Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-05
The Clergy in the Revolution
No.. I.
From the New York Observer.

FROM tne new YORK observer.
The approaching Centennial has sud
denly awakened attention to our early
struggle for independence. It cannot
but have salutary effect to recall the
scenes and events of that time, and to
compare its leaders and statesmen with
those who control our political destinies
to-day; and may perhaps, lead to new
political departure. But if the pulpit
and clergy of that period do not have
larger place In the imposing ceremo-
malls proposed to be inausurated, it
will but half fulfill It's true object, and
teach but half the lesson true history
of the revolution should impart In
New England the revolution rested On
the pulpit. It almost alone trained the
people in the knowledge of their pvlit-
ical rights, and made the cause of
freedom the cause of God. This is
seen in the fact that the Massachusetts,
House of Representative passed a res
olution requesting the clergy Of the
colony to preach on week days on polit-
ical subjects. One can trace in the
annual election sermons; as they were
called, the progress Of the popular
feeling. These were preached every
spring before the house of delegates,
on the election of a council to his mai
esty, governor of the colony, and al
ways took up the question of political
rights, and discussed ably the doctrine
Of human freedom and the reciprocal
duties and obligations of the governed
and their rulers. They were afterward
printed in pamphlet form and scattered
bruadeast ever the land 1t must be
remembered that there were scarcely
any newspapers at that time, and the
pulpit and the clergy were almost the
only channels of communication be-
tween the civil authority and the people.
England saw with alarm the tremend-
Gus power the clergy welded in the
colonies, and declared that they were
at the bottom Of the rebellion. In
1774 the governor of Massachusetts
refused the request Of the Assembly to
appoint public fast, giving the reason
"that the request was simply to give
an opportunity for sedition to flow
from the pulpit"
Take these election sermons from
1770 to 1775, and you see the foot
prints of the rebellion. At first deal
ing with general principles; they, as
| the expressions of the mother country
| increased, applied them to the existing
| state of things, till the governor be-
came alarmed at the outspoken truths
he was compelled to listen to. Thus,
in the spring after the tea had been
thrown overheard, while Boston was
still rocking like avessel in storm,
under the popular excitement, Cad.
Hitch cock, a thorough Cromwellian,
was elected to preach the election
sermon. Rising in his place in the
House of Representatives, he thunder
ed in the ears Of the astonished gov
ernor: "Wheu the wicked bear rule,
the people mourn" In that discourse
the governor saw clearly the indications
of the coming storm. The clergy
were actually in advance of the civil
authorities IN their views. In 1776.
after the meeting of the frst Conti-
mental Congress, William Goodwin
preached the election sermon, and took
his text from Jeremiah so: 2O-2l-
sTheir children shall be as aforetime,
and their congregation shall be estab.
lihed before me, and l will punish all
that would oppress them, and theil
mobiles shall be of themselves. After
reading thus r,.he paused a moment