New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-23
REUNION OF THE cHuRGHIs.

We think it well worthy the cdhsidera-
ton of the Christian churches whether
the scism and divisions which have af-
ficted them have not had anunhappy
effect on the character of the people. The
secession of the Methodist and Presbyte-
risn Churches South portendfd the sep
aration of the States. A bod3 so harmo-
NOUS, having such glorious traditions and
such an evangelical mission il the future,
must have been moved by sGme powerful
impulse to paralyze its ownprogress by a
war among its own membeB. 1t is while
the farmer is in the army that the crops
decline, the fences are bpken and all the
noxious elements that inest the produc-
ton encroach upon the tcil of industry.
The moral vineyard has suffered from
similar diversion of car1 and labor. Not
only does intemperanceand kindred vices
creep steadily over thf land, not merely
do violence and fraud usurp the powers
of the law, but foreigA inf deity and for
eign ambition find tie land without de-
Tense. They utter their dangerous and
delusive doctrines Without reply; they ex-
plore the field of operations without in
.quiry or OBSTRUCTION, and indulge the in
sane and contradictory hopes that the
United States will he nation without
faith, and that it VIII in due time be con-
solidated as an ecclesiastical empire in
which all dissentand freedom of private
judgment will Ae punished as q capital
offense.
We have beeI greatly gratifed with the
reunion of tie three great Christian
Churches upon basis limiting their
unity Of docFine to the cardinal prin-
ciples of theif several cTeeds. We trust
this power ard indispensable ascendency
Of Christian unity may be turned at once
to the mora reconstruction Of the whole
people.
We would respectfully ask the atten-
ton Of those distinguished divines now
and latelyamong us to the great problem
of negro education and moralization.
They know that in the repeal of slavery
the colo1ed people have been left with no
inheritance except labor. They have lost
the PREDICTION Of those formerly interested
in Their welfare, and political intolerance
has mide even Christians afraid to per-
form their duty as missionaries and teach,
era, lest they should be held responsible
for political opinions against which So
cietI had taken up arms
The Christian teachers Of the countrS
should see that in abandoning this met
pefenced population to the temptatio1 4
eYil advisers, they neglect the protectiSh
Of their white fellow-citizens, and allow
. source Of injury to so soak into asd
soften the foundation Of moraIs as tat
the walls Of the social fabric may fall. Ia
generations Of the poor come on Withgut
education, employment or property, tlsre
must be here, as in Italy, midas, Mezco,
and other countries which have pr@sd
q similar impolicy, hordes Of vagabosds,
thieves and beggars which infest ami in
feet society, IS charge upon prokgty
and an obstruction to social raspeciatlity.
We win respectfully give the Chri,iana
% whom W have referred 8 samlls Of
what b going on and what may 3 ex-
/ peCted from this neglect On Saturday,
ssaning lAai . shipment Of fosty-at con
] NETS wAs made % the Stats pubu ii