The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-26
The, Methodist Church .Nor,h---rss
Cnckristfan Chnrncfer

~sAA AosA~A NhuTRCIer.
There is no political OF religious or
ganization upon this continent which
did so much to provoke the revolution
on the part of the South, or which
manifested SO relentless ard brutal O
spirit during the war, rs the NIctilo-
dist Church North. For jcars the
ministers and its conferences waged a
vlndlctive war against the institutions
OF the South, until they forced the
Methodlsts Of that section to separate
from those who were so vilely perse-
cutting them. Not satisfied with agi-
tatlnS and determining the question
OF the slnfulness of slavery within the
pale Of their own church, they were
determined to make it :, political
dogma as we'll as an article Of faith.
The church became, in very truth, a
church militant, and went forth, like
Mahomet, offering to all who resisted
1t either the new discipline or the
sword. 1t called political problem
case OF conscience, and spoke of
the slaughter of human beings as
God s work. Were this great politi-
co-religious organization content now
to busy itself about the things which
1t processes to regard rs alone wortl.
attending to in this world. the peace
of the country would be very con
siderably promoted. But it i, very
evident to us that tine Methodist
Church North is going to discover
that Providence has prepared another
mission for it, and desires it to reou-
late the qualification of voters for
the people of the Southern States.
This is very clearly foreshadow d in
the speech delivered in New York. on
Monday, by Chief Justice Chase, at a
meeting held to celebrate the centen-
NAL anniversary Of the foundation of
Methodism in America. Judge Chase
spoke at considerable length and in
glowing terms of the labors which the
Methodist Church had accomplished
and especially of the very active part
1t took i'll sustaining the war.
He then referred to its future. and
assumed that it was still to continue
to exert itself as political organiza-
ton. He enunciated, for the hun
dredth time, that new anI rcmarka-
bic truth, that it is impossible to
''look upon the face of any human
being and not feel that he is on.
brother man" He might also have
said the same of the human foot.
After commanding Congress for pass
ing the civil rights bill, Mr.. Chase
added: a step further remains upon
the steps; for it is a long work this
raising whole people; but one of
these steps, as l count it, is that they
to whom you have given freedom
must be permitted to defend it by
the ballot" The applause which
greeted this and similar announce
ments was too hearty and general to
! leave us in doubt rs to the opinion
and feelings Of those who attended
this so-called religious festival. The
Chief Justice then earnestly expressed
his belief that the Methodist Churcl.
Is dlvinely commissioned to incnlcate
his political views. He said 'Wh,
can tell what this nation is to become
if it is only faithful to itself? WHO
can measure the work that this church
has to perform in making this nation
true to itself and true to its God:
verify believe that but for this
church nothing of that which we
have thus far realized could have
been accomplished. l verify believ.
that God in His province raised II,
this church. l do not say that II,
did not give appropriate spheres O.
action to other churches; but dc
verify believe that God raised up thi,
(the Methodist) church for the pur
! poses Of aiding in leading this natio1
to these grand results. "
/ Here We have the Chief Justice u1
the supreme Court urging men t.
agitate for the purpose OF breaking
down State laws, with which the,
have no right to meddle, and calling
on religious denomination to preacl
up II new political doctrine. And
with n mock solemnitv, he delibe-
ratelv assured the fools who applaud
ed him that he verify believed God
had raised up the Methodist Church
as an instrument through whicl, tc
make voters out of black men, and
that the nation could only b. ''tru,
to itself and true to its God" by ex-
tending the elective franchise Nc
intelligent man will suppose that We
mean to condemn all Methodists and
Methodist congregations in the North.
We know that there were many indi-
viduals and clergymen who refused tc
foment discord or to meddle, as
churchmen, with political affairs.
But it is an indisputable fact that the
great body of the Methodist Church