Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-09-19

poLITlC, AND RELIGION. 10 oul mind,
says the Petersburg Iadcn. there is moth
-ing more despicable and dangerous i an
the forced and unnatural nnlon Of church
and State. keiigioa. rightly CONSIDERED,
las 30 do with .he relations which g nam
>ustaius though his conscience with the
Maker and lord to whom he is respuH-
sibe for all his thoughts and actions.
Whenever the organizations and associa,
lions III natural process formed out Of
the people who think alike in relis ious
matters whenever we say, these bodies
attempt to coercc the actions Oh convict
ions Of Others by any pressure Of discip
line or authority or any penalties of force
Or menace, they become the agencies Of
evil Instead Of good.
Still, as churches become rich and pow
erful. it is almost impossible to prevent
,heir arrogating and assuming something
of control in secular interests -exerting
III politics the supervision and authority
which free concession in matters sacred
has seemed to bestow IS a kind of pres
eripfion and right divine. But it
will be found that, just in the measure
that a church takes part III things which
pertain to the world and men of the world.
in that measure exactly 1t. loses its
spiritual character, ceases to represent
the religion of Christ, and departs from
the example he be4oeatled aud the al
rect instructions OF His divine wisdom
and authority.
Il is SO we'll known that the Northern
Methodist oh u,ch has ceased to be a
religious body, aud that it has assumed
control of the politics of the country that
the following extract from tho New York
correspondence of the st. Louis Christian
!adrocate will be read NOT SO much with
surprise as " ID anger snd indignation:
"Mr Greeley,s prospects are not very
bright, even in the opinion of bis friends,
and there seems to be reaction He
is backing ground. The enthusiasm dies,
out. [ thiuk have said before in this
paper that no man can hope to>bo Pres
ident who is not connected with the
Northern Methodist church That re-
peat as settled fpc.. rs
.General Grant is smart enough to
know that, aud trustee Of tho church
and writes to the General Conference.
aud goes to camp meetiugs. Last Friday
he. wentto the Ocean. Grove camp meet
ing. Here is the report which one Of
the papers makes of the close Of his visit
The hour of the afternoon service
having arrived, tie -Rcy: Stokes, pres
ident of the Association, rose and said:
{" Before the religious services Of the
afternoon commence [ desire, on behalf
Of The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting AS.
ISOLATION of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, to introduce to friends who are
new orcseut the President of the United
States, Ulysses S. Grant. Let the con-
greeation rise.
:"fhey rose eli msasse, and the Prss-
iGent bowed and took chair at the end
OF the platform. The Glee Club then
sang with great gusto
.'My country, It's of thee,
Sweet land of liberty"
in which the vast congregation heartily
united. making the woods vocal with the
volume of song,
''Mr Stokes announced that the Pres
dental party would be unable to stay
during the preaching, owing to the pre-
vious ogagement ct ,yheis house on sea
shore"
General Grant has sense enough to use
and despiso these political pastors.