National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-04-06
THE MISTAKE OF THE MINISTRY.

THE Ihfb1dhE OF THE MfNIo 4 M.
The one great fault of the ministry, and
which more than any other stands in the
way of Its entire usefulness in the sacred
mission to which 1t is called. is Its intoler-
ance of opposing views. In all ages and
countries this has been the chief stumbling
block Of progress in evangelism. Its sgen.
cies have been too much under the In
fuepces OF bigotry and fanaticism, mistaken
for firm faith and holy zeal. Since the
diversity Of human thought established
different creeds the world has never en-
joyed complete rest from the contests OF
their sdherents, and probably never will
until the second coming Of the Saviour
shall more clearly reveal the Divine will.
Hardly revolution has occurred among
civilized nations which has not had its orr
gin Immediately or remotely in religious
agitation and aggression. Such has been
invariably the case in all countries where
q union Of Church and State gave para
mount authority to ecclesiastical law.
Being imbued with high moral send-
ments, and these cultivated TO the last de.
gree Of sensitiveness, there Is sublimsted
feeling of sanction in the minds OF the
leaders of the sects that tends directly to
prescription, and, with finite beings, to
persecution. Each reposes implicitly up IN
the inspiration received as coming from
the source of wisdom and Justice, and
feels impelled to do its bidding. without
testing Its title to merit by the general
teachings Of the Bible and Of conscience.
Hence the interminable crussdes waged by
the elder scots upon the later forms of re-
ligion, aud hence the never.cessing dis
turbances Of the peace Of nations. The
Old World is a vast graveyard Of the dead
slain in the conflicts of the Church, and
the New Is not without Its mementoes Of
! the strife.
But It is not alone by their wars upon
heresy that the representatives Of the
Church generate mischief and bsget dis.
order. They do It by indiscriminste at
tacks upon all forms Of evil or fancied
wrongs without stopping to question the
probable results. Having . good motive,
they regard it as q justification Of the
means and end. So 1t was that our late
war was in large degree produced. The
institution Of slavery was SO hateful to the
ministry that it's members could not brook
Its existence. and by every weapon at their
command they pressed 1t to the wall until,
in self defense, 1t was compelled to fight
No considerations Of peace, none Of charity
or mercy, could stay the hand raised to
smite 1t. Though all else were sacrificed
lta chaipa v,,uot fall and unor th;s nj; -; ~ n
the seige was prosecuted until by q con-
vulsion which nearly lost the liberties Of
the free the bond were released. Nor was
this result satisfactory. The master, muir
muring st his loss, the same spirit de-
manded his chsstisem ant; aud forthwith q
burden was placed about his neck and the
former slave was put to hold It there. Aud
even now, when after years ofpenitence and
sorrow, he protests his scquiescence in the
dust, there are those OF the original agita.
tors who refuse to believe him, and cry GU,
against the removal Of the yoke. The New
England Methodists, In conference Assem-.
bled, have protested in all the old bitter.
ness of language against fellowship with
the original Inhabitants of the South, and
demand perpetual disunion. They reproAoh
the President with having been quilted
Christian languageD into compliance with
the wishes of traitors and usurpers.
This is the wisdom Of ignorance and the
that these gentlemen are devout in their
callings, or that they are or intend to be
coed men. but their zeal outruns their