East Saginaw courier., 1866-12-06

ment of the session.
The Rev. Mr. Cowies on the Ram
page erae !tt1s
There is an infinite variety of men
in the world, and they have various
ways of expressing JOY and sorrow.
A great national day of Fasting or
Thanksgiving brings out these pecu-
liarities. And SO on the 29th ult.,
there were here and there reunions Of
families. aud for once during the whole
year, the father and mother saw their
whole household under their roof and
around the family board. Others
went home to the grog-shop, others
still to the ballroom, and few, or
perhaps many to church. And this
latter class listened to variety Of SER
mons, for the simple duty of thanking
our Heavenly Father for tho mercies
and blessings which he has showered
upon our heads is qucerly done by
many of his professed minister's
The Rev. Mr.. Cowles of this place is
ono of these. He took that opportu-
nifty of standing up in Gods sanctua-
ry clothed in his own self-righteous-
ness and thanking the Lord that he
was not like Democrat OF. John
son man. defender Of the Constitu-
ton, but good Radical and believed
that while white trash werp left to
look after themselves, the negro "was
tho particular care of Jehovah"
Now, we do not so much object to
Mr. Cowles' thanking the Lord for
this particular mercy, but we think
he might have rendered thanks in his
own closet. And we believe If he was
an honest man he would have done
80. No man of Mr.. Cowlos' intelli-
gence and experience, but knows that
upon all questions there may be an
honest difference of opinion, and he
knows also, that while such q sermon
as he preached, might be gratifying
to those of his hearers who thought
as ho did, its effect upon others who
did not, would not be to put them in
that state of feeling which they ought
to possess upon such an occasion.
We believe that minister has not
only a right to have political opinions,
but he has also the right to advocate
those opinions both in private and in
public. lie is to do SO, however, as a
citizen not as minister. Now Mr..
Cowles during the campaign just
closed, was silent so far as any public
demonstration was concerned; not
from want of opportunity-he might
have taken the stump at any time-it
was probably because he had no de-
sire to present his views as those. of
simple individual, to stand upon their
own merits - no, they must be promul-
gated as the commands Of God. That
is, he assumes to tell his hearers, and
through the press, his readers, that
God is in favor Of the Congressional
plan Of reconstruction. Has this i'm
portant fact been revealed to him
since the election, and if not, why has
he not informed the world of it before?
The truth is, he belongs to that
class Of politicians who are vociferous
in their cheers for our side after the
result-and to that class of religion
lists who have for ages assumed that
can't hypocricy and fanaticism werc
the word Of God.
We think it would be we'll for Mr..
Cowles to remember on future thanks
giving days, that the person whom he
follows at the distance of eighteen
centuries lin point of time,) but whom
he leads in his political preaching.
once said, Render unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars, and unto
God the things that are Gods" ~,
The sermon Of the Rev. gentleman
is not remarkable for any new ideas
on the subject Of reconstruction or for
the felicitous expression Of old ones.
He kindly informs us that: ait falls
entirely beyond the province Of tho
present discourse to elaborate o scheme
Of reconstruction which shall ade-
quately represents a true and complete
righteousness," and that he would
only offer few suggestions" How
as minister Of God, and speaking in
the pulpit by the authority Of Jehovah,
no can justify himself in Withholding
an elaborate scheme which should
represent a true and complete righte-
susness and only dribble out few