The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-12-31
CHURCH ZEAL.

ChV kCH ZEAL.
an denomination well, we take the
rivilegc of trenching upon the terri
,ry of the priest and the pastor, to say
word in behalf of religious federation
n its warfare with dcnominational |
eal. Somewhere, we are told that
here is no royal road to heaven. 1t is
equally true that no cept or sect Of Chris
ians enjoys the exclusive right-of-way
TO that blissful sphere. The promises
Of the Saviour are to him who believes,
of what ceremonies he adopts
to manifest outwardly his devotion, or
of the denOminational creed to which
he attaches himself. Who has consti-
tuted any OF us Il judge to pass sentence
of condemnation upon those who dis
sent from our views: Ifso empowered,
may not those who dissent claim to hold
the same Divine authority? The re-
suit leads to strife, bitterness, and, if it
were possible, to the defeat OF the pur-
poses of Christianity.
But it is mainly the social aspect of
our subject with which we are con-
cerned. a community is often rem
dered more inharmonious by intern
perate displays of denominational fer
Vor, than by any other cause. Bitter
feelings are engendered i'll this way, SO
intense and unrelenting, that one, not
aware of their origin, would suppose
that they arose from uncompromising
personal rancor and were founded upon
the worst passions of our nature. One
neighbOr after another is enlisted i'll
the contention about crecds and forms
brethren and sisters in one grand and
sublime faith, engage i'll the acrimo-
NOUS dispute-and the grand total is Il
community broken into irreconcilable
factions. Is this the aim of Christian
ity? By no means.
Our observation, from Il neutral stand
point, of denominational conflicts, often
leads us to admire, as the sublimest
idea enunciated in Holy Writ, that the
greatest of all virtues is Charity-not
that restricted quality which contents
itself with giving aims to the poor and
providing shelter and food for the sick !;
but that noble, god-likc virtue which
most of all opens Il mans heart to his
fellOw-man and educates it to sympa-
thy, kindliness, forbearunce, liberation
and love. Men everywhere are falli-
BILE, and cannot help it. Shall tallible
man judge him who is his peer, and
-, {.,{ 10, .,.4i
that natural right of belief and action
which it is his duty to exercise? That
is not Cllarity-nor does it tally with
our conception of religion. If such |:
man uses his talents as given him, and
has faith, let him alone. PROSECUTING
from one faith to another, by systematic
entertainments, is something like ill.,
terfering with Il neighbours laborers, or
one teacher leading Off the pupils OF
another. 1t is one of the bancs of the
church militant on earth, and the fruit
full source of social disquietude beside.
But, aside from the sound philoso-
ply, morally and socially, of religious
federation, it is essential to the perpe-
tuity of free institutions. Civil and re-
ligious liberty go hand-inhand. y Re-
public ceases to be such, whenever it
recognizes any church as the church of
State One of President MadisOn's
;lblest messages to Congress is upon this
subject.
AS guardians of social progress and
harmony, as well as teachers of Chris
tianity, ministers should strive to allay
all dcnominational strife and to hasten
the reconciliation of all creclS to Il per-
feet alliance against the common enc
my. That is Il narrow faith which
defines orthodox as my dON, heterOdoN
as YOUR tlox. Paul said to one of his
churches that their zeal had destroyed
them. " Zeal, without Knowledge" is
expression used by;him. There
can be, then, too great Il zeal, if eXertcd
in the wrong direction. What Chris
tianity and the State nccd-what bcnc-
fits socicty-is honest differences Of re-
lipious sentiments, mutual forbearancc,
and Il rivalry only in the work of doing
good.
Survey OF the Upper Ouncllita.
Vrpicr n provision made mt the last |