Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-14
FANATICIsM.

8N
1.-THE Catholics are censured for taxi
ing q part in politics in ONE sections of
the country with a view to securing q
portion of the public school funds for
their exclusive aud separate use, what
will be said of the d~isgraceful scene re-
Gently enacted in Boston, when a Meth
odist bishop put and carried a motion
before a large meeting of ministers to
nominate Grant for a third term. Fa-
naticism and priestly arrogance never
had a more fitting illustration. There
were over two hundred preachers pres
ent and one hundred laymen, besides q
large congregation drawn thither by the
report that something unusual was
about to occur. 1t occurred. Bishop Gil
bert Haven is a bishop Of the Northern
Methodist Episcopal Church. he was
invited to make an address before the
ministers assembled and report the state
Of the work iu the South, his special
field of labor. He made an address over
two hours long, giving q history Of the
abolition movement, the fall Of slavery
and condition Of the colored population
South. Toward the last he announced
that General Grant had done more to
secure the freedom Of the colored ace
than any one else, and hat be was the
only man in the country who conld be
trusted to uphold and maintain the re-
suits Of the war. Therefore he nomi.
mated U. s. Grant for a third term, and
put the motion, which carried without a
dissenting voice. What mockery for
men protesting to be followers Of the
meek aud lewly Nazsrenei Suppose
some Catholic priest had nominated
Cardinal McClosky, or any known
friend of the Catholic Church for
a political Office to which he might
be eligible, what a howl of Indignation
would 90 up from every State in the
Union. This is the first time in the his
tory Of the country, savein times Of war,
that q high dignitary in any church has
so degraded his holy calling as to drag
his clerical robes through the filthy pools
Of partisan politics. There are a set Of
men in this country al bigoted and intol.
Grant as the old w~itch-burners Of New
England in early colonial days. At one
breath they cry out against the union Of
church and State, and in the next tender
the State the services Of the church, ex-
pecting, of course, a quid pro quo in the
shape Of special protection. These
Northern preachers stirred up and
brought on the war. They sowedt the seeds
of dissension and hate which brought
forth a fearful crop Of misery and ruin
Not content with this, the same set pro-
pose again to go into politics and create
a religious strife which would stir up the
worst Of passions, making a pandimo'
mum Of this fair and happy land. II
any argument we're needed against the
mingling Of Church and State the action
of those marplots would be enough with.
out it. II the Northern Methodists are
to have a Presidential candidate, why
nOt the Baptists, Presbyterians, Congre,
gationalists and all others strong enough
to make themselves felt2 Plymouth
Church Oaght. by all means, to nominate
Henry Ward Beecher and appeal to all
sympathizers in and out Of the church
for support. To the credit Of the
Methodist Church be It said thai
Bishop Ravens unchristisn course has
been d~isapproVsd even by some Of hil
own people, certainly by the great body
of the church. Grant is not a Metho
dist to hurt. he is a wins bibber who
often tarries long over his cups, it il
bad enough for a political crowd to nou
mate such 8 man, but when a large ant
intelligent body Of Christian minister
and laymen in their oAieial capacity 81
far depart from all sense Of prophet,
and decency as to anticipate the politi
cal hueksters in putting him forth for /
third term. the Christian world may vel
stand aghast AZ the dissertation ant
abuse Of pulpit privileges This is al
exceptional case we admit Otherwise
che world might doubt the s%anctity Of al
pulpits.