Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-12-05
"A Poor Publican" Confesseth
His Sins.

Doubtful whether he as much as lifts
his eyes to Heaven, and scarcely says
"God be merciful to me sinner" No
doubt he has often read, lord have mer-
cy upon us miserable Sinners" and from
the tone of his communication in last
weeks Democrat, will so need to pray fol
long time. For in TIE infinite mercy of
God, man who can indite such COM
municatinn for the press in the light of the
present age, writes himself down accord
ing to the creeds OF christendom, and es
pecially the teachings Of his own church
as in tha gall of bitterness and the bonds
of iniquity." In his unqualified asser.
tions, every one that assemblies to give
thanks to God on this Thanksgiving Day
is ingaging in piece of humbu gerv.
All Thanksgiving Proclamations are
cant phrases : assumed piety, beginning
with the chief n gistrate of the natiun,
and eechoed BY all the governors, end
ing up with call, or demand upon the
people to assemble, &c, for thanksgiving
and worship"
"a demand upon the people" This is
simply false. No President or Governor
ever assumed in these U. s., to so lord it
over the consciences of few people.
They do not assume so much, but leave
everybody to give thanks Or lamentations
as they may think they have cause, and
at such times and places as to them may
seem best They but suggest 10y custom
"a day. Poor Publican" further saith :
If Clergymen had more OF the spirit of
their master, and more courage in their
office, they would ignore this unwar
ranted and degrading interference of the
secular powers in their sffairs."
There Is but one class of men known in
this country as Clergymen by the teach
ing OF Poor Publican's curch. They are
also called Priests. Those who officiate
at other alters, save the Catholic Church,
which is assumed by the writer as, "The
Episcopal Church." and from such rela-
tions he assumes to sreak "are not gen
orally known as Clergymen."
This is pretty strong confession and
accusation on priests of the Catholic
Church
Does the writer remember Clergyman
who stopped with him, and who would
not serve St. Thomas Parish according to
has dictates and interferencey He had
courage to pack his traps and depart 10
where gentlemen of his animus do not
interfere with the Clergymen in carrying
out their. views by praying for the Presi-
dent, &c. His high church notions
would arraign Tying and every man of
conscience over christian doing, and he
be an excellent Lawyer to worry the
saints of God,"-yet he would break the
Ritual, or spurn prayer for the President,
and that in the face of the following
scripture: Il exhort, theref IRE, that first
of all, supplications, prayers, interces-
sions. and giving of thanks be made for
all men. For kings, and for all that are
in authority; marginal reading-on emil
nent place. that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and hon
esty." q Tim. Ill. ~ Clergymen are
not to ignore their vows, and have enough
sense and christian loyalty to God and
the country, to know when the wicked
reign, (in single parish or in nigh pla-
ces), the righteous mouth" That there
is cause for fasting and lamentations as
we'll as giving thanks, and to the best ot
their judgment, they act on all national
days
Did the writer mean his priest in the
above, of whom he aft med on the day
OF election that ''if he voted the Radical
ticket, | will cut his feed | will not sup
port him and he will have to ulit." Ii
SO, and that clergymen was dictated to
thus pesoually, as he aimed to dictate
to an 'ther at the time of the conversation
he would quickly show moral courage, or
moral cowardice.
The Poor Publican accuses, the clergy
and especially those of the radical per.
suasion' of being f1attered with official in
reference in their office, and yet all the
while rail ng out gainst the Church OF
Rome, charging it with seeking to ally
Itself with temporal power, when in truth,
in that respect. in this country at least il
is the freest from anything of this kind
of any Church in the land. Indeed ii
many four modern preachers would fol-
low the example of the Roman priests. in
their quiet and faithful devotion to the
| legitimate duties of their office and pay
less attention to political affairs, Their
churches would prosper more"
The truth is, the above is meant fol
modern preachers possibly some of the
clergy.
The truth is, the Church of Rome is
the only church in christendom that trie.
to dictate 10 the flock how they shal
vote, as her history to any man that il
not SO blind as those who will MOI
see-knoWs