New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-12

legislator and directly ndorsed by the Apostle Paul.
If the pulpit nterered with Slavery, it was the pro-
Slavery pulpit North and South that set the example
The South Carolina Doctors of Divinity managed so
to bemuddle the controversy that the inevitable con-
cluson from these premises that it was wrong and
even sinful not to hold slaves; the assumption Of the
patrarchal position became religious duty, and
Emancipation weak concession to the promptingS
of carnal and unregenerate heart. OF course, when
shareholders thus retreated to the altar and there
sought sanctuary, there were not wanting Christians
who felt it to be duty to dodge them. Their eccle-
siastical debates, ruptures, and passionate divisions
were inevitable because the Church, assuming the
Divine and common paternity, and the eternal fra
ternty of all men, was obliged either to protest
against civil law which must result in moral
inequality, or else discover some not very palpable
wby virtue Of which plain commandments weresuS-
pended whenever policy or convenience mightrequlre.
When Slavery based itself upon religion, men and
women whose religion was thus nsuted and outraged
could hardly be expected to remain dumb. 1t was
the habit, and it had always been the habit, Of the
clergy to discuss public questions from religious
point of views and if all the patriotic Doctors OF New
England could properly preach against the Stamp Act
and the Boston Port Bill it was not easy to see why
their successors should keep close-mouthed upon a
subject perfectly saturated with moral and religious
elements.
OF the services rendered by the clergy to the coun-
try during the agony of its mortal peril it is needless
for US to speak. II would be strange, indeed il those
who acted and spoke so admirably in the hour oil our
material peril were tOngue-ted at this moment OF
moral discipline. The state of the country IS not to
be kept out of synod, cOnvocaton, or convention
Even cergymen must speak out OF the iuness OF
their hearts, like ordinary human beings. The New
England Methodists met last week in Boston, which
is the city in which Mr.. Lunt is good enough to re-
side There was a business meeting and there was
festival and at both there was an inevitable lapse
into patriotic and, we may say, political speeches
One gentleman recalled the fact that there ore 10000
Methodist voters in New.England. and argued that
they should be "upon the side of civil and religious
liberty" DIR. Cook presented resolutions, which
were adopted in favor of negro suffrage. Gov. Bull
lock, guest, told the company, that American
Methodism and American Independence started hand
in hand, aud have never since parted company" Mr..
Hatfield of Chicago said that /" in the army and
among the men who did the fighting, he found as
many Methodists as of all other denominations put
together" Gov. Evans of Colorado criticised the
Veto Message" Bishop Simpson said "War has
closed and every slave in the land has become Free
Our flag is high in the heavens, with not star
dimmed nor a stripe erased. We are great nation
yet, and God smiles on u.s."
The Methodiss in Boston do not present any sin
gular example. Wherever aud whenever great church
bodies get together, find them naturally falling
into the same exercises and discussions, speculations
and thanksgivings like gratitude and similar con-
gratulations. We are unwilling to think that men
reasonably intelligent and indsputably conscientious
are deviang so far from just standard of Christian
ethics as their l-natured and fancful critics would
have US believe. Those who pray against priyy con-
spiracy and sedton, those who suppicate God
10 enlighten our rulers, should not be cut
off from censuring treason confessed and the
sins of in authority. If politicians may
critcise clergymen, we do not why clergymen
may not critcise politicians. Nobody need be
alarmed save those who should be alarmed, to find
distinct practical application animating the dry bones
of theoretical theology; would clergy be of
much value which submitted to the dicaton Of self
constituted censors and took to preach nothing
dsagrceable to Mr. George Lunt. If any of our cler
cal readers have good, rousing sermons on Recon-
struction in their desks which heretofore they have
been too timd to preach we beg them to take cour-
age and to hold forth sonorousIy.