New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-30
RELIGIOUS.
GOD IN rnE CONSTITUTION.

now ststing for the introduction into the ConstuOs
OF the following declarations Of faith ls That the Civil
Governments owes all Its authority and power TO Al
mighty God I'd. That the Lord Jesus Christ Is the ruler
among nations 3d. That the Bible is Chrss and there
fore Gods revealed viii. and Is OF supreme authority In
Christian Government These propositions have al
ready been Endorsed by several large theological conven
tons, and have been brought before the u g. senate
questions with ct the very outset Of THO
warn the people against the periious consequences
subjects for discussion criticism and Christian sects
may properly unite 20 defend ther particular faiths
Greatest work our fathers mpiished-they cannot
their dogmas or plant their theological batteries
which these proportions true, and thus proper
for Christian Churches and conventions 10 enter,ain
ON the ground that they are the Laws OF Almighty
God We weaken instead Of strengthen the civil
ods authority leave to disobsy the laws and thus they
get Gil the advantage without any OF the
civil authority And these articles not even apple
able to eli Christians There many who DO not DO
Again our Bible being King Jamess version IA dis
puted by all Roman Catholics. This Amendments pro,
poses " put tho Bible In s character AZ GIL inspired
book into the Constitution. and In this way to keep II Ia
the against tho wishes and protests OK tne
settie premstrey questions which the nsen means 70
keep out VI politics Oar people nave Ies y, ao
union between Church and State. religion and politics
they look with Jealousy upon any endeavor on tnc
any partial or special legislation from the national or
STATE Governnients Protestants now lsborng 10
t5eoogiea Character 70 tie constitution while
raj States the Roman Catholics, taking adyan,s s
fse 'I pot f"Ai NH IN into 'hsH machine for grinding
their ecclesiastical grist This oefsnly not unnatural
gerous. The Roman Catholic journals never before
bold uRscrupuous. and internally partisan ~ at me
his ROMAN catholic country. They put reIls faith
above political obligations and vote for What favors
they are largely sustained by bath tho great political
parties of tho country not on the ground Of charity but
rY% Roman SS sn Snts IL q thor
Proestnts VIM do the same, and sooner or later ren
10 look with the utmost difsVOr upon every attempt
on the part Of Protcstsnts or Roman Cs;nohcs 70
zeal subsidies fayors should be made Impossible
by positive statutes When tho proposition TO ex.
Brought forward and opposed IT, but have come 70
reverse my opinion pay 70 ,hs the bs .honld be-
taken OF the public SCHOOLS 30 long AS frOtestans
Insist upon maintaining the Be IN me Pa1aC sSaot tn
school fund DO distributed pro rata which will ultimately
cause we have allowed the Roman Catholics TO drag
their Church into political circles that we 500 the alarm
Ing PR are they not on the road to ruin
Slavery ts missionaries to Congress and endea'ofeu
Ia spread Itself into Territories freedom
and seemed almost strong enough to the capital
and r,o natoD but when the people fully com-
pretended its purpose they and down the ac-
American soil and should any religious denomination
pie viii treas az they treated slavery; and il tho GER
tanly of this result that leads me to warn all persons
whittier they are tending in mixing up religious naers
with the politics Of tho country
FAREWELL SERMON or REV. DR.. sPEARS-How
TO CHOOSE A PASTOR.
The Rev. DIR. Spears, for twenty eight years
pastor South Presbyterian Church. Brooklyn, who
has lately accepted the edtorshp Of The Independent
preached his farewell before very large con
ra.vt And
now brethren. commend you to God and to the word
Of His grace which il able to build you up and to give
you an inheritance among all them which are saneti-
fed" These fitting words said the preacher when
originally spoken alike becoming the man. the audience.
the There is special significance Ia last
things An event. unimpOrtsDt in itself may neverthe
important the close OF the series Whatever
may be the Of this sermon. the circumstances
under which 1t Is preached distinguish it, to from all
the other which have fallen from my lips
1t ia the last shall preach pastor
and the last shall ever preach u pastor anywhere
which have led me 10 this decision have been
spread before tine several boards that officially represent
this church and before the members OF the
congregation and before the Presbtery Of Brooklyn by
Whose permission ana authority take tIis siep. FOR
nearly IS years almost half of my entire lifetime.
have held the position now relinquish During all
thee relations To this people aud theirs to me
been such that now recur 70 nothing In the
past which would wish to have esse ntiaIy dinsrent
the gbtest for supposng that you desire IT, IL
not founded any dissatisfaction with you az people,
nor any decreasing interest In the prosperity OF this
church any lurking suspicion IN own mind that
you would prefer should bring my ministry to close
The positive which have controlled my Judgment
drawn from the field which have been invited 10
occupy
The Idependessto associate myself with him in its lite
rary management with tho assurance that this, &c
copied should life position. and also with the
understanding which has already been msdo known To
the public hst the papr Te 9 b faD s@S sSa
cate OF pure Evangelical Christianity as contained IN
whatever name or sect ON the broad foundation Of truth
and Righteousness which make them QUE IN Christ Jt
sus This proposition after duly considering II IN refs
ton TO my Self the habits sad proolvites OF own
mind and the proclves of the future as they stsna
ing II In its relation to this church. and the manner
which its interests would he likely TO be affected in the
I'm relation 10 the comparative question OF the largest
usefulness, have concluded 10 accept believe mat
can do more to impress profit this world and serve
my Master during the few remaining years OF ny active
hitherto occupied. do not regard myself as aoahuoh
ing the ministry OF the WORT Dnt simply changing It's
II is pleasure and comfort to me to think that am
Cherished friendships which exist are not TO wane
and expire by the force OF separation There are
certain matters especially pertinent this occasion
gnoS which wish to speak and which will group
under the head Of retiring pastors advice MY advice
and congreestion from the humbest the highest and
most import ant should make IL matter Of principle To
adhere to this organization and II sfey through
bateyer there NAV no Of crisis or pcr the retire
nept OF pastor and the procurement OF another.
change OF pastors when effected In the most AMIGA
be manner is grave event In the history Of church
certainly desirable in itself considered, for
church undergo the ordeal II ~ especially undesr-
able when the attachment of the membership to the
church consists almost exclusively In their attachment
TO the pastor Indeed that church is In very bad way,
and before II uDpromsing future, that cannot
its present pastor without hoing brought to tao
verge Of dispersion and ruin. HB Is too important
10 the organization for its own ultimate safety.
The organization Is too dePenaett on him because the
membership is loosely attached to II, and hence lies
fra when the central attraction Is gone
Ny second item Of advice has reference 10 the choice
OF some TO be my SUCCESSOR. My remarks will have
no reference men, but only IL the general principles
good Christian discretion. J. Proceed rapidly with
this work You and AZ the same time. proceed in
diligently aud wisely You must take time enough 10