The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-06-28
TIIE WAR OF THE CLERGY.

THE WAR OF THE CLERGY.
The Presbyterian Ministers and Con-
gregations of Baltimore have been con-
sidcrably exercised of late. We mcnl
toned last week, that the Rev. Dr. Bull
lock and his church had determined to
renounce the authority of the Old
School General Assembly. Since then
the Rev. DR.. Lefcvre and his congrcga-
ton have done the same thing, with
few dissenting voices. Rev. DIR. Back
us has lately addressed his congregation
on the subject, and whilst he condemns
the recent action of the Church author
tiles, he thinks it not sufficient to create
schism. Other clcrgymen have taken
the same view.
This disturbance, we believe, has
grown out of determination Of the
General Assembly, since the war, to
consider rebellion against the govern
mcnt sin which it was their duty to
denouncc along with the sin of slavery.
On these subjects, as matter of course,
Southern Church members differed, and
as the Church can only enforce its dog
mas by moral sanctions, deliveranccs on
such subjects can only breed divisions.
Before the war, it was all folly for any
church to expect to compel Southern
people to give up slavery as a sin. After
the war it is equal folly to expect South
ern people to believe their rebellion was
n sin. Northern Church members, du-
ring the war, were expected to adhere
to the Government ruling in their sec
ton, and to so resolve in their separate
asscmblagcs, but they should accord to
the Southern members the right to adj
here, during the war to the Government
dc fdcfo of theirow section. 1t was real.
ly no sin in either to do so, and after
the war nothing could prevent them
from re-uuiting on the old terms. Thus
We find that all Churches which had
sagacity enough to keep within their
proper limits, and not attempt TO rcgu-
late civil matters, have no difficulty
about rc-uniting. Our war was caused
by sectional strife, aud the difficulty
now is to get that intense sectional feel
ing and prejudice allaycd sufficiently TO
reunitc the people on the old terms --
The Churches, North aud South were
composed of the same individuals and Of
course the church members become mr..
raycd against each other in war. IN
fact, in too many cases, these churches
set the example Of disunion bypronoun-
cling against Slavery, which caused the
South to separate in church matters
from the North. Thus officious church
men helped to separate our people into
two hostile factions, previous to the war;
aud this same mischicvous spirit is still
at work, amongst them, keeping our
people alicnatcd from each other, Instead
of being actuatcd by pure Christian
principles which should tend to promote
harmony among members of the same
churches, as well a- citizens Of the same
country
We cannot sympathiso with the pres.
cut troubles Of those churches which
made such mistakes before, aud during
our civil war; and regard them as the
natural consequence Of their own wrong
doing. Our unhappy country, under
Gods providence, we believe will get
get right, aud the discordant sections be
completely rcconcied but it cannot be
done until our people of both sections
that is the great majority Of them
are prepared to see and acknowledge
freely the great wrong they have done
Whilst coming to such a desirable con.
clusion it unreasonable that those church
es, whose members have carried their
organizations to so great an extreme
must necessarily be convulsod before
the evil spirit is allaycd. 1t is bound
to come out of them, and We really wish
them safe deiirerGacc
But the General Assembly of the o.
S. Presbyterian Church, Judging from
their late proceedings, have yet very far
TO 20 to get right. At their late meet
ing at st. Louis they had much discus
sion, and considerable feeling; but the
majority were very self confident and
dominecrng. The political feeling ran
very high. TO give some idea of the
style of debate We publish below the
letter of Rev Mr.. Ferguson, of Ohio,
giving description Of the speech of
Hon Sam. Galloway, Of Ohio, a lay
member.
Rev Mr.. Ferguson was afterwards
expelled by the Gen. Assembly for
writing the letter; but he was received
with open arms, and crowned with honors,
by the ladies of ST. Louis, on his exit.
We dare say the gia of the offence in
the letter is its plain truth
The debate in the assembly ran high