Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-02-01

what has the church done2 4.r.I..,
Ia It did much to excite the aIdeur o
patriotism at the commencement of tn,
struggle 1t was refreshing to see the in
fuence Of christians exerted so heroically
in the cause Of the country, The deepes
indignation felt toward the rebellious slave
mongers, was by those who we're followers
of Christ They saw the awful criminalit,
I of the attempt to disrupt the government
They appreciated the fearful disaster tc
liberty and religion that would be met with
if there should occurithe downfall of the
republic. They saw with graver apprehen
| sion than any other, that spirit of despot.
ism, striking Indignantly, not merely at the
government, not only at the liberty Of the
blacks, butat the great principles of liber.
ty, on which are founded allAthe possibili
ties Of political purity and moral progress.
And hence Christians rose up in opposition
| to it, and pulpits hurled their anathemas at
'itors and their treason. They denounced
l. iringly the witchcraft that would be-
\ -.nb loyal faculties and paralyze patriotic
hearts, and throttle the geniusof liberty -
The true character of rebellion, its spirit
and progress, was exhibited from thousands
of pulpits of the land in better style and
with more effect than by any other agency.
Men from their Bibles, and in their pews
learned to look on treason with adherence
and loathng, and value the Institutions of
our country. Aud youth there were in
spired with the heroism which made them
the soldiery to which, under God, we eve
our country's salvation and present glory.
ID. The church did much to stimulate
volunteering, and taking UP arms in nation
al defence. Had the church taken the
al, nd hat tba ,,;.,,kv ~ Al.
all who went out to fight against the South.
ernsrs were going to the service OF the devil,
it is impossible to conceive what would have
been the result There would at least have
heen condition of things that would have
insured our defeat aud the success Of the
insurgents. That is equivalent to saying
that the cooperation Of the religious ele-
ment OF the country was necessary to sue.
cess And it was. Without it, the war
must have failed on our part. That CO.
operation was what made lcentious editors
false prophets, and Chicago platforms lies.
This cooperation was what gave Abraham
Lincoln his reelection, and put the swerd
of Il. Il. Lee into the hands of u. S.
Grant. But Christian influence was with
the government. The church called, To
arms The necessity of government and
the divinity OF its appointment were shown.
The duty of Furnishing treason, and battling
its advocates was exhibited. How tho
sword OF the magistrate became the ordi.
nance Of God was insisted on; and young
men were advised to go forth with their
armor on, assured that they would be fight
ing the Lords battles, and assisting to gain
the victories of truth. The enthusiasm of
patriotism was thus quickened and sanctifi-
ed by a sanctuary zeal, and many of our
soldiers we're imbued with the same spirit
that animated the troo ,ers of CROMWELL
They who went from churches, from prayer
meetings ana Sabbath schools formed the
best material of the rank and flo all through
the war. n....
(c) The Christians of our country did
much to keep up the dignity of the gov
ernment, and to show how important it was
to maintain it. One of the prevalent here
sizes of the time was, that men might yield
allegiance to the government rs long as it
suited them, and then if it suited them
better to rebel, they were at liberty to do
So The States Rights idea was carried to
such licentious length, that their duty to
the nation was being forgotten. And, the
dignity of tho general government was de
graded, in order that States might be ex-
allied. Other men n ay have talked about |
the geographical difficulties in the way of
separation, portraying natural features that |
make union necessity. Other men told Of
the mountain chairs and rivers, extending |
the whole length of the land, serving, not !
as dividing lines between two people, but |
as chains to indissolubly unite them into
one. But it belonged to Christian people |
rebellion, and to properly stigmatze those |
hn iOttn . ha or1inanan 81 "a
Christian people, while approaching the |
arguments in opposition to dsunion, de.
rived from the fear Of troubled commerce,
Of constant strife between two people situ-
ated in such unnatural contiguity, and of the
rrecedents being set for future secession, |
founded their chief opposition on the great |
sin Of causeless rebellion, aud the despotc |
nature of those who conceived, instigated,
md inaugurated the attempted revolution,
From Gods word they showed that civil |
government is something that He establish
es, and has under His special care, and that
no set of men have right to Oppose it,
for, reasons that He has designated. |
Thus the government was shown to be some
thing other than mere human compact, |
which men might obey or disobey at pleas
ure. And an influence went abroad that I
taught men to see God in constitutions and |
laws; and not only so, but also the meas
ures taken to give thsm psrmanency and |
effect. !. a s.t..rat. .'tg.tr., gHt G-I
(d) Christian influence did much to keep
up the national heart and exhilarate nation
al faith; and something Of this kind was
very much needed. There were dark days
during the war, when it looked as if the |
cause would fail There were sad nights
when even old sailors thought the vessel
would be wrecked. When even such men
as Horace Greeley would hang out signals
of distress, and almost counsel giving up
the ship, it was not to be wondered at that
thousands less experienced and of weaker
mind, should be disheartened and despon.
dent. But the really Christian people of
the country would hardly admit the 'possi-
bility OF defeat, and hence in each repulse
we met with, they saw Christening which
was to whip us up to the proper moral point,
after which our success would be achieved.
They regarded the war as conducted by the
rebels as heinous crime, and knew crime
could not Triumph over righteousness. They
felt sure God would not allow set of peo.
iplo. battling in the interests of o despotisrn
as black as this, (the most diabolical heath.
enism.) to prevail over our liberty and hu-
man progress. 1t would have been CON
trary, not only to Gods declaration, but to
the whole course Of His providence and dis.