New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-21
Plain Talk frsu Bishop Wilner.

While We have always regarded BishoI
Wilmer q . prelate of Q high order O
ability, great piety, and exemplary purity
of personal character, in short, q mode
and q pattern of Christian man, We have
harbored the impression that he was def
cient in those severer qualities which art
indispensable to . thorough captain in thu
Church militant. In other words, we de
rived from several of his public acts that HI
could on occasion 90 far defer to what ht
deemed popular opinion, or the modern
fashion Of thinking as to condone or over
look many acts of wrong, because large
number of people of his acquaintance either
tolerated, excused or justified them. II
was, therefore, with no high emotions Of
satisfaction We saw man whom we be-
lieved 90 good at heart, lending his power
full influence to cover up the undoubted acts
of aggression of Q portion of one of the
races which compose the community in
which We live. 1t looked like Partially
where perfect impsrtislity was to be reason
ably expected. For if the human race be
| all children of ono common Father, the
chosen minister of that Father should
equally regard them all, both in their
spiritual and material welfare.
The good bishop has recently deliver ed
an address before the thlrty-fifth annual
conference of the diocese of Louisiana upon
the subject, 1.-THE Reality of Satanic Agency
and Eternal Retribution," which shows an
earnestness and zeal, in words at least,
which are as gratifying as unexpected. He
takes off his clerical boxing gloves and
deals home thrusts to the numerous popu-
lar vices which are too frequently CLOSED
over or passed in silence by popular preach
ers. We have room for but few short ex-
tracts from this address, for which We are
indebted to Rev. s. Burford, secretary of
the council, and can therefore only present
some of the more salient points.
The following picture of modern society
is, we fear, more truthful than compli-
mentary:
There can be little doubt that the ascen-
dency of evil and immortality in commune
ties is periodical. Modern nations have
had their epochs of prevailing wickedness.
should escape this danger. The evil has
come upon us at Q moment when the ma
tional pride requires humiliation. 1t Is con-
fessed that this anniversary year dawus
upon rs q great and wicked nation. Crime
is NO longer confined TO the depraved
classes of society. The silent earth drinks
the blood of the slain, sacrificed in the
heat OF mOmentary passion; multitudee are
dying by their own hands, impatient of ad-
versiry. FalsehOOd enters into the ave-
nues of life; falsehoOd in business, false
hood in the administration of public trust,
falsehOod in social lite has lost its turpi-
tude, and men long trusted are trusted no
more. The higher You ascend the shame
becomes more conspicuous. On the shin
ing crest of the wave. the froth deepens
and discharges the impurities which the
seethin9 ocean filings from the depths be-
low. The Christian ministry is not free
from this reproach, and the worlds shame
is embOldened by spiritual wickednees in
nigh places. Nor has the morality of
science less cause to blush for its honor.
Was it ever known before that men of
learning and reputation in natural science.
accepted brides, that the suffering invalid
and the treasure of widows and
orphans absorbed in mines - allured
by glittering testimonials from venal scien.
lists, who exchange honor for gold. Crime
nae almost lost its infamy in losing its gross
ness and vulgarity.
What is almost incredible, Christian
teachers are choosing this time to prophecy
can fail to observe the growing disposition
to recede from the old doctrines of the
Bible, to palliste with soft words the inner.
ent depravity of human nature and to hide
from view the punitive elements of Chris
tianity. He'll has almost ceased to be a
theme for the pulpit. Always unwelcOme,
it has become abhorrens to the educated
mind Of the age. Evil spirits are dismissed
to the shades of superstition. Liberty of
access to the sacraments OF religion is to be
freely accorded to- men who avow their
belief that Satanic agency is Q myth,
and eternal punishment an exaggera-
ton. This contagion, we lament to
say, has penetrated the Church Of Eng
land. Within few months Que of it's
ecclesiastical courts decreed that the act of
excluding from the holy communion q per-
OF intolerance not sanctioned by the church.
Bishop Wilmer then Celebrates his sub.
ject. gradually leading up to the great cause
which he ascribes to q disbelief in the per-
sonality of Satan, though an admission in q
general way of the existence of evil, and q
practical unbelief in future punishment
Jesus was not the being to brighten his
rOrs had no power over Him. who could |
look real terrors in the face 80 calmly, al |
U.s. Col.c e.. .-5usiy. Fear not them
which kill the body'-He was speaking in |
the midst OF enemies who were gnashing |
upon him with their teeth-He was trying |
to embolden His disciples against ignoble |
and pusillanimity-it was foreign |
to His nature to make men afraid "when no |
fear was"-His testimony is not therefore |
to be suspected OF exaggeration when he
proceeds: Fear not them which kill the
body and after that have no more that they
can Go, but fear him Him who hath power
to destroy both soul and body in hell.
To contradict this testimony or dilute it,
s to deprive religion of it's august power.
has not so many forces to
WELD, that any one of them can be spared.
The motives are none too many to restrain
men in the way of Righteousness. Hope
and fear have both need be aroused, and
the one with no less activity than the other.
Rewards and punishments are made as
positive, real and overwhelming as possible.
1t was necessary. Mankind are not to be
to hate sin by extinguishing its
penalties. He'll is not less reality than
not less wildly depicted-is not
less enduring and eternal in its duration.
Asc 'oAoo'on VAL Aoo oo oCcueeu VI cAAgReI- |
alton in the description which is given of
the blessedness OF the Heavenly Jerusalem.
None are willing to believe that it's streets
of gold, its white robee, its applaudipg
hymns Of joy, express more than is true Of
The felicity of the saints in light. God does
lot cheat US with empty words of promise.
We are thus at no loes how to understand
His language when He speaks of the state
Of lost spirits. We can not understand it
10 mean state of inanity. You can no
more evacuste hell of its terrors than
heaven of its beatitudes. You can no
more extract the pun2ency from the tor.