The New York herald., 1870-04-25
The Bible Against Po.ygamy --1he Rev
Dr. Ncwmnn's Argument.

The Bible Aaains. Po.ysamy-Ihe Rev.
Dr. Ncwmnn's Argument.
The Rev. pr. Newman, Of Washington, is
tho pastor there of the Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal church, OF whioh General Grant is
trustee and al whicd ne and his family are
worshippers. We give, therefore, pretty
fill report Of Tie sermon of the learned Doctor
delivered in said church yesterday, as In
answer to the question, ''Does the Bible
sanction polygamyl" because it may DO
reasonably supposed to reflect the Presidents
views on the subject, and because of the high
reputation Of tho preacher as an cxpoundcr Of
the Holy Scriptures. We have yet another
reason for the space we give to this learned
discourse, and it is this Assuming the popu-
lalon of the United States to be forty millions,
Dr. Newman, we dare say, speaks tho law, the
practice and tie sentiments Of not less than
thirty nine millions seven hundred and fifty
thousand of this people, the small remainder
being made up OF Mormons, Oneida COM
muniss, inidels, free lovers, spiritual affinity
people and criminals in durance vile, or sub
| laws of the land and Of American society.
| DR.. Newman begins with the lew OF the
| Creation, as on the occasion recited, submitted
| to the Pharisees by the Saviour-''Have ye
! not read that He which made them at the be-
ginning made them male and female 7" From
| this text the learned Doctor proceeds to
| examine the law aud the practice concerning
| polygamy from Adam and Eve-the founda-
ton of the marriage inatitution--down to the
new dispensaiion Of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We think, too, that as purely legal argu-
nant before the Supreme Court Of the United
States this examination and application of the
divine law touching poiygamy would, from
the facts, the law and the testimony, be held
conclusive against polygamy. So, in regard to
the practice OF this abomnation by the old
patrarchs and kings of Israel, it is shown to be,
from the first to the last, not only in violation
of the law, but always attended with the
| penalties consequent upon it's violation. Thus
| King David in becoming a polygamist became
| involved in other fearful crimes, and his pun
| ishnents were swift and terrible. Thus King
Solomon Sin all his glory" was a wretched and
miserable sinner.
From his views on the divine law, ii we did
! not know DR.. Newman TO be q Methodist, one
might suppose him to be a Roman Catholic, so
closely does he plead the Catholic argument
on marriage and divorce. And herein he Is
vastly strengthened; ; for, though he does not
draw upon any Catholic authorities for this
purpose the vast hiatus thus left between
st. Paul and John Wesley or Luther
may he filed by the expounders of the
| Church of Rome in the same line Of argu-
ment. At any rate, so uniform and universal
In faith and practice throughout this country,
in our first revolutionary epoch, was the Chris
| tian dogma of one husband and wife, that the
thought never entered into the heads of the
original trainers of our free institutions of any
possible disturbance of the system in the gene
ratons to come. Yet there is Utah and there
are the Slater Day Saints" flourishing with
their pluralities of wives, and claiming from
two to forty under the law of the Bible, the
practice of tho Jewish kings and patriarchs,
and by authority Of the Declaration Of Inde-
| pandence and the constitution of the United
| States.
| No doubt this sermon of DR.. Newman is the
| result Of q hint from the President, and we
| may presume that its object was warning to
Brigham Young to prepare for the enforce
ment of the law against polygamy. We think
it means that the law is to be enforced in Utah,
and that the voice of DR.. Newman from the
church of the President in Washington will be
heard and rightly interpreted by the founder
and chief expounder Of poygamy at Salt Lake
City.