The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-07-19
A DcmotaIized rulpIt-Thc Iogitl-

n DetnOr1lIIZeO tIluplt--InG lfegltt-
.w - mate Fruits. -
u wa one Of the sadilcst incidents of our
clyn ~hr that h broaght the pulpit into
disrcpute, add, but too frequently. religion
itself into contempt. Tho Puritan, Pres
byterian and Methodist preachers. exhort-
ers and Journalists, with a few honorable
exceptions, all vicd with each other which
slonld launge deepest Into polltlcs nna
70 trade OF their influence with their re-
spcctiye sccts for power and prcferment.
What the consequence has been we see now
IN the dissenslons that have cyept into the
thhrchcs and N the deterioration tbat lsas
manfested itself in the morals Of the poo-
pie. Tho war, 10 Il was conducted, urges
the Baltimore Gdeeite, undoubtedly had
something TO do with the great change
but II Is slsp largely altimhtableto the de-
fiction Of those who, instead Of rebuking
SIN, eNertcd themselves 10 influence the
passions of the multitude and winked at
exoesses 1t was their pf"vinee to eon,lehin.
For the evils, then, 20 (Which the war gave
rise, many ~ witch have Aimee become
pcrmaneptly fastened upon us the greater
part Of the blame must certainly rest upon
those -Ilot GosmlleFs1 Who ipsteadoof
seeking 10 allay the popular excitement,
ministercd to it by all the arts of which
they were masters II WAS they too, who
inhtsei 4 sectional bittetnessmto the quar-
rel that found is natural vent in acts at
which humanity shuddcrs and which his
tory, if It be honestly written, will de-
nouuce rs atrocious.
OF these holy blood and carnage raiders
in the pulpit, none were so vicious and in
nammatory as the Bishops aud chief lead
crs Of the Northern MethodisB Malice
and all uncharitahlehe IS their inilammatory
harangues were charged with TO the full
AS the Gdsette says, and its truthfilness
can not be controyerted, they preach poll
ties from their pulpts. They inculeated
the d0etrine Of brotherly hate at their love
fcasts and in the columns OF their religious
Journals. They deserted the shadow Of the
sanctuary for the tents of Kedar, and they
became the champions OF abuses IL should
have been their duty TO rebuke, and of n
strife it should have been their mission to
allay.. They iustcd for power, and they got
it.lThcy lustcd far the aeshspots Of Egypt,
and they had them Some Of them were
rewarded with lucrative offices in the pub
lie service. Others unfrooked themselves
and went Colonclling," Others became
Treasury agents and accumulated
much spoils, aud others, again, con-
descended to accept whatever pick
ings might fall 10 their share in
the management of the Freedmcn's Bureau.
If they were perverts from the true spirit
of the religion they professed, they had, at
least, the meaner satisfaction of knowing
that they were material gamers by the
change, aud they also knew that loyalty
with them, like "charity" in others, was a
broad mantle ami would cover q multi
tude of SINS II was the old story over
again. They fell from grace, but they in
creased In substance. Spiritually they had
lost much, but ia a worldly sense they We're
well to do; aud on this planet of ours sue
cess is. with the multitude, the touchstono
AS preachers, Il is true, tile divine afiiatiIs
II they ever possessed 1t, had gone out from
them; but as politicians, and rs Recognized
leaders of llocks, which, like the sheep OF
PANuRGE when one sprang over the bull
warks of the vessel ali the rest followed,
they cNerted Il malign influence that is felt
even now, and will continue to be felt for
many years yet to come. t.'"
What viii be the eventual result of this
sectarian commerce with politics it is i'm
possible to foretell That it will not be
beneficial to thepublie morals, the exper-
icncc Of tile past five years most conclu-
slusiyely proves. II has already sapped the
old reverence for revealed religion and its
chosen eXpounders.' II has introduced 0
new element into our public affairs whicl
ambitious and designing men will not scru-
pie to use, as Chief Justice CHASE Is using
1t even ut this time; and if such coalition
rs is now foreshadowcd were to succeed In
| getting control of the Government, who
can doubt that 1t would be dangerous alik,
to- liberty Of conscience and the publ,
peace? sNANN9f'f
unannnnnuEnsnaunuuassuIulu-