The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-13
In Rernrd TO crseh..

paper and theological literature in regar,
to the points involved in the case. w
observe that HENRY WARD BRKcHEl
spoke upon the subject, indirectly, las
Sunday, and as his views upon all topic
are always peculiar and generally inter
resting, we append the following extrac
from his sermon as 1t appears in Monday
New York papers:
"The history Of religion has been his.
tory ol vibration between two extremes
One age and one clan have insisted tha
men should all be gathered into onl
church, and men have been considered al
only good material TO make up int
churches. Then came q reaction from
that, and men rebounded to the other ex
treme and clamored for personal right
and liberties, and some, jealous Of min,
lsters and leaders and ordinances and
men, said: ."We are free men in Chris
Jesus, and no man shall lay any law or
u.s." Both Of these principles are right
ones; and both ol these are in endless
operation in society. Excessive indiyld,
ualitY breaks men up into minims, ana
they are like particles Of sand and lack
the strength and conference Of men gath
cred together In churches. Hence the
right OF men 10 associate for the purpose
oi teaching certain doctrinal systems Ia
not 10 be gainsaid because there has been
doctrinal despotism established, Men rid.
icule creedsand dogmss, and If may seem
to have had any share in this 1t has been
from overaction of intensity rather than
from any deliberate purpose, because no
man thinks TO any purpose that does not
think dogmatically. Systems Of thinking
that become convictions and are always
stated as positively true, these are always
dogmatic; nevertheless, when dogma be.
comes lmperious, when men lose either
life or liberty or convenience because they
do or do not assent 10 dogmas, then they
become oppressive. But men have right
to associate together for any purpose; for
the purpose ol intoxicating right notions
OF medicine, or art, or civil government,
or church estate, or religious doctrine. Il
Is one Of the great rights springing out
Of the liberty of man that he may call to.
gcther as many as are IN agreement with
him, and that they may make known and
enforce any particular doctrine. main.
tain tho right OF men to Arianism, OF
Plagiarism, or semi. Pelagianism, OF
demi semi-P Plagiarism II they want it
l declare for the frcest liberty, RESPONSE
BILE to God, and not to man, and certainly
not to magistrates. When / form a sect,
which will be on the other side OF lie Il
at all, II will be sect that uses any ordi-
nances 1t wants to, and that don't use any
ordinances 1t don't want 10. Ordinances
are like blackboard-good to put
things on, but you don't want
to put the same things on the
blackboard every day. l don't believe
in infant baptism, but practice 1t be-
cause think 1t is q very beautiful ordi-
nance. don't think there is any par
ticnlar sanctity in 1t. But when any band
Of Christians associated together Tor ordi.
nances say, "Now my conscience de-
mands this and your conscience shalllde
mand It or I will punish you" then I am
up in arms at once, and say "Who art
thou that judgest another mans servant
am I your servantP ! am Jesus Christie
servant, and TO my own master stand OF
fall" Men think the age Of persecution
is over. l don't think It Is. Suppose q
mana Unitarian-liying in a society Of
the strict orthodox. Is not he avoided
Are not the children forbidden to walk
with his children in public procession
Is he not made to feel in every way that
he does not come up to the high-watel
mark Of orthodoxy? ! defend the right
ot sister churches to organize as they
choose, Idelend the right ot men to &C
TO church without book, without pray
ers, without q minister, and without q
sermon, and to sit together for two mortal
hours as silent and still as-fowers al
midnight. And that which Is true
OF ordinances Is true as to gov
ernment. What pother there has
been IN the world about who shall
govern. Generally the man that can does
t, but the cause Of government lies in The
sense Of power, in the capacity Of q mar
to make men mind him; but II large and
intelligent body Of men shall prefer to be
governed by q priest, and to have him
governed by bishop, and him by the
archbishop, and him by cardinal, and
the cardinal by the Pope, they have a
right to Il they choose, All that ! Object
to Is that they shall turn round and say
"This Is Christianity, and unless you take
1t you shall be damned" won't bt
damned, and won't take II either
Laughter and applause) affirm theiI
right to do as they like, and I insist or
my own right to do as choose. l affirm
o mans right to eat vinegar II he likes It
and II he says, SNOW sit down and I viii
show you why you ought to eat vinegar
l don't object; but II he insists on putting
It on my plate and says ! shAll eatlt, theI
I rebel and say u won't eat It." Iithesl
views are correct then there are soml
questions and answers that arise out o
them which are Of practical Importance
In our time; and first, no man has q righ
to enter into q Christian church for thl
sake Of changing the economy and usage
Of that church; II Ia bad faith and dishon'
orable 10 do SO. II Q man stand
on the other side and says, 4 am going
tospread Presbyterianism in your church,
that, l admit, he has q rightto do; he haI
q right to go to your houses and reasol
with you, but no man has right to CONT
in here as a CongregRtionallst and say
VI like PtesbYterianism better, and an
going to work 10 change this into Pres,
bytetian church" Secondly, no man hai
q right to employ sectarian organization
for any other than spiritual ends. ! de.
fend the right Of church organizations
hnt I denlara In allegiance 10 iha nnm.