Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-17
For the American.
LETTER FROM w. w. HlBBEN.

LETTER FROM w. w. HlBBEN.
he year 1867 is gone-gone from us
forever Its changes, like those Of all
other years, were many and fearful. Still
we have much to be thankful ior-mshy
things to rejoice in. look back upon
the past with mournful emotions. for the
ties aud friendships of the Older years
seem to me now TO have been more real,
more true, than those of the present
Now | would not be a croaker, and | do
not mean anything in this direction IN
my comparison OF the past with the pres
cut | only wish to say that which seems
to be true in my own feelings in my own
convictions, as ! pass down the years Of
the coming centuries. Ii would seem that
each year Of lille has its ties OF affection,
its circle of relationships, aud its own
great life purposes. Men and things are
continually changing, and We frequently
feel married TO the past, to its cid kind
reds aud its old associations aud customs
as il they were part of our own indi
vldual lives, aud not the rapidly heeting
shadows Of our ephemeral beings. Ola
irleuds old times and old enjoymenis
make up much Of the happiness OF our
declining years, ms we often visit aud live
IN the chambers Of memory when The au-
tumn of lie comes on. aud we begin to
Look for the footsteps Of the departed who
are to meet Us on the other shore.
The many years | have spent in Indi-
ana are frequently lived over again, aud /
often think of my many good old friends
among whom3I have gone preaching the
gospel OF peace and GOOD will, both living
aud dead, aud feel that my life identity
and fame, so far as have any, is insepa
rable associated with theirs. To one and
all OF them 1 wish, most sincerely, n hap
Ply, useful aud healthy Ne,o Year.
This year 1868 is to be in the United
States yearaof great excitement aud com
motion, and [ wish to admonish all my
friends to keep cool, TO avoid all bitter
feelings aud angry chickering's, aud to ex-
ercise that charity and that federation
which is preseiyatiye Of friendship and
becoming to every intelligent and Chris
tan people.
1t is unfortunate in this country that
society, that many of our good families
should become estrapged from one anolh-
err, just because they zee differently in
national affairs. This, indeed, has been,
aud is often the care even in the religious
differences of the people. In vindication
Of what is presumed to be the essential
elements of the Christian faith, men often
exhibit spirit of intolerancy aud want OF
charity totally inconsistent with all pure
Christianity, aud they therein bring the !
religion Of the bible Into disrepute by the
ignorant and blgoIed spirit of their own
wicked and Pharasaieal hypocrisy.
All men have divine right to their
own religious faith, aud hence il is not
right to iniolerantly interfere with them
even when they are wrong. Then, in
politics, it is more especially the privilege
Of every American citizen to take which l
side he chooses, without let or hibdiance 4
on the part of those who may differ with |
him. This should be understood aud up
preciateu by all intelligent aud Christian
men, every where, for II has often been
the case, and is yet, in many places, the
very bane Of society, that mere differences
in political sentiment make American cit
liens, like the Jews and Sumaritans OF old,
"enemies in war, and in peaee'-not
friends" l have regretted most exceed
iogly Tor the last twenty years, to zee the
bitter feeling which has been often 70 ma
lignsntly manifested, among even the
Ihurches. toward those who differed with
them in religious faith or political princi-
pie. Ii is often said that religious preju.
dice is stronger than prejudice OF any
other character; but II il Is go, it is only
the more emphatIcslly wrong, for charity
is the first virtue OF the Christian probes
sion, aud therefore none may be called
truly Christian only in proportion as
they are actually charitable aud tolerant.
have ever felt most deeply Interested
In the high moral welfare Of our Church
es, and it is this abiding interest which |
leads ne to speak 80 plainly on these
points which involve the moral dominion |
aud influence of Christian power. know
It is customary 10 presume that the
Churches are always right in their moral
positions, and that those who doubt, or
critioise, or condemn the Spirit on prin.
ciples Of the Church. are either in6del or
disloyal. l have never been afraid OF any |
opposition TO tho true and cardinal relig.
ious principles of Christianity, for the
good reason, that, like the principles in
Nature, they arc immutable, irresistible
aud eternal. No power Of man, in Church
or State, can destroy those principles, for
they are the outshoots Of the divine gov.
ernmept, aud are co-existent with human
history.
But am drifting of from all ideas
had when sat down TO indite letter
tak to the readers Of the Americdn.
Months have passed. away since have had
any communication with the readers OF
the Amsrico~, aud as ! have bad no par.