
the same, and Insisting that he should be
so. In the course Of the correspondence
upon the subject, the following letter was
received by Mr.. Cracraft from the houored
and noble Bishop OF Ohio:
CINCINNATI, Feb. 10.
Reverend end Dear Sir: did not feel
at liberty while your case was sub judiee
to express my sense Of the complaint
against you on the ground Of political
preaching. ] have seen nothing in the
discourses and parts Of discourses which
you have sent me, ss being all in that di-
~ nj no
sistent with the rropziety of the pulpit or
of a Christian ministry; while all I have
read is highly becoming to the chara cter
and duty Of loyal man. think a con-
gregation may we'll be content to lose such
members NJ, in these times and with the
great cause Of our beloved country at
stake, conld be offended at such ut.eran-
forsake your ministry and bring formal
accusations against you. The same people
would have been equally offended had
they been present when the pastoral letter
of the House of Bishops was read at the
last general convention, and with me for
writing it. Should you preach ON the du-
ty of your people supporting, with their
United States, and the Congress which has
lately voted on emancipation, your SER
mons would be just as political, and those
wise people and loyal would have a. much
reason to be offended, and yet it would be
just what We do every Sunday in the
prayers.
It is quite Ineligible that different min
listers may have different views as to how
much q minister should, even in these
times, introduce such topics into his SER
mons; but our church has not been 80 sill
ly SO TO make a law against political
preaching, or any amount Of it an offense,
leaving the when and the how much en-
tirely to private judgment. Except in
such times as these, prefer total absti.
nence, except where questions 20 down
into the very ground of ordinary morality
such as tribute to whom tribute, and hon
or TO whom honor, obey magistrates, etc.
| A man must be cold hearted professor
of loyalty, indeed, who in these days OF
lltribulation, can avoid giving utterance to
such sentiments as you have preached.
Happily. j. seems that God is mercifully
bringing to q conclusion this terrible war,
begun in treason mos: foul, tor the securi.
ty and extension Of a slavery mos. hate
ful, continued in spirit Of cruelty toward
prisoners by those who began il, incredi.
bic without such evidences az have been
accumulated upon us--and ] am mos,
thankful to believe 10 be ended, pnde,
Gods guiding and overriding hand, in
the opening OF every prison door OF the
bondage it sought 10 seal, and in making
our nation more united and prosperous
than ever. II has been an earthquake /; bu,
like that at Pni.ippi it has shaken the foun.
dalton of the prison, till The very jailor
trembling and excited, asks how he may
be saved from the expected ruins.
Yonrs affectionately,
CHARLES p. McILyA1NE.
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