The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-04-29

L Elotted our, anu Is now ueVOtfug TIC
greater portion of his intellectual ef-
! forts TO prove that what he has here.
tefore. said upon the temperance ques-
ton. was untrue. Not content with
the iocel notoriety he has obtained
here at homc. by advocating his new
moderate drinking theories, we find
him branching out-now at lndian-
apolls, next at knightstown, and lastly
at the Presbytery which convened at
Richmond last week. That body
some forty ministers aud elders-were
invited to attend a temperance meet
ing at i.yceum Hall, In that city on
certain evening during their sitting,
vote was taken, and carried to adjourn
and attend the meeting, but three dis
sentiug, all of whom were from this
city. Mr.. Siuter thereupon drew up
the following protest, which was sign
ed by himself and the two other gen.
slenlen, and presented it to the meet
ing at their session the next morning.
The Presbytery ordered the protest
spread Syou the records, and also or
dered it to be answered by reference
to the digest of the General Assembly.
1t is rather difficult to harmonic the
resolutions above With this late pro-
duction of Mr. Sluter, which reads as
follows:
"The undersigned would respect
fully enter their solemn and earnest
protest against the action of Presby-
tely in adjourning its sessions for the
purpose OF attending weman's move
ment temperance meeting. We dis
sent for the following reasons:
First, because that particular tenn
peranee agitation confounds use with
a5use-a principle wholly unsound
aud unscriptural, and by which total
abstinence from marriage might be
proved with equal justice. A Although
the evils of RIGHTEOUSNESS are epor-
nous, it does not demonstrate the ne
cessity of total abstinence from mar
riage.
secondly, We utterly deny that
the Bible commands total abstinence.
The word temperance in the Isible
means self-command. confluence, mod
Grafton as to all the appetites. Nor
does the word of God authorize US in
representing intemperance as the
greatest of SINS. Its expressions about
wine, and all those passages that di-
rectly or remotely refer to this subject,
are either representations of the pro-
pricty of the proper enjoyment of Gods
gifts, or they guard against excess, or
| they command sabriety.
Thirdly, hence the church of our
Lord Jesus Christ, as such, can have
nothing to do with the above move
ment. For the Gospel, assuming the
reality Of moral evil, presents the work
for the redemption of fallen humanity.
If our race is to be redeemed, it can
only be accomplished from within, by
the expulsive power of a new affection,
the love of Christ expellIng the love
of sin.
Total abstinence can only be found
in the law of charity, argued in the
14th chapter of Romans, and not in
any universal command binding upon
all 1t is matter left by our Saviour
to Christian liberty While we fully
accord to others the right to judge for
/ themselves upon this SUBJECT, We claim
| the right of private subject for our
selves. And as we deem the se-ealled
woman s temperance movement false
| to the very genius and spirit of true
Christianity. false to the modesty and
virtue, the true dignity and glory OF
| woman, false to the principles of sound
| morality, and false to true loyalty
| we 10 not and cannot approve it.
| Deeply deploring the necessity for
| this first divided vote of our Presby-
| terry, since the happy Reunion of our
church, we subscribe ourselves.
/ "Affectionately and fraternally,
/ sGEoRGE SLUTER,
John III. EscHMEYER,
SAMUEL HAMILTON.
We have no purpose in this article
| to enter into a discussion Of the mo
tives" which have caused Mr. Siuter
| to take the back track. That Brown,
| or Jones, or Smith, or soraebody else,
| insulted him. in no wise 5ustifies Mr..
Sluter in throttling duty and embrac-
ing wrong. Our object in this has
been wholly to present the above
! records of facts for the information of
| our readers, and leave it to the rever-
end gentleman to harmonic his in
consistencies if he can. As the mat.
ter now stands be is placed in a posi-
ton before the public not the most
enviable, considering his relation as
pastor of one of our congregations, and
a teacher of truth and good morals.
and we trust that he may be able to
give satisfactory explanation of his
course: or, If he has only temporarily
| wandered astray aad got entaneled in
the thorns and bramblcs, let him re-
turn at once to the beaten track, and
guard his perigrinations more wisely
| in the futura NER