Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-11-12
OF MORAL
AFFINITES.

easily sundered. Sec how some theo-
logians quarrel about a word, a defni-
ton, an opinion, a practice, it is said.
Moral and sectarian questions produce
more separations than u%nities. Sects,
parties, churches, writer's are always
quarreling and begetting new contro-
versies and %strifes. Now, we are not
about to defend quarrelsome moralists
or theologians, but it is because reli-
gious and moral questions are so much
more powerful a source Of union than
is commonly supposed that we note all
these breaks and discords. Rev. New
man Hall, when speaking Of the feeling
in this country toward France and to-
ward England, for pursuing much the
same policy during Jul war, said that
many in England had complained that
we had been so much more indignant
against Great Britain than France.
"But," he replied, al told them was
not surprised, and only wondered that
your indignation was no greater at tho
time, because the ties which bound US
together were so much closer; with one
language, and one love Of freedom, you
expected more from US than from them.
1t was because Of this that you felt moro
indignant at the conduct Of our Govern
ment."
The same principles may be applied
on a larger scale. The quarrels Of good
and of religious men are always deeply
to be regretted where they occur. But
they often reveal a deeper under cur-
rent of strong affinity and affection,
taken for granted, and only proved BY
the strain it after all endures. The un-
suspected and latent atiuities that bind
good men together, not without, but in
spite of q thousand differences and hard
words, is the best proof Of the power Of
moral and religious ties. The very
fierceness Of the occasional and foolish
incentives they make use of in the
moments Of quarrel, makes only the
clearer the ultimate strength of that
love which uuites them. Two hundred
and thirty years ago the Friends were
hated, injured and ridiculed without
mercy, suffered persecution and death
yet who are now more respected through
out this country? Two hundred years
ago, the Baptists and Congrcgationalists
of New England carried On a controversy
nominally lasting to this day. Who
would have dreamed, when Roger Will
| liams was driven out Of Boston, and not
permitted to return, that the Young
Mems Christian Association of that city
would regard all alike and know no diff
ference. C~alvanists and Armenians used
to quarrel a hundred years ago. Yet
Methodists, Episcopalians, P~resbyter-
ians, outgrow the old a%ntagonisms most
strangely, and each may be almost said
to come at last to regard the views Of
the other as supplementing or compile
meuting their own, and perhaps respect
ing and loving the other more for their
sincerity in differing.
4 faith which is true at heart, unites
all who possess it by ties so strong that
whatever their names and parties, or
however strong the winds and waves
may seem that blow them asunder for q
| while, it is really astonishing how much
and how nearly they come together
again. When a fleet of ships have each
a true compass on board, clouds may
arise and isolate them from sight oil
each other, or from land; but they &c
on and cut their way through the fog
truly enough, because each sails by
compass, and when the fog lifts, it is
found to have steered correctly and to
have moved in company with the rest
of the feet. 1t is so with good mer
actuated by q common moral and reli'
gious principle. They are often much
nearer to each other than they can see
or feel or know at the time, and al
quietly working toward the same point,
and with real unity of purpose. They
walk by faith, not by sight: so they
steer by compass. They may be pene'
tratiug q mine or a mountain, working
underground, far apart, and from oppo'
site directions; but true to the princi'
Piles that guide them, they ore constant
ly approaching and will meet in the
middle. In our own day the efforts
which are being made to bind together
sects that have been estranged for cen
turtles, proves nothing so much to the
thoughtful mind as the strength and the
durability of that love which true reli.
gion inspires, latent as at time it may
caam