The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-07-25
REPETITION AND THE oHURoHns.

July 1900. r.- r.
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REBELLION AND THE CHURCHES.
Rev. A. ]. Patterson of Portsmouth, Cor
responding Secretary of the New Hamp-
shire Universalists Convention, made an
elaborate report to that ecclesiastic body at
its late session, in which he considered at
length the duties of the churches respecting
those who, because of the loyalty of the pull
pits, have seeded from the societies., or at
least from the congregations of the denomina-
ton. His presentation Of the matter is clear,
emphatic, and calculated to command the APP
proval of loyal caristian men, of other com
munions as well as his own. The tone of the
Report, as well as its specific statements, shows
that the writer feels strong, and that he sees
clearly enough, that the Gloss" in these cases
of withdrawal for the reason named, has moi
besn los to the denomination. Numerical
ly as well as spiritually, the cause has gained
by the preachers devotion to principle
sQuite as many plants have been gathered
within the enclosure as have been thrown over
the wall, and Inequality has been improved y
Referring to two classes Of which all con-
gregations are, to a greater or less extent,
made up, "the purest, the best, and the most
humane men in the land" and, unfortunately,
few of sthe gross, irreligious, and profane,'
tne Wrlter says 6le ;sa ssas aail III
"We are losing some of the latter Glass;
They never had any real sympathy with our
faith our work, or our worship. They have
1-oI&
which are the natural outgrowth of our faith
and have only blocked the wheel Of our pros
perity. One man of the first class of Uniyer-
saliSts named, will do more for Universalism
than whole congregation of the other. A
parish consisting Of ten families of the first
type, is greater power for good, than ten
thousand families whose only conception o.
our faith is, that it ensures us against hell here
after. Our denomination is Kidding itself Of
much of the rubbish which has attended it
and is becoming more truly religious organi-
zation,- spiritual life and power in the
world"
The remarks of Mr.. Patterson are as true Of
other faithful denominations and ministers as
of his own. The rebellion and the duties of
the pulpit growing out of it, have served to
sift many parish, and to separate those who
thought more of policy and of party than Of
principle and truth from their more faithful
brethren. Many a faithful minister has been
obliged to see himself abandoned by those
whom he had regarded as friends, and whose
support he felt to be essential to his own living
but it is believed no serious loss to any good
cause has resulted from this sitting process
There are yet remaining noble, high-minded
christian men who have not taken SO decided
a-nart in ss..e..a-l:--s
think they should have taken; who have
been coil and comparatively inactive, but who
nevertheless, have not been disposed to cut
loose from all the associations Of morality and
religion because Of their lack of sympathy In
all the utterances of the pulpit. While hest
tating themselves, they have been tolerant
and have not withdrawn their support from
the institutions Of religion because of the fdel-
ity of their pastors. To such men the remarks
quoted above do not apply, but rather to those
who have been disposed to 1rule or RUM in
the church as in the caucus room.
Commenting upon the report of Mr.. Patter-
son, one of his denominational papers says
and the remarks are of general application:
While we would do justice to those who, for
any reason, have been induced to withhold
their support of our preachers during the war
while we would be cautious about charging
disloyaty and pro-slavery sympathy upon all
who, during this period, have left us; we do
knoIu that many of the seceders were led to
their course by the preachers loyalty. They
would not hear political preaching;" and
their notion Of political preaching was the
preaching against slavery, and in support of
the government seeking to put down a rebel
lion n. the interests of slavery. In many cases,
their m .thod of showing hostility to such
preaching was an offence to good manners
quite as much as to loyal principles. Entering
the church with a previous knowledge of the
preachers convictions and, Selling the mo-
ment when the earnest word against slavery is
spoken, to make demonstration expressive of
disapprObation, was the style in some churches.
We have no desise or intention to characterize
the course Of those who, during the trying pc
Rod of the rebellion deserted the preacher be-
cause the preacher would not desert his coun-
try. The records of such are made and cannot
be efaced. The result of the war makes the
record, especially to parties directly concerned,
ANYTHING but pleasant. For long and trying
years, our best ministers found the path of
duty blocked, and the free utterance of Gospel
truth choked, by the dominant class of pro-
slavery politicians, who, through some strange
fatality, ruled in churches as they ruled in
caucus. 1t is a satisfaction to these ministers
to know, that the issue of the war has placed
them beyond even the hazard of annoyance at
the hands of their old tormentors; for the tri-
uwph Of liberty has made them powerless-
their influence went down with JET Davis and
his wicked cause. To-day the great majority
of our churches are free. The committees and
influential men who control their finances,
and settle their pastors, are loyal, liberty1ov-
ing, true to their country, and, we hope, true
to their God. If we are faithful now-true
to the new duties which our country's cause
imposes on us--our future is secure In the
day of new and peculiar trials, may VIC not be
found wanting. 4, s,r