The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-05-27
Spirit Of the Radical Religious
Press and Pulpit.
A MOST REMARKABLE LETTER.

a
To the Editor Of the Knoxville Fri co Press:
u have noticed lately several (editorial)
illusions in your paper to what appears to
be matter of feeling among the people Of
East Tennessee in regard to Methodist
Church property, and in yours Of the 5th
inst, under the head of Loyal Church, an
article signed Lover of Peace on the same
subject. From all ] have seen and heard
on this subject in the last three years,
conclude that oil the supposed trouble in
church property among the East Tonnes
seeans has grown out OF the action of Bish.
OPP Simpson in church matters in that
States and supposing 1 am right in this, /
beg leave to say few words in defense of
Bishop Simpson, on the basis of general
principle. 1t is evident, to my mind, that
the gulf which separates the Southern
Methodist from the Northern Methodist is
much deeper and wider than many suppose
so great, indeed, that it were folly to at
tempt to bridge it, or for the two classes ev-
er TO meet. /, of course, belong to the
Northern Methodist class, and feel and
speak in their behalf, and, in doing so, /
shall exercise that frankness and candor of
expression on the Methodist affairs that
Wendell Phillips is wont to do Oh political
affairs.
In the first place the Methodists, both
North and Sonth, need warning very
much to bring them up to the true stand
ard of courage and honesty, necessary to
assert plainly their true characters. Re
ligion and politics are, in fact, one and the
same thing, aud must be so considered, Tin
all popular goyernments), especially. i'll
fact, religion and politics have ALWAYS been
considered one and the samein I'll nations.
Ours was the first, and only experiment we
know of to trent the two as distinct ele-
ments in civil government, and we are full
ly justified in asserting that the expert
ment has had the same conflict that has
always before resulted from opposing ideas.
"All government is based on the religi-
ous characteEof those who formit and car
ry it on; aud when there becomes con-
tlict of views in its administration, itarises
of necessity from religious differences. 1t
is the religious mind which makes and
executes the laws, and shapes i'll every fea-
ture the legislation ola government. This
is fact which needs no argument toprove
it, because the opposite of the assertion
cannot be found to exist in any nation on
earth. The United States forms no excep.
ton, though in our system We attempt.
ed it for eighty years. Still the religious
power of the human mind would at last
prevail over all the other elements of the
government. Now, the stronger prevailed
aud took possession Of all the property and
appliances appertaining to the organiza
| ton of the weaker. The word Methodist
| it is true, is applied to the two classes Of
people North and South, yet their religions
are no more alike than either one is like
that of the Hindoo Bishop Simpson re-
presented the Northern masses in taking
possession of property, fairly won by con
quest, in support and defense of Northern
religion, as opposed to Southern religion
in the United States, and in which North
ern religion nearly all other small demon
nations in the North agree and sympa
thize and have al interest therefore in the
property acquired.
"The Methodists Of the North constitute
the great directing power Of religion in
America; all the other denominations call
ed Protestant, though differingin form, in
ritual and other minor points, yet follow
in substance the religious course marked
out by the great ruling power, the North
ern Methodists. You may as well say that
an ARMY has no right to the arms and sup
plies which it wins on the hard-fought
field of battle as to say that the North
ern Methodist Church has no right to eve
ry church, school-house, and every acre Of
land formerly held BY the Southern Meth
odists Not only so, but it is just as wrong
and pernicious for Northern MetLodists tc
hermit Southern Methodists to meet and
worship at all, as it would be to permit
Lee or Johnston to call together and drill
their disbanded men under arms.
Methodism in the South was conquer
ed and subjugated, and heneeforth has nc
claims on anything used OF belonging tt
its former self. Even their bibles. books
and printing establishments became the
property Of the vietors, and ought to b
used. Did Spain allow Mexico to continue
its religious exercises after Cortez con
quered it9 Certainly not. Neither dlt
any nation or people ever concede such
privilege to the one they had to subjugate
No more then ought the North to conced'
such to the South. But you may say tina
the Southern Methodists and the Northerl
Methodists are one and the same in rellg
ion. This Gas have before said) is no
the case, and this will appear very ciea
from the very correct definition Of TIN
word.
Webster has, perhaps, done more harm
in his elaborate comments On the meaning
of tie word religion than any otherautho
or writer But Webster oven borrowed
more than be originated or even learned
Religion, then, is simply ones conyie
ton of duty to him or herself, his fellow
and bis Creator. It has nothing to dowitl
rewardssand pnnishments in some othe
world, but belongs entirely 70 ones sojourl
on this earth Itmust be evident, there
fore, that the man who can believe tina
his owning and selling, and buying, work