Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-01-31
oUR COUNTRY-FIHsT.


A educators in morals and religion we
have been accustomed 10 rate the churches
among the beat institutions Of our country.
To hold such rank they need the very
best Of teachers. Apostolic men who will
erect and maintain n standard Of justice
and mercy according to the higher law.
The grea, rebellion that we'll nigh wrecked
the ship Of State, would have never been
under proper church treatment. The
Southern clergy, after the sort Of Stonewall
Jackson and Breckenridge, polluted the
conscience Of the people to such an extent
that slavery became to them a divine in
stitution. For it, they fought like demons
under the name OF Saints. A brotherhood
OF christians, chrushing out, under the
iron heel Of rulfians all the higher and sa-
cred impulses of the soul. A christian
man trnmping under foot a brother for
whom Christ died Bad enough But
to see n whole church with their feet
upon three millions OF men, women and
children was crime in the sight Of high
heaven that cost the nation blood rs well
as gold. The State ought to have arrested
the Clergy as traitors teaching treason.
Had our Lord dealt with them us they de-
served they would have Jared worse than
the guilty Jews whom lie drove out Of his
temple. Many saint and many d. d.
would have shared the same fate North an
we'll as South. II the churches mean to be
Of any service whatever to the State, let
them raise up class OF men, women and
children with a good conscience so that
they will neither steal nor lie-much less
stain their hands with brothers blood.
| The attention Of the State has been called
TO the transactions of church called the
Latter Day Saints. Uncle Sanl-dear old
fellow-seeins to be somewhat al loss to know
how to treat this unusually sanctimonious
part OF his great family. Squatters out on
the verge of empire, bnptizing themsevo
in Salt water-as pure ms angels-with a
brolhel of ample dimensions, they cry,
"Procul, o, ,procul este profane." Whether
the State can much longer tolerate such
Saints living in open violation of law re
mains to be seen. Every patriot oug ht to
have something to say about it, Our coun-
try cannot long survive these outrages OF
humanity and common decency among our
christian teacherSexalting themselves upon
the State. In placing our country at the
head or before all other Institutions, each
sect or party must be ready to submit to
some limitations. Az we have seen the
church must submit to the State and even
be amenable to the laws and edicts or de
cisions of the courts. The church must
not outgrow the State. Its members must
be subject to the powers that be. There may
be rivalry. One institution may be above
another. But the State governs all. One
OF the largest and most influential bodie.
in our country is the Order of Masons
Composed OF all classes and conditions o
men among whom are some Of the best anc
most patriotic citizens. In many respect
this order is superior to all others-look
ing after each others welfare at home anc
abroad. Many poor fellow without money
or friends has had occasion to he CRATE
ful for the existence of Lodge where h,
could get food and shelter for himself anC
comfort for his family. In no other organ
izations do the sympathies OF the brother
hood Aow out more timely and more abund
antly following each other to the grav
|
full emblemS OF Immortality. Yet there
something Of peril here lest the inhuenc
OF this order overshadow the State at hom
5 and abroad. Lest it should enter on
: courts of justice and lead persons to fee
safe because the ties of the order are strong
er than the force OF civil law. Whel
, Rome was the mistress of the world, tn,
man felt proud who could say, ~ am
, Roman Citizen" 1t will he very unfortu
nate for our beloved country if the tim
; should ever come when man should fee
, safer and proudcr under any circumstance
to say, am Mason, than to say, am
citizen Of the United States of America
, 1t is the duty of every one whose home
> under the protection of the stripes an
stars to try to make the shield OF his cour
, try broader and safer than that of any oil
der or body of men-to invest himself wit
: consciousness of nobility or a highe
> grade Of manhood because he belongs TO
, Union OF States pledged to protect an
care for him however humble he may b
: if it should require all the talent an
learning OF our BEST statesmen in courts
, justice enforced by the united force OF ii
army and navy. Nor.