Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-06-24
A Rebuke to the Clergy.


ilisies Of this whole country have been
shocked by the shsmeless in.
Of many protesting ministers
Il the gospel. The turning Of pulpits In.
% political ros,ru,ns, aud the horrid howl
for blood that went up from the altars Of
churches from Sabbath TO Sab
bath, has led mul,itudcs to doubt the piety
Of pastors, while in very many instances
even the doctrines of the Holy Bible and
Of the Christian religion have been brought
into disrepute. ltis well known tina! the
Protestan, churches OF the land have
been sborn Of their strength, and render.
ed almost powerls,s for good Vice and
immortality have swep. like destroying
food over the land, and mult,udes, who
were held in restraint by the influence Of
the churches, have given full sway to pas.
sion and been swept away to perdition.
The secular press of the country, a por'
ton Of 1t OF least, have rebuked the con-
duct OF fathess pastors. and pointed out
the evil tendency Of their course. For
tho most part tho religious press has been
ciiminally silent, or has encouraged
continuance OF tbe evil. We are glad to be
able to call the sttention Of the the Protes-
tant clergy Of this city to an extract from
an address delivered al Shepherdsiown !,
West Virginia, ION June LIST, the day Of
national mourning, by Rev. Doctor Lewis
P. w. Balcb. The p,stors Of the Epis-
copal Churches OF this city will not need
to be told who he is. They will recog
nizo him al once as one of the most promi.
nert and eloquent members of their Or
gauization. The sermon we find publish
ed in full in the Baltimore American.-
The discourse is very decidedly loyal in
tone throughout, and this should be sufi'
cient to relieve the extract. We make from
any odium that might otherwise attach to
, it. 1t is full Of wisdom, and we beg the
=, clergy ef this city to read it carefully, tt
). ponder over its teachings, and 10 apply
its juction to their hearts aud eonscien
4 ccs. BY so doing they may in time maxi
n amends for any evil they may hav'
J.. wrought, either willingly, or through il
!, advertency. Here is what lev. Doctor
\ Balch says to them. Let them her it AM
4 heed it.
u l begin with the Clergy.
!. need not tell my reverend brethern Q
% every name that Scripture truth Away
d involves Scripture duty. If the clerg
u obey not Gods law, how can the people
be expected to MAINTAIN human law ! An
3, if man observe not The highest Of a
], laws, Interchangeable and perfect, how ca
,e we keep those of human origin, neitbe
D. perfect nor unchangeable'
y Part Of the ordination vow is ths
ar "The Lord being my helper as much :
be lieth in me, l will maintain and set 10
" ward 9uietncss, peace, aud love anon
e. all Christian people,
to And the original commission Of II
OF Prince 0 Peace reads thus: "us Il
D Father hath sent me even 81 send | you
- But did the Father send the Son
:! preach political sermons-to stir up stri
ID to sanctify war--aud to bap,ise mt
l. into the spirit of Cain!
OF The Prophet says, chow beautiful ,
10 The mountains are the feet Of them VT
D. publish peace!' Could he have said th
if those herads bore ia their hands t
bloody torch of war!
Our Rodeemer came 10 bind UP Il
$ broken hearted, to give liberty to Il
captive, to comfort those who mourn, n
to break the bruised reed or quench Il
he smoking fax. Can His ministers then
ug foremost to urge men to battle, the sour
l., of many of the most frghtful calamiti
ID, which can afflct our race
,e, When, in the history Of nations, ii
In fatal and dread necessity arises, there a
in men whose duty it is to engage in 81
N. promote war. But these men are not t
er clergy.
h have seen prosecuting attorney we
as in court when painful duty compelled h
to press conviction on the panel unto dea
40 Those tears touched oil hearts and PROV
we that be had the noble attributes of ma
en- But how should we feel to see a minst
,rt OF religion, with eager zeal, volunteer
af. prosecute the felon and shrek for just
nd on lost brotherl
its 1t is, indeed, cause for sadness on q
p. mournful day, TO think that much of th
'e terrible war may be fairly charged TO t
ty mistaken views oil the very men sent
ms preach, only peace, good will and sorgiv
f. ness among men. t.F
,t The office IF fka olarn,, Z, -, N a.