New-York tribune., 1869-06-04
S1NC7JFICATyON BY SYNOD.

SANC7IFICATION BY SYNOD.
The Reformed Presbyterian Synod 20. S.
assembled at Newburgh the other day, not
neglecting, let us hope, the weightier matters
of the law, seems to us to have spent much
Improbable time in tthing mint, aud rue, and
all manner Of herbs 1t declared the Govern
ment irrelgous, the Nation irrcligiOus, the
Legislators irreligious. 1t avowed that the
people were destitute of all Constitutional uar-
rant to worship God and were under no Con-
StituGonal obligation to abstain from violating
His law. 1t soemnly asserted that no Christian
people can accept this Constitution without
sin, and insisted that it is the duty of every
citizen of the nation TO maintain an active dis
sent by refusing to incorporate with Gov
ernment thus constituted. And all this because
"our fundamental law contains no reference to
"the Supreme Source of civil authority, ex
cludes the name of God even from the oath
(which it prescribes, and neglects to provide
"for the observance of the Sabbath by the
departments of the Government"
Zophar, Elphaz, and Bldad, have como once
more TO Judgment. No doubt but they are the
people and wisdom shall die with them. Yet
there is something to be said in answer. Reli-
gion being-according to an old definition,
which has not been bettered-to do justly, to
love mercy, and TO walk humbly before God,
we submit that Government founded upon
the idea of the Fatherhood of God and Broth
erhood Of Man is not an irreligiOus Govern
ment, whether it parades the symbols OF Its
faith or enshrines that faith in the noble
declaration of its Bill of Rights. We submit
that that nation is not irreligious which has
broken bonds and let the oppressed go free,
which gave its frst-bon to die for justice.
which crowns their graves with flowers and
tears, and prayers. We submit that those Leg
islators are not irTeligiOus who-learniDg year
by year that the State is in danger when its
lowest citizen is oppressed, that political econ
omy is one with large and honest dealing, that
knowledge and conscience are the levers that
move the world-scek to enact just laws
for the Freedman, for the working man,
for children who incorporate benevolent
societies. and asylums for inebrates and in
sane, and Social Science Associations who as
sure To each soul and each Synod in the land
freedom to follow the Highest after its own
best conception. To demand a Constitutional
warrant TO worship God or a Constitutional OBJ
legation to keep His law, sounds to that large
laity not represented in this Synod of Sages
rs if q Convention of Sanitary Ref0rmers were
to insist on a Constitutional warrant for breath
ing the air, or a Constitutional obligation to
observe the laws of the body. The race has
lived on the sweet air since the first baby
gasped because it was tho condition OF its eX
istencc. The race has worshiped Supreme
Source of authority since that eldest day, be-
fore history, before prophesy, before the lncar
nation, before the Reformation, before the first
Synod, because it was equally the condition of
its existence.
Therefore, when these Reformed Presby-
terians of the Old School go on to say that it
is sin not to refuse allegiance to our Gov
ernment as constituted, n grave doubt arises
whether they have not, after all, in this tithng
of mint and cummin, passed over judgment and
the love of God, rs expressed in certain virtues
called gratitude, loyalty, charity, humility. For
nearly Il century has this denomination received
q gracious hospitality at the hands of the
nation. In that century, it has grown in num-
bers, wealth, and influence, rs God willed. When
the day of trial came to the Nation when her life
was in danger and she reached out her hands to
all the children she had nurtured, crying, Save
"me in my need !" are we to believe that this
body of Christian believers had no word of
love and cheer, no help of money, or arms, or
men, no prayers, no declaration Of allegiance
Now, that her peril is past, her protection a
stronger fold, it assails her with re-
proaches In Judea, He who spake rs
never man spake rebuked the Elders who
would bend men to the Sabbath, or call aloud
on God and forget the dong of His work, or
make religion a matter of VOWS and penances
and prayers, or insist on any creed rs the test
of godliness. In Massachusetts, Bay, the Elders
did all these things without rebuke made
church h-memborship the condition of citizen
ship, and debarred the ex-cOmmuncate from
certain civil rights, though he was allowed to
stand outside the door of the meeting house,
"if he will heare, in snow, frost, and raine."
The Reformed Presbyterian Synod %. 81
seems inclined to accept the code of Massa-
chusetts Bay. We ourselves lean to the Judean
some experience and much study having con-
vinced us that, in the long run, the Christian
system of ethics has borne fairer fruit than
ripens in the fields of any sect
The most enterprsing news for many day
is the announcement by cotemporary of the
n - n1Do,,,nI 10 10