The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-01

forgive Mr.. Wise his impudent conduct, and
add here my advice that he should be little more
careful in acting upon his Judgment. Claim
ing the rabbinnica honors 1t Is certainly wrong OF
him to expose himself as fulaer OF the prophecy
careful in ' Smelling When he has mind to quote
Hebrew words. JOSEPH MOSES AHRENS0HN.
Al EAST BROADWAY, this 30th day OF August, 5,633d
year OF creation
Religious Persecution.
To THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD
Persecution for opinions sake dates almost from
the commencement of the world. Adam and Eve
were banished from the Paradisical garden for re-
belllon and dissension. Did not God assist the
Israelltes to make war on and destroy the sur
rounding Gentle nations for their idolatry and
wickedness2 The divine law given to Moses was
the law OF God to man, and therefore any dissent
from that law was punishable. We see, then, that
error, from the first, according to Gods command,
should be hunted down ana prosecuted This could
be practically carried out as all along during the
four thousand ages OF the Jewish nation there was
a union OF Church and State. When the Jewish
Church was superseded by Christianity, and
the doctrines enunciated by the Goldman
In lonely Judea were gathered up in
the form OF living Church and
launched out as frail bark in the stormy waters
OF paganism, idolatry and worldly sensuality, 1t
met with persecution from the side OF error as
error was the stronger. Christianity, unlike
Judaism was hot established surrounded by uen-
poral power, but as purely spiritual kingdom,
sent to operate on and leaven by spiritual wea-
pons the corrupt mass of pagan dolatry. God was
not with it temporarily, but spiritually. God was
with the Apostles, to enable them to endure mar
tyrdom for His sake. as well as He was with
Moses. He assisted and buoyed up amid the bit
ter waters OF heather persecution the infant
oh hut a w m hed w m
pOral power, as He was with Moses. But Chris
tianity at length triumphed, and with the accession
peror of Rome, there was renewal Of
the union of Church and State. When
got eaa W of the sPat
then 1t began to put down error by the strong arm
Of persecution. And had not the true Church OF
old and the new Scriptures, to crush down error?
The HISTORIANS, Waldenses, Abgenses, Anabap-
lists Socinians and other heretcs OF the early and
middle ages, unsupported as they were ny mate
rial power, were at once crushed by the Church.
aided by the State: What was 1t that permitted
separate from Rome9 Was 1t not backed up by the
growing Empire of Russia, and also by Turkey The
revolt Of Luther in the sixteenth century would
torians, only that in Germany, by Charles
v, and IN England, by Henry VIII,
the state. But heresy soon began, when it got
stronger to persecute Christianity The fortunes OF
the has te OF @ ON
civil policy OF the Jewish nation under divine rule;
but heresy, taking advantage OF the precedent,
each Insignificant sect believing itself Christianity
began to repeat tRc lessons of history and the fires
OF Smithfeld, the msssacres OF Cromwell, the burn
ing OF seryetus were some o. It's prosecutions s
the right from God to crush out error, where
will we find the true Church Of Christ That apos-
tolic Church that was appointed by Jesus Christ;
that Church that leavened the corrupt mass OF
pagan idolatry that Church that sent its mission
aries over Europe and made 1t blossom in the full
no n Christian truth. that Church. during
an uninterrupted succession OF fifteen hundred
ages, kept civilization on Christian basis; that
Church which to-day, in the rpencss OF nineteenth
century civilization asserts the supremacy OF the
Gospel over States and Empires, rulers and leaders,
OF civilization; that Church which is the only living
embodiment OF Christianity In the modern world !;
that Church. and that Church only, is the true
Church of Christ. Some say that the Catholic
Church Is in favor Of religious liberation; but this
is wrongshe is intolerant. IF she Is the Church Of
God she has right to oppose error Religious
liberation Is the doctrine of modern liberalism.
Professionalism broke up the union OF Church and
state and Christianity is therefore, thrown y
apostolic days. Modern governments, for the
most part, in both Europe and America, are
unchristian. and Christianity therefore no longer
influences the actions OF States But the days OF
religious persecution for conscience in the face OF
modern liberalism are past. we hear lately Of that
gelical society, the Jesuits, from Prussia This is
the old persecution over again OF Nero or Attia.
But this age has declared for. moral and
for liberty OF person and property; for liberty
in the fullest and even in the most extrava-
giant sense. The Christian State had right TO
punish heresy but the modern anti Christian state
has no right to lay hands on Christianity. At any
rate, the days or religious persecution are passed,
and any Power, In the face OF the liberal ideas OF
the age that attempts to revive IL, is digging its
own grave. VIC. ID.
Ministerial Movements, Changes, &c.
METHODIST.
The new Methodist Episcopal church at Harris
dale, N. Y. will be dedicated to-day. Rev. s. d.
Brown, d. d., Rev. John Parker and others are
announced to take part in the services. The new
Methodist Episcopal church at Badwin's L. l., Rev.
NJ Hubbell, PASTOR will be dedicated to-day. Bishop
Harris, Rev. DR.. True and Rev. George Lansing
Taylor are expected to preach. Rev. James
Morrow, OF the Irish Wesleyan Conference, arrived
here last week with the purpose OF entering the
itinerant ministry in this country. Rev. Dr.. Reid,
Missionary Secretary, left this city on Tuesday
morning for the West. He will make an ofi1cial
visit to the Western conferences before his return
The United Methodist Free Church Conference
| OF England has elected Rev. J. s. wilmington
president and Rev. John Adcock secretary Dr.
NJ d. G. Crawford and Rev. A. ID. VAIL of this city
have been enjoying "recreating" trip To Lake
Superior. DR.. L. S. Weed, pastor OF John street
church, expects to spend portion OF the month
September In Minnesota, with view to the benefit
OF his wifcs health Rev. b. w. Chase, pastor o
the church at Laconia, n. H., has been obliged by
hemorrhage of the lungs to suspend his labors fol
a season. In 1860 the total number of Wesleyan
ministers in Great Britain, Ireland, the foreign
missions and the affiliated conferences was 1871
| In 1871 there were 2,4S2; increase, $50. In 1876
there were 492 867 members; In 1871, $50, $40; In
crease, so,s7s The members OF foreign mission
churches are 7o,1es. In 1860 there were nine eli
cults In London now there are nineteen. the