Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-08-22
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA, THURSDAY,
The Southern Clergy and the Governor
of Virginia.

The subjoined vindication Of the South
ern clergy from the aspersions lately made
by Governor Peirpoint, as heretofore MOTTO
ed by us, would have appeared in our pa
per of Saturday but for its accidental omls-
sion. The publication, as will be observ-
ed, is signed by number Of the leading.
most highly respected and influential cler-
gymen of this city and State, embracing
all the orthodox denominations, and will
be sure to attract attention and receive the
highest consideration:
To the Public, North and South.
In circular recently published at the
North, and copied into our city papers, ap-
pealing for pecuniary aid to erect North
ern Methodist church in the city of Rich
mond. is paragraph Of. endorsation writ
ten by F. Ell. Peirpoint, Governor of the
State of Virginia, in these words:
"Thereis great need Of the church build
ing just referred to. The spirit of the
Southern pulpitis thoroughly disloyal act
i've in the propagandism Of rebel senti-
ments, and in cherishing the hope that
the s.Lost Cause may be regained by the
destruction of republican government in
the country"
It is the unanimous opinion Of the I'M
dersigned, ministers of the Gospel, speak
ing in behalf Of ourselves, and represent
ing, as we believe, the sentiment Of our
Southern pulpit, that the relations which
we sustain to the allegations of Governor
Peirpoint, our fidelity to the cause of God,
and our sincere desire for the peace of the
country, require that we should promptly
and firmly assert our actual position in
the premises and for the following spe-
cial reasons:
These allegations are made, not by a
private individual, but by the highest off,
Ger in the State, and carry with them, to
those abroad, the influence Of his official
station. They are reported, not as the ut
terances of an incidental conversation, but
as the deliberate and mature convictions of
resident amongst US, whose position is
presumed to entitle him to credit; and they
inculpate thousands of pulpits and hun
dreds of thousands of Christians, many of
whom are the constituents of the Governor.
Besides, inasmuch as Governor Peirpolnt,
transcending the prophecies of his Office,
has represented the pulpit of the South as
peculiarly antagonistic to the pacification
of the country, it is our solemn duty to
vindicate our sacred vocation from so I'M
warranted an aspersion, and to repel so
unjustifable an attempt to throw the re-
sponsibility Of the existing political disqui-
etude upon our impracticability as minis
tiers of the Gospel.
As to the propriety of the erection of
churches in the South by Christian demon
nations in the North, we have here simply
to say that the country is open and the
people are free to sustain religious institu-
tons of their own choice. But we do OBJ
ject to and protest against the manner in
which he has arraigned the Southern pull
pit before the Northern public.
In the charge quoted above, are three
distinct specifications:
First-That "the spirit Of the southern
pulpit as thoroughly diszoyaz;"
second-That it is ''actiue IN the pro-
poqandism ofrebez se,atiments;;'
Third-That it is active SIN cherishing
q hope that the lost cause may be regain
ed By the destruction Of a republican gov-
eminent IN this country"
These are grave allegations, and were
evidently designed so to be. If they were
true, of positive and outright disloyalty to
the Government of the United States, but
in the far greater sin Of prostltuting our
calling to political purposes. We do not
purpose at present to argue the injustice
of these allegations The burden of proof
obviously does not fall On us.
In the meantime, We take the Christian
liberty of saying, that to each and to all OF
these allegations we offer unanimous and
an unequivocal denial. Further, we affirm
that scores of unimpeachable witnesses are
ready to testify that they are totally with
out foundation in fact-viz: that since the
restoration Of the Government of the Uni
ted States over the Southern States, we
have in no instance exhibited disloyalty in
our pulpits, or used them as political agen-
cies against said Government; that we have
in no instance propagated from them what
are termed ''rebel sentiments y that least
of all, have we, in the discharge of oul
ministerial duties, expressed directly or in
directly hope of the establishment Of any
other than republican form of government
in this country. In word, we assert that
the pulpit of the South, so far as we know
is not liable to the charge Of either disloy.
atty or sedition against the Government o.
the United States.
On the contrary, we are conscious of hav.
ing adhered strictly and constantly to Out
ecclesiastical functions, and have studiously
avoided all complication of our pulpits with
the political issues of the day.
This is our testimony and our record
we calmly submit the declaration therefore
to the world.
| (Signed,)
George Woodbridge, rector Of the Monu
mental Church;
Nelson Head, pastor of Centenary Metho
dist Church
}. L. Burrows, pastor First Baptist Church
G. H. Read, pastor United Presbyterian
Church;
E. NJ. Peterson, pastor Clay Street Meth
odist Church;
William Brown editor Ipufyn7 Presb,,fe