Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-04-05


The Reverend gentleman who furnishes
religion in small quantities to salt the ses-
sions of the Massachusetts Legislature,
must have been confounded the other day
by an unexpected rebellion in that hitherto
obedient body. Like his confrereS IL w ash
incton. the Massachusetts, chaplain has
been exercising his privilege to advise the
House upon its measures, through the
forms of prayer to God, which course gives
the representatives Of loyal churches very
considerable advantage over other lobby
members. The Rev. CEdwOrth, the other
day, addressed the House, through the fic-
ton of imploring the Deity, in the follow
ing fashion:
1.-THE earth is Thine, . Lord, and the
fullness thereof, the world and they that
dwell therein. And now another of the
worlds great questions presses into this
chamber Tor an answer what can we do
for woman? And clamor answers, let
her vote :: clamor answers again, don't
let Ter vote. Clamor thunders, clamor
wines, clamor pravs, clamOr jeers. Shall
we hear the ieer Of clalnor.' God forbid
If there be any stain Of right withheld
from bright, blessed beings; those who, as
mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, compan-
ions, friends, make up so much of the hap
piness Of the Commonwealth homes, give
strong enough to expunge that stain from
the records of Our otherwise prosperous
State"
The CulOgy upon woman, and the plain
intimations of duty to the representatives,
were very. happily contrivcd. FGw neater
travesties, and perverSions of devotion,
have been accomplished by any OF the cler-
ical nountebanks who figure so glaringly
in that queer evolution Of pulpit incOnsist-
ency which we have lately produced as the
American choptdincy. But, at last, the
patience even Of Massachusetts Legisla-
, tuIe gave way under the pressure of cleri-
cal impudence. Mr.. KiInball rose imme-
dately after the prayer and asked the
Chair if it was in order for person, not a
member, to discuss a question before the
House. The Chair, upon consideration,
thought not. A lively discussion now
sprang up, and the question of clerical linli-
tations was warmly discussed. We do
not know how they settled it : but it is re-
freshing to learn that any disapprObation
was expressed. 1t gives us hope for Mas
sachusetts 10 find returning sense of the
existence Of limitations to clerical inter-
ference in political matters. The doctrine
avowed and cultivated during the war, GER
tainly sustains the chaplain's right to di-
rect the conscience of the Legislature
are moral, if the chaplain chooses to make
them so, we think Dir. Cudworth vas
clearly within limitations when he admon-
| ished the House on Woman's Rights. He
would have been certainly so had he prayed
abont negro rights, He would have been
quite in the line of duty had he strength
ened the lois of the House concerning
Fifteenth amendments, Or the sin Of am
! neSties, or the piCus obligation to keep
hewing at the Southern Agag until they
should make infnitesmal mincc meat of
him. Why then should he not exercise
his gifs'upon domesmtic matters? Why
should he not prescribe moral diet, moral
hours for sleep, moral clothing, and every
other matter in the ever expanding range
Of moral applications9 Is it not strange
| that New England cannot see that she has
| fOolishly consented to q wrong principle,
which ought to be Immediately and peni-
tently abandoned ? But there is vastly more
| trouble in this clerical dslocatiOn than has
yet developed itself.-Bdittnaore Gazette.