Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-02-04
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

chapter of st. Mark:
land he said, so is the kingdom of God, as if
man should cast seed into the ground;
land should sleep, and arise night and day,
and the seed should spring and grow UP, he
knoweth not how"
He compared good principles to good seed
He spoke of the seed which had been buried for
years with the mummies in the crypts of Egypt
Some of these were good seed and retained their
vitality through these many years, and when
placed in favorable circumstances terminated
and grew. So some of the principles taught by
the inspired apostles. were for many years buried
in mans corruption, but when freed from this
corruption they have grown and fourished.
The great principle of spiritual liberty he
said, had been unknown and disregarded for
centuries, but within the last three hundred
years it had been brought to light and had
brought about a revolution more decided and
moro beneficial than any other within that time.
He then entered upon the enquiry as to whom
the world is indebted for this principle. He
maintained that no government on earth, except
the United States, had ever admitted the princi-
pie of religious liberty. That all believe the
State has right to govern and control the
church and legislate for some one denomina-
ton to the exclusion of all others.
Neither are we indebted to any OF the religious
denominations which have ruled the world
The Catholics have never admitted this princi-
ciple, and even at the present day the Pope de-
cares every man accursed who does not believe
in his infallibilty.
After q short account of the reformation
brought about by Luther and other reformers,
he showed that they had no idea of religious lib
erty, but wero in favor of the union of chnreh
and state. Neither Luther nor Melancthon un-
derstood religious liberty We now understand
it. The German reformers opposed it and per-
secuted those who believed in it.
Under Zwingle the church was harnessed up
to the car of the state.
Calvin too was ignorant of the principle
John Knox did not believe in it. Chalmers had
doubts about it. None Of all these reformers be-
lieved in the doctrine of religious liberty None
of their councils CT creeds acknowledged the
principle and all approved of the employment OF
the power OF the state. Principal Cunningham,
one of the most eminent men in the church of
Scotland, in recent work on Historic Theology,
testifes that the Baptists the people who first
declared that the state should have no power to
interfere in church affairs.
Felix Mantz. he ssid, q fellow student Of
Twinkle, insisted that the church should only
consist Of baptized believers, that infants ought
not TO be baptized, and that the church should
not De governed By the secular power. He was
tried, condemned and drowned. Many others
held the belief, and were called Anna Baptists.
He here gave vivid sketches of the lives, teach
ings, trials and suffsrings Of some of those brave
men who adhered firmly 70 their belief.
He showed by official sentences of those who
were executed-that they had nothing to do with
the riots Of Munster, Amsterdam or the Peasant
riot, but were executed because they had been
re-baptized and refused to renounce their faith.
From the teachings OF these men, he showed,
that they maintained the doctrine Of religious
liberty. That as early as 1Gl1 g Baptist conven.
ton at London declared that the temporal ruler
had no control over the spiritual man.
This struggle for religious liberty closed here
in Virginia. Here the Baptists stood alone, as an
ecclesiastical body in favor Of religious freedom
as part of constitutional liberty. He disclaim
ed any intention OF detracting from the efforts
of other denominations in this direction; but
maintained that when the pinch OF the crisis
came the Baptigts stood alone il their opposition
to the assessment bill and finally succeeded in
defeating 1t, Notwithstanding the thunders of
Fatrlck henry IN us 1&VOr.
He said it was proper that some memorial
should be erected to perpetuate the memory of
the fore sight virtue and brave endurance CT
those men who fought for this principle. All the
world had been made partaker in its blessings.
All denominations should rejoice together in the
victory.
This memorial, it had been determined, should
be in the form Of an endowment for their Col
lege in Richmond. He said the great want OF
the present age was high intellectual culture IN
der evangelical influence.
He closed one of the finest addresses we have
ever listen ed to with an earnest appeal to all to
aid in this great undertaking. That it was a
privilege as well as duty to assist in erecting a
memorial TO the noble principles and brave deeds
OF those who have blessed the world with their
labors.
It's impossible to give any conception of the
force and beauty of the address, the aptness Of
the Illustrations or the appropriateness of the
language of this eminent divine. We have
merely. attempted to give an outline of the sub
ject, which was presented in q clear forcible and
mastery manner.
"Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I agiA
build my church; and the gates Of he'll shall not
p7 eUGlG against lt''
The Rev. w. r. McNeer, President of Oak
land High School, located at Doe Hill, Highland
county, Va, preached powerful sermon from
the above text, in the Methodist church of this
place, on last Sunday night He made three di-
visions of his subject, viz:
1. Definition Of the word church"
2. It's fc undation.
:. The security afforded within its borders.
He defined the church referred to in the text
as meaning the organizations of al the true fol-
lowers of Christ throughout the world.
The foundation meant the crock Christ Je-
sus.'
The security afforded within the church is per-
fectly sure and steadfast, it having withstood all
the assaults made upon it in its infancy and after
it had grown to considerable proportions. and at
the present day il is stronger and more powerful
than ever before. and is marching on from con-
que1ing to conquer" and will, finally, triumph
most gloriously in the salvation of the world.
The Rev Mr. Vanhorn, of Augusta Circuit,
will FIJI the Methodist pulpit on next Sunday,
and Mr. Kennedy will Eli his appointment at
Fishersville on the same day.
At the Presbyterian church, Rev. W. T. Rich
ardson preached morning and evening, Mr.. Ba-
ker being again indisposed. At Lutheran
church, the resignation of Mr.. Gilbert was &C.
cepted, to take effect April 1st, and he preached
morning and evening. As it was Condolences
day." the candles were blessed at the Catholic
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