The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-31


A PLAIN SPEAKER.-The Rev. B. F. Clark, OF
Chelmsford, preached the annual election ser.
mon " before the Massachusetts Legislature on
Wednesday week, the Legislature marching to the
church to music from 0ffenbach. The Boston
Advertiser SAYS:
" The preacher of the election sermon this year
took advantage of his opportunity to present his
view OF the relations between morals and law,
and made the application without finchng His
view, 1t is well known, is not that which prevails
among the clergymen of his denomination, and
this is the first time il has found expression among
the preachers Of election sermons. Mr.. Clark be
longs to that class who advocate license law on
Puritan principles; but this fact has mot shielded
him from storm of criticism such as few men in
bis situation have had to encounter. If he could
have delivered bis sermon to the audience that
elected him, he might have had q more friendly
hearing; but he would have lost the chance
which is never to be despised-of putting his
strongest argument before those who differ from
him."
We quote the following from the Advertisers
report of the sermon:
Among our citizens there are those who seem to
think that most of the ills to which flesh is heir
can be removed by legislation. These ask for i'm
practicable laws in conflict with the well estab.
lshed principles in political economy and in hu.
man nature. They demand legislation which will
regulate the habits of the people which shall
force others to adopt their views, and bring them
into conformity to their standard of right By this
the world by legislation, you will doubtless be
urged to frame their impracticable views into
legal enactments. These imprscticable men and
women may urge you to pass laws in conflict with
the principles here developed, to effect ends which
are not within the province Of legislation. You
will do well, in considering theif demands TO re.
member that, while in despotic government the
habits of the people can be regulated by Law,
backed by military force, in free government
having sovereign in each of its subjects, this
cannot be done. A despot may decide by his own
will what his subjects shall eat, drink and wear;
and how they may talk and act; but such legisla-
ton in republic will always prove a failure and
q disaster. If asked to remove acknowledged
moral evils, and to effect desired moral reforms
by legal enactment, instructed by our discourse
you will refuse compliance, saying to your peti.
TONERS 1t Is impossible to legslate men into holt
ness, to force them to cultivate the Christian
greces, or even to practice the common virtues
These ends must be effected, if at all, by the
potent agency Of truth kindly applied to the IA
tioDal in man.
Mr.. Clark then gave rapid glance at the his.
tory OF the temperance reform in Massachusetts,,
contrasting its rapid growth and its beneicent re-
sulis curing the early days of moral aud Christian
agencies, and the paralysis which had fallen upon
II under The influence of the political machinery
with which II was now associated. He closed with
bTlef actress TO the different departments of
the government. To the Legislature he said: In
the light of our subject, we see that law has an
hont rable and useful province and is efficient for
good when lawfully used, and efficient for evil
when improperly used to force changes in the pc.
culiar province of truth. Keep these two Pro-
vinces distinctly in view. and let professed REFORM
ers in our commonwealth understand that. wheth.
er In the capacity of organized churches. or of
voluntary societies for specific purposes, thew can
only receive from You protection in their work:
while in imitation Of the great Christian reformer
and those trained by him, they may call upon sin.
ners to repent, and persuade the vicious to lead
good and virtuous lives. He addressed the gov.
eminent elect and council and the retiring GOV.
ernor in the same spirit. urging upon their i1dg
ment the distinction he had set forth and askn,,
their counsel ana influence In aiding to carry Il
into the laws and life of the commonwealth.