The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-07-24
\ WHOLE NO. . 1866.
From the Columbus Gazette.l Asas
-sas =a A Mistake. nn.iiaa 4

2 :.
Our ministry of to-day is acting and
preaching a grievous error. This sur
prises us, for no body of men in the e.
world, taken as whole, can show as
! much genuine refinement and intelli-
gence as the clergy. In making this
statement, we feel that we illustrate the g
truth of what we heard at the First Bap-
tist Church last Sunday viz: that man,
when unable to do anything else can
complain, and that criticism is the lowest )
species of intellectual prowess. This is
| sad, and really makes us appear quite q
| foolish; but having begun this article,we
must go through with it, even if we make
| a mistake ourselves. A9
The great error of the ministry of to-
day is that which denies the right Of con-
science. This it does, and without pre-
varication. The clergy. tells you the
rights of thought are limited; that there a
is standard of ight, of which they are
the judge; that ali thoughts which ques-
tion the truth of this and that are vile,
and the evidence of a sinful heart. They
style Darwin an idiot, and Hume q BIAS
phemer. Science they look upon as an
interloper, and classify the man who &
doubts the Mosaic account of .creation,s
an intidel. We have no particular fault
to find with all this however. 1t is'the
spirit which prompts these utteranees 4
which we have called in question, 1t is al.
one which denies your right to investi-
gate. 1t tells you to do SO is sin, A
spirit of investigation is not the work of .
conscience 1t is the offspring of rebell- 8
ious and wicked thoughts which dare to
dispute that which you can not under
stand. .--sg 4 ,.ssss. z
Now, conscience is not passion. A man
does not get angry and knock his. oppo-
nent down from the promptings of CON-
science No, indeed. But an opinion, if
the man be capable of forming one, and
some are not, is the work of this inesti-
mable gift to erring man 1t may bean
error. But that has nothing to doswith1
the question. long as a man believes g
a thing SO and so, from an inward invol-
untary idea that is so, he should hold to
it. 1t is the true test of noble manhood =
or womanhood; and hewhe surrenders
up what he honestly believes, because
friend wishes him to, or for society's
sake, is craven, and unworthy the name
of man. s..is sa H.. a-'''
We say again that it is out of the pro =
vince of the clergy to deny the right Of
any man to believe what he will; Garry
out this principle, and you have relig- i
ious despotism which has never been !.
equalled.s What then, is the privilege Of
our ministers Simply this, to exhortsa
to persuade, to remonstrates; to ,ip vesti-s.
gate, to debate, to prove; to- assert that
WTOHS IuSHS Dei tuO SHOuiu Oc 'UC-
ieved until righted to show, in spirit ].
of charity, aohy sophistry has deceived its
followers. af9@a E-S ~s~ safs ass -
Reader, thereis-honest belief, and an J
honest disbelief One is true. and the
otheri false. Butt if prompted by conscience
they are both religious faiths, and should :.
be respected as such; and we are happy
to see this broad spirit of charity so well
exemplified among the clergy of Coium-
bus We glory in the spirit of liberality
as manifested here and can only hope
that all denominations within our city
limits, may finally be compelled. by the 8
spirit of free thought, which the age has
allowed full liberty, to acknowledge the
rights of conscience.