The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-03-09
Progress OF Religious Liberty.


18th, statos that tho Dict of
Swcdon has passed a law admitting
disscnters and Jews to political
rights, and that tho King signed
tho law Immediately. Worry soon
religious tolcration will porvado
all tho Kingdoms Of Europe, and
bo followed, wo doubt not, sooner
or lator by tho severance of Church
and State.
State religious establishments
have boon tho curse of mankind,
since tho world began, Pagan or
Christian, so-calIod, for wo cannot
believe thoro is any pure Christ
ianity in that limb of a church
that is chained to II civil or mill
tary government Of uuinarirod
rulers. Intolerance or violation of
tho rights Of conscience in somo
form, and persecution havo boon
tho invariablo fruits of such ad-
ultcrous connexions, and over will
DO, in tho nature Of things. This
fact has been illustrated by the
Romish Church that has allied
herself to all kinds Of fgovcrnmonts
and used tho sword of cruel ty-
rants and fanatics to propagate
our creed or to dcfond it from
assaults and to sustain power.
Such, too, has been moro or loss
tho spirit Of tho Protestant do
nominations that have married
themselves to kings, potcnt"tcs, or
powers of any kind.
Wo boast Of religious liberty in
tho United States, and duscrvcdly,
30 fur rs nero constitutions and
laws aro concerned; but even in
this country thoro is constant
tendency Of somo Of tho scots to
ally themselves with tho govern
mont, and to control and DC con-
trolled by it. Tho Methodist
Church North has been for some
years m illustration. In their
Gonoral Conference and othor de-
positorios of power and influence
they havo suggested politicnI
measures and boon governed in
turn by tho measures Of tho gov.
crnmont or dominant political
party Of tho country. Tho love OF
power is natural to mon, whether
professors Of religion or not, and
if tho form of ecclesiastical gov
crnmont or doctrines they pro
fess to havo principle or hook it
any part woll fitted to conncc
with IL worldly power, they vii
seek tho connection in somo form
honco tho politico ecclesiastical act
and Legislation Of moro than on
denomination in tho United State
during the war and sinco ant
oven prior thereto. But there i
u good deal Of tho spirit Of in
tolerance and n hostility to re
ligious liberty perhaps, in ovor.
part Of tho United Statos
and this, too, in tho minds fman,
mon who do not themselves kno,
Of what manner ofspirit thoy arc
thoy aro roady to dcnounco over.
md any body that prcsumcs i
their hearing TO advocate his f;
vorito or peculiar religious opi'
ions, unlcss thcy correspond wit
those thoy may approve from pre
judico or education, are worry ap
TO show angcr if religious di'
cussion is carried on beforo them
Mt tho samo titno thcy arc omphat
ic in proclaiming thoir Chart
(oh, much abused wor,lD for a
denominations; thoir charity wouI
scal tho mouth Of ovory ministc
or private Christian from Owe
advocating any distinctive dot
trino Of his Church or donomini
tion before any body but thos
already Of tho same way Of think
ing, but those samo worry charitabl
mon aro apt to DO oxcoodingl,
tolerant Of tho discussions Of in
fidcls and scofYcrs.
Grccnvitic Enterprise.
Thoro is q spot on tho sun 81
largo that it can bc plainly soor
through pioco of smoked glass
1t was first observed on tho Gtl
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