The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-05-13
Spirit of the Radical Religious Press and
PUrpIT-A MOST REMARKABLE LETTER.

PUEPIT-A MOST REMARKABLE LE41Eh'
CmcAGo ILL., November u, 1867.
To the Editor of the Knoxville Free Press:
81 have noticed lately several (editoria) illusions
in your paper what appears to be matter OF feel
ing among the people of East Tennessee in regard to
Methodist Church property, and III yours OF the 9TH
inst. under the head of Loyal Church, an article
signed Lover of Peace on the same subject. From
all have seen and heard this sub ect in the last
three years | conclude that all the supposed trouble
in church property among the East Iennesseeans has
grown of the action of Bishop Simpson in church
matters in that State; and supposng l am right in
this, beg leave to say few words in defense of
Bishop Simpson, 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 folly to attempt to bridge
it, for the classes TO meet /, of course,
belong to the Northern Methodist class and feel and
speak in their behalf and, in doing So shall exer-
else that frankness and candOr Of expression the
Methodist affairs that Wendell Phillips is wont to do
political affairs.
q In the first place the Methodsts, both North and
South, need watering very much to bring them up
the standard of courage and honesty necessary
assert plainly their true characters. Religion and
politics fact, and the same thing, and must
be considered, lin all popular governmentsl espe-
caly, in fact religion and politics have always been
considered and the same in all nations Ours was
the FIRST and only experiment we know of to treat the
two distinct elements in civil government, and we
had the conflict that has always before resulted
from opposing ideas.
"Al government is based on the religious character
of those who form it and carry it on and when there
becomes conflict Of views in its administration, it
arises of necessity from religious differences 1t is the
religious mind which makes and executes the laws,
and shapes in every feature the legislation OF govern
nacnt. This is fact which needs no argument to
prove it, because the opposite of the assertion cannot
be found to exist in any nation earth The United
Sta no Yc DIObi n VIZ
attempted 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 and took possession of all the property and
appliances appertaning to the organisation of the
weaker. The word Methodist it is true is applied to
the two classes of people NORTH and South yet their
religions alike than either is like that
of the Hindoo. Bishop Simpson represented the North
ern masses in taking possession OF property, fairly
by conquest III support and defense of Northern reli-
gion, as opposed to Southern religion, in the United
States and in which Northern religion nearly all other
small denominations in the North agree aud sympathise
and have interest therefore in the property ac-
qured.
directing power Of religion in America all the other
denominations called Protestant, though differing in
FORM in ritual and other minor points, yet follow in
substance the religious marked out by the great
ruling power, the Northern Methodists. You may as
well say that army has light to the arms and
supplies which it wins the hardfought field of bat
tie as to say that the Northern Methodist Church has
no right to every church, schoohouse and every acre
of land formerly held by the Southern Methodists
Not only So but it Just wrong and perncious for
Northern Methodists to permit Southern Methodists
to meet and worship at ALL it would be to permit
Lee Johnston to call together and drill their dis
banded men under arms
"Methodism in the South was conquered and subiu-
gated and henceforth has claims on anything used
or belonging to its former self Even their bibles
books and printing establishments became the property
of the vicors and ought to be used Did Spain allow
Mexico to continue its religious exercises after Cortez
conquered it? Certainly not. Neither did any nation
or people concede such privilege to the they
had to subugate. No more then ought the North to
concede such the South But you may say that the
Southern Methodists and the Northern Methodsts are
one and the same in religion. This las have before
sad is not the case and this will appear very clear
from the very correct definition of the word.
webster has, perhaps, done more harm in his
elaborate comments on the meaning of the word rel-
gion than any other author or writer. But Webster
even borrowed more than he originated or even
learned.
"Religion then, is simply ones conviction of duty
10 him or herself his fellows and his Creator 1t has
nothing to do with rewards and punshments in some
other world, but belongs entirely to ones soourn
this earth. 1t must be evident, therefore, that the
man who can believe that his owning and selling and
buying, working and not educating human being is
quite different from the belief of another man who be-
eves in his heart that his duty is not to own buy
sell, nor to work without educating his fellows Also
it is obvious that the system of theology, which is
concilable with the first cannot form any part of the
religion of the second. Now the book called the BIZ
BILE is often quoted in support of either side of the
question: and it is true it does give evidence both
sides Just ones mind and ones heart Incline but
One forgets that progressive mind is in fact the
life of any religion while the dead inert letter Kill
leth = The Bible Of the Southern people we of the
North want nothing to do with. We have our own
views and sentiments, which with are the Creators
views and desires us, and being the stronger
announce claim by Gods laws, to all those men
and things which come in way. We, therefore,
claim to in fee simple every person and thing in
all the conquered South in anywise appertainng to the
Southern people, whether white or black. The blacks
belong to US Just well the whites and if it were
our religion buy, sell and work them as slaves then
it would be done, unless stronger religion should in
terfere TO prevent u.s.
I'VE therefore hold that che Southern people mot
only Methodsts, but alb have religion and ought
not to be allowed assemble either in former churches
or elsewhere, and we have no doubt the time is not
far distant when such prohibition will be fully carried
out, and That too by religion growing up among
you.
1.-The period is very brief when any man, much less
editor be permitted to assert that Northern
Methodists steal property etc. that belongs to
Southern Methodists The fact is, the Southern peo
pie have fallen far behind the progress of the age
in everything-not only in religion-that they are
really ignorant Of the plainest truths well as in the
religion of the present age, as in the discoveries in
science and their daily application to the various arts
of life. Religion being the essential element of all
political progress it must of necessity partake of all
the notifications which the progressive and educated
minds discover be in accordance with the cearests
of the present age Orthodox and Heteredox are
no longer arrayed against each other Orthodox does
not at the present day, among the truly educated pre-
TO denounce as heretica or heerodox those who
differ from the former religion or politics. Three
persons in God, is no more less than figure
of illustration so, never-ending hell taught for
hundreds of years by all Protestants is for mo-
ment believed by the educated Of the present day 1t
is true many ignorant people of the Mehodists we'll
as some other religions, really do believe in endless
torment for the soul after DEATH but is the work of
every well thinking mind to be employed in removing
such horrible notions Doubtless, the old English
transations of the Bible had much to do with creating
this horrid, sad and dreadful notion. But even the
Roman Catholics have always discarded it and substi-
tued temporary punishment "a purgatoryl from which
liberal payment of money will release the victim But
the whole masses of the South stepped in the gross
est and darkest ignorance and than heather SUI
perstton. The whole religion of The Southern people
may be classed and the same, and that of the
worst possible tendencies Nor is there much sign for
hope in the future. Better indeed every house and
schoohouse in all the Southern States were burned
TO the ground, and every native born there forever