Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-03-24

RELIGION IL PoLITICs.-The following article Is
from the San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, and
may be cited as one evidence Of the healthful
tendency to an increased regard for the great
laws of morality in politics. to which the press
has recently alluded. 1t elIcctuaIiy disposes of
a great many columns of Democratic trash on
the subject 80 Under the head Of Clerical As
surance. the CdH assumes to rebuke clergymen
of using their influence in behalf of the cause of
popular education. The Gail thinks that the
special function of clergymen is to preach doe
trine and to pray, but never to meddle with ex-
istinc realities When cergymen attempt to
aDpAy the principles of christianity to existing
wrongs and evils, they become meddlers and
politicians. Tt is their function to make the
people Belicre right not to act right. If the faith
is orthodox. no matter for the practice. The
man who goes to church, makes the responses,
and in a general way patronizes Divine Proyi-
dcnce, may be pardoned many little Irregularities
in his daily life Such as selling his own child
ren 'rebeling against the Government, or voting
the ticket Of the party which justifes such
thines.-Ep,1 The Apostle said, Faith with
out work. il Death but the CAL virtually says,
Never mind rort&: steer clear of all that is
practical; preach doctrine; but don't interfere
with existing Institutions. You may deliver
discourse original sin, total deprayity. iusti-
Gcation by faith, the divine decrees the atone
mcnt. the incarnation. the Trinity: but YOU must
not, upon pain Of being abused in the newspa-
pcrs. venture upon any moral or religious teach
ing that bears upon living topics You must
not preach from the text. And God made Of one
blood all the nations Of the earth, upon pain OF
being denounced as an aholtionist, a rnisccgeua-
tionist and political parson You must deal
forever IN abstractions and geucraltics without
approaching any subject upon which politicians
and statesmen disagree. or the decision Of which
might affect practical action. Such seems to II.
to he the creed Of the GaH For our own part
we trust that the clergy will not allow themsevc.
to be shorn Of their just and wholesome influence
by declining to exercise their rights as American
citizens vtally interested in everything that con-
Germs the national welfare. or by coninng them
selves to the chanting of solemn ltanies. the ex-
pounding Of texts Of scripture, and the regular
routine of priestly functions. We trHstthey VIII
remember that they were men and Americans
before they were priests of religion. and that ~
assuming the latter position they do not ior'e.'
any Of the rights or escape any OF the reSi'o''s-
bilities pertaining to the former
Cor-tnx'r FprGurgy TIER-The Lafayette ina ,
C0urjer tells an amusing story OF some ia'Is .iI
rents Of that place who were taxing 90' 'i ~,
near the cemetery. when ghost Pl.e.,' ~ ~
oil ran but one sturdy woman OF .ne s'i ""s
minded class, who STOOD her 9'o'I' vi :
bor She then seized and threshed out oi
frightful disguise mischlev4us le,toN ~ @
a;.nnsscd and hid himself to give the party :
f.;rb+ She led him bac, to the house, ana in
renIr to the questions that poured in upon her
ss;d. Cant fool me: I've seen too many men
in sheets to be frightened at them
KaArr. the Red Bluff hardware and agricultu-
-, ;ro,,crt- To- Ter Is hrHftrr . D0nt0on
briage over The Sacramento river at shat place.
WHIcH is more destructiye-the mortar in the
battlefield. or the. morter in the drng-shop.