Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-06-19
The Trials of a Faithful olergyman
During the War,

The Louisville Courier furnishes an alb
stract of Rev DIR. Fuller's remarks in regard
to religious liberty, made at Russelville, on
the subject of the test oath required of min
listers in Missouri. We quote some interest
ing passages:
My brother from Missouri submitted these :
resolutions to me, and most heartily second
them. In advocating their adoption I-have
no reference to Missouri or any part of our
country: / speak for the north, the south.
the east, the west or rather our whole couu>
try, knowing no north, no south, no east, no
west. lfthis attempt by civil government
20 interfere with religious duties and privi-
Ieges had been made in Massachusetts, how
glorious old Faneuil Hall wouldhave rocked,
and Numbered, and lighteped IF the outs
rage had occurred in Rhode Island ROGER
Williams would have turned over in his coffin.
speakSot course, by the strongest metaphor;
for when many years ago, they dug down into
the grave of this great apostle of freedom;
meaning to remove his.bOnes and give them
noble burial aud. a monument, it was found
that an old apple tree had sent its roots down
into the coffin and eat up everything so
that in apples the good people of Rhode Is
land really ate Roger Williams have no
doubt the apples tasted tart and grabbed to
some appetites.
1.-THE Southern Confederacy had succeed
ed, and my native State, South Carolina, had
adopted a constitution authorizing the civil
magistrate to interfere with spiritual things.
would have gone there to protest against ii;
South Carolina how love that dear little
State. My heart grows liquid and my eve
moist at the very mention of her name.
When Port Royal was taken 1 was ID course
cut off from my accustomed income, and but
fnr the nOhIn OhnFNII nf yrhSoI, I
could not have had any support for my
family, then, too, in great affiction. At
that very time, gentleman from New York
offered to purchase my estate and slaves
there. My answer was prompt. | replied
that as to the negroes l would as soon sell
my children for money; aud as to the lands,
II he would give me bushel for bushel would
not exchange, at that time, South Carolina
dirt for California gold dust. The question
now before us is no new thing. History is
full Of precedents. Now the State seeking
to trench on religious rights, and now the
Church seeking to usurp civil power The
Bible tOrbids and condemns each ofthese usur-
Pations; aud from the times of Christ to tho
present hour the Baptists have protested
against each. This was the very controversy
between the Apostle of Christ and the Jew
ish Sanhedrim, and they had but one answer.
whether 1t be right to hearkcn to yon rather
than to God, judge ye." We cannot but
speak the things we have heard Thew wer.
imprisoned; but as soon as they were released
they again preached, aud with zeal rcdoubIed
by persecution. Indeed, the angels who set
them free said, 500 and preach the words
of truth"
In my adopted State (NfarylandD this usur-
patton was commenced three years ago, aud
haye reason to remember it we'll, and to
thank God and noble men in tho Governments
for protecting Inc then.
Living quietly as loyal citizen of my coun.
try, said nothing to any one, and had no.
thing to do with political matters, finding
great consolation in supplying the wants Of
the southern prisoners, which the Governs
mont nobly allowed me to do, (the officer ia
command of the prison at Elmira, all honor
to him, thanking me for at one time sending
clothes to three hundred who had had tho
smallpox and also in ministering to the
wounded soldiers of the Union both Bal =
more and on several battle. fields.
But at length bill was introduced into
the Maryland Legislature requiring ministers
to take an oath that they would use their in
fuence against the rebellion. This influence
was, of course, that of their spiritual pastoral
office. then felt that | could no longer be
silent without perGdiousness both to God and
my country. After earnest supplicatiou to-
God that he would avert this sore evil / Mt
once wrote an address to the Legislature. en-
treating them NOT to pass the law, declaring.
That no honorable pastor, nopastOr whom the
country could trust, cOnd thus bring his sa-
cred calling and influence into matters which
were secular; that civil governments had no
more right to interfere in spiritual things thar
bank OF water company that our duty
was conscient!ousy to obey the law, and to
teach others to obey, but that such an oath
would degrade a minister by causing him to
use his pastoral relations for mere political
or. secular ends. This appeal was printed
and sent to the members by devoted Union
and loyal men, who denounced the south but
loved religions freedom and all honor to no.
bic Maryland, though the war was then rag
ing, the sound Of cannons in our ears, aud
the State invaded, the Legislature at once re-
jected the bill. The Senator who had intro
duced it, wrote to tell me that ministers of
the Gospel were its authors; and Mr. Rever-
dy johnson sent Inc letter expressing his
amazement that ministers of religion, bound
together with such ties, and following such "a
Saviour, could seek to prosecute and injuro
each other,
The war is over. Where we have done
wrong, let confess. Where We have
received wrongs, let US forgive l hope the
Constitution in Missouri will be altered; but
the course Of Christs ministers to civil gov
eminent is plain: ''Reuder to Caesar tho
! things that are CIsar's, but to God the things
that are Gods" at our peril weyiolate either
Of these solemn duties