The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-03-04
KEEP THE LINES DISTINCT"

A friend in Pennsylvania has sent us a copy
Of the Nelo Castle Gazette and Democrat,
which under this appropriate heading contains
long account of large Convention, or per
haps it should rather be called mass meeting,
in that town, to set the Constitution of the
United States to rights. There are not few
who think it has been pretty effectually dosed
with political quaekery already, until the life
of the patient is nearly gone. But another
swarm is to beset it, swarm of religious ia
natics run crazy on politics As far as we can
judge, most of them were ministers of the
Gospel of various denominations; at any rate
they predominant among the speakers, and it
may be concluded from Rouse having been
generally the only thing sung or quoted, that
the Seceder brethren were there In full force.
The precise object of the meeting may be
understood from the following resolution
which was carried by large majority.
Whereas, all power in heaven and in earth
is given to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Cover
nor among the nations, TO whom civil powers
or governments owe voluntary submission and
obedience,
lleSOtCcO, 1udG a udllOudl IeCOSultlOu Vi
Almighty God, of His Son Jesus Christ, our
Lord, and the Holy Scriptures as proposed in
the memorial of the National Association, is
clearly Scriptural duty which it is national
peril to disregard -
How far they were disposed to look, in the
proposed work of " National Reform" may,
TO some degree, be understood from the follow
ing resolutions, which were laid over for action
at another meeting, expected to be held. But
from the views which seemed to prevailin this
meeting, there is no reason to suppose they
will not be as acceptable as the other.
Whereas, the election of irreligious and i'm
moral officers in the United States Government
has been and isan evil of enormous magnitude,
endangering the best interests of the nation,
and which can be thoroughly remedied only
by a radical change In the Constitution
"And whereas, the Bible, which contains
Gods Law to Nations, and which cannot be
violated or disTessEdsd XIII 5%RTs sfaS S26 n
civil rulers; therefore,
Resolued, That the Constitution should be
amended so as to expressly require all officers
to be possessed of these Scripture qualihca-
tons, or so that no man, destitute OF them,
could be eligible to Office.
ReSolUed, That, In our judgment, In order
to effect such changes in the Constitution as
We seek, 1t Is only necessary to arouse the at
tention of the Christian people to their para
mount importance and necessity.
Res0lred, That we hereby pledge ourselves
to Christ and to one another to carry forward
this reform by all legitimate means to its inev-
liable triumph. "
From this it viii be perceived that these
fanatics propose to exclude from Offices in the
civil government citizens who are not members
of the church, and because they do not believe
to their liking We called attention to this
subject few weeks ago; and pointed out per-
SecutioR as the direct consequence OF such a
doctrine as these people are seeking to engraft
upon the Constitution of the United States
Here we have it already proposed in all its pure
impurity. 1t should be stated that they met
with vigorous opposition. Newcastle is the
home of DR.. D. Y. Junkin, and he was not
prepared to be bearded in his own den. He
brought in minority report, and in connec-
ton with others seemed to have as great vic
tory in the argument, as the other side had in
the vote.
In all the speeches Of the majority We notice
the confusion of things entirely distinct, in re
gard to the kingdom of Christ All power is
his in heaven and earth, therefore civil gov
ernments should acknowledge not God merely,
but Christ incarnate also, as Mediator. Such
is the argument. The New Testament, which
sets forthso fully all the claims of the Redeem
&c ,,ob 10 tba
eruments OF the earth in the days of Christ
and his Apostles. We shall not repeat the
refutation set forth in the paper of the 18th
ult. 1t is interesting to notice how these mis-
guided agitators were pressed with their incon-
sistency in leaving the Holy Spirit out of their
demands for recognition by the civil govern
ment. IF it must acknowledge God the Faith
er, and God the Son, why not God the Holy
Ghost also? There was not the slightest at
tempt at a reply: they simply shut their eyes
upon point they had not the power to meet
D. B. Kurtz, Esq, in the course Of his speech
posed them effectually by putting this case -
" 1t has been said that Government is of God
and therefore, Governments should acknow-
ledge God; but, said he, so is the family and
the institution of marriage; and do any of you,
he asked, stop before you solemnize mar
riage to inquire whether the parties have pro-
fessed Christ? Government has nothing to do
with regulating mans duty to his God"
But it is not necessary further to consume
time in details of these speeches. Those of
the majority were generally loose, wild and
fauatical Their scheme is indicated by the
Rev. Mr. Mcmillan, who appears to be lead
ing spirit, and who told the Convention that
he had "a plan" = He would Agitate
AGlTATEl ! AGITATE!!l" Certainly and
the devil viii help him, with hearty bad will
He could hardly desire a choicer subject for
bringing religion and the Church into disre-
pute and contempt.
W. A. J. will not suppose his article is IN.
deryalued by its being placed uDon the 4th