Elizabeth daily monitor., 1868-10-06
ECCLESIASTICAL INTERFER-
ENCE.

lions TO give such expression to the law
Of the church, as shall effect the relig-
j ious status of the churches composing
/ the several ecclesiastical bodies to which
they belong : but, we deem it fragrant
and mischievons interference, when
these religious bodies come to pass re-
solutions bearing Ell the rights and in.
depl ndence of the individuals compos-
ing the several churches, on matters,
which in no possible manner interfere
with the great doctrines OF Christian
faith or, the articles of covenant obi.
CATION presented for the acceptance and
assent OF each, individual when uniting
with the church
We have been led to these utterances
by reading series of resolutions, we
find in one of our exchanges, recently
passed at one Of these grand annual
church convocations expressing their
views as follows:
'.Our conviction IS that the letter and
spirit of the gospel is decidedly op-
posed to all secret oath bound societies
whose transactions are hidden from the
public, as Free-Masonry and Odd-Fel-
lowship, and that We cannot approve of
the union of members of our churches
with these organizations &: and that the
pompous and unseemly titles assumed
by the officers of these associations, as
Worsllipful Master, Most Excellent
Master, knights of the Red Cross,
Grand Pontiff, Most Elk Gen. Grand
High Priest, Grand King of the Grand
Chapter, &C., with the Vice Grand and
Noble Grand OF the Odd Fellows, are
incompatible with the simplicity of the
gospel, opposed to the true spirit of our
free American institutions, and there
fore deserving the apprehension of all
Christians and OF good citizens.
Protestants have a good deal to say
about the Catholic priesthood inteifer-
ing with the private judgments Of their
people, but what we ask is this, but
worse attempt, inasmuch as it comes
from Christian denomination, profes-
sing no control over the consciences of
its members, or, the private judgment,
of each, especially in matters relating
to civil and personal private interests
and judgment.
Would it be right for that body Of
pious fathers because they do not know
the secret pass word, and obligation Of
the Sons of Temperance, to pass a
resolution and say that such temper
ance organizations are incompatible
with the simplicity of the gospel ?"
They might as well; and as for names
we believe in the temperance divisions
referred to- they have 'tGrand Wor-
thy Patriarch" " and so forsooth, be-
cause of the name to distinguish the
rank of one officer from another, our
meddling friends would cry out in
pious horror, sit IS DESCRIBING The repre-
hension Of all good christians and Of good
citizens"
The old puritan spirit of bigotry
which hung witches on Boston com
mon ; tied good men and women to
whipping posts and lashed their backs,
that imprisoned others for an indepen-
dence of faith and expression, is not
dead yet, and the body of professedly
Christian men, who would pass such
resolutions, only lack the opportunity,
the power to inaugurate a system Of
persecution and bitter inquisitorial
punishment which would put to- blast
even the prosecutions or another
church against whom they never fail to
say hard things.
1t is not our prerogative to speak
as the Bishop of the body of Christians
who SO heartily passed the resolution,
nor is it ours, as the religious weekly
again of that denomination to counsel,
yet as the MONITOR to give warning
when we see the evil, we cannotrefrain
from saying "mind your own business"
priests of piety. Do what ye can, like
your Master, to do good to the souls of
men, and be assured that if there is
anything incompatible" with the gos-
pei or with good christian life in the
associations to which the converted
belong, they will soon leave them to
defend and uphold the faith embraced.
It is shame for christian bodies as