American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-05-19
GHE METH0DIsT tnVRCE NORTH.
ITS UEcHRIsTIAN CHARACTER.

ed personages present, gives the
following history of this religious OF.
ganiZation and the sectional and par
tisan spirit it has exhibited in the
Last few years:
There is no political or religious
organization upon this continent
which did so much to provoke the
revolution on the part of the South
or which manifested so relentless and
brutal spirit during the war as the
Methodist Church North. For years
tie ministers and its conferences
weged yindictive war against the
institutions Of the South, until they
forced the MetLodists Of that section
to separate from those who were so
Wiley prosecuting them. Not salts
fed with aGitating and determining
the question Of the sinfulncss of sla-
very within the pa.c Of their own
church, they were determined to
make political dogma as well as an
ai.icie OF Faith. The church became,
in very truth, a church militant, and
went forth, like Nahomet, Offering to
all WHO resisted it either the new
discipline or the sword. II called
political problem a case of con-
scieencc, and spoke Of the Slaughter
CT human beings as Gods work.
Were this great pOiitico-religious or
ganiZatiOn content now to be busy
itself about the things which it pro
iesSes to regard as alone worth at
tending to il this world, the peace
Of the country would pc Tery consid-
erably promoted.
But it is very evident to us that
the Methodist Church North is going
to discover that Providence has pre-
pared another mission for it, and de-
Sizes it to regulate the qualification
If voters for the people Of the South
arn States. This is very clearly fore
,hadowed in the speech delivered in
New York, Oh Monday, by Chief
Justice Chase al meeting held to
celebrate the centennial anniversary
If the foundation OF NethodiSm III
America. JuNge Chase spoke at
considerable length and i'll glowing
erms Of the labors which The Meth
dist Church had accomplished, aud
Gf the very active part 1t
oQE IN sustaining the war. He then
eterred to its future, and assumed
hat it was still to continue to exert
tselt as a political organization. He
Tor the hundredth time
hat new and remarkable truth, that !
t is impossible to Cook upon the
ace OF any human being and not feel
hat he is not our brother man" He
light also have said the same OF the ,
uman foot After Commcnding ,
Ongress for passing the Civil j
tights bill, Mr.. Chase added: "a l
tep further remains upon the steps !
II it is long work this raising a 1
hole people; but one Of these steps, Y
5 | count it, is that they to whom j
on have given freedom be permit !
I'd to defend it by the ballot" =
The applause which greeted this n
MI similar announcements was too C
earty and general to leave us in Ii
Oubt rs 10 ike opinion and feelings ;,
those who attended this So-callcd :,
,ligious festival. The Chief Justice ?
lcn earnestly expressed his belief Il
lat the Methodist Church is divine g
commissioned 10 iuculclte Lis !
,iitical views. He said: "Who can % %
i what this nation is to become if 5,
is only faithful to itself Who II
n measure the work that this a
urch has topertorm in making this Z
ition true to itself md true to its :
odl 1 verify believe that but for
is church nothing OF that which :"
, have thus far realized could have s
en- accomplished. l lvcTiiy believe fc
at Gcd in his providence raised IN nj
is church. I DO not say that He g,
Il Lot give appropriate spheres of nj
tiOn TO other churches; but | 10 m
rily believe that God raised up h.
is (the Methodist) church for the -,
r'Oses Of aiding in leading this
tion to these grand results"
Here we have the Chief Justice of - "
e Supreme Court urging men to o.
itate for the purpose of breaking -
W State laws with which they =.
We 70 right TO NEEDLE. and calling - -
religious denomination to preach -
a new political doctrine. And,
III mock solemnity, he deliber- ba
4ly yassuretlthe fools who applauded W,
n that he verify believed God had wi
sed up the Methodist Church as of
instrument through which to wi