Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-08-23
1cial or religious duties. There

are different amusements, lectures,
fairs, meetings in the various
churches. A clerk, perfcrce, is Writ
ually prohibited by popular fiat from
participating in anything Ct hat ma
ture. Then the matter is purely Sc
cuIar. How biased some faculties
become by adhering to small views of
the church, relation to the people.
Most positively the church's mission
Is to keep society together, and in
struct by numerous creeds and meth
obs the proper way to live, to untir-
ingly study the truth, and place hap
piness in every duty. The support
of tie institutions commend them
selves to every one that wishes to
scquit himself we'll in this world, as
a pure act of duty. Does not this
question demonstrate that it ia pro-
duotive of good if it is an incubator
Of any moral benefits? 1t is insep-
arably allied to the church, for no
bigoted feelings should tax, prece.
dence when the question of morality
evidences its presence.
These gentlemen say-"personally
we are with you, and will do all we
can to assist you" Now, wn say any
mans conscience ought not to be in
accord with one side and Judgment
or anything else preclude it from
maintaining authority, for We believe
tllat conscience seeks love, truth and
Justice, and must be the arbitrator cf
ev4ry christians mind. To igaore is
to deny, and if your conscience tells
you that this measure is advantageous
on the questions of utility and NOR
ality then we deny that the consider
ation of the matter in the church
would be a transgression upon the
Distinct theory you gentlemen use as
de6ning the matter purely secular.
The next point is the too frequent
use Of Scriptural passages answering
every argument into which you min
Isters enter. There are isolated say
ings in the Bible that might have
some reference to any subject. Now,
where do you find in that whole sa-
cred book one command that dis
cou.tenances, or denominstes slavery
as sin. We understand one N MIS-
ter at the recent meeting aro:e, Bible
in hand, and said Brethren give
me 4 text covering this point, and I
will preach from it." We respect
fully refer that gentleman to St.
Matthew, 7th chapter, 18th verse,
where It is said
Therefore, all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do yc
even 50 to them, for this is the law and the
prophets.
Unquestionably nothing can de-
grade cr pollute the sanctity Of the
church in its endeavor to diTuse NOR
al knowledge and to lnaugurate re-
formation. This matter addresses it
self to class of men. You ministers
approach individuals in your official
capacities; then only discriminate be-
tween idividuals and classes ? These
facts are predominant. When nature
nestles itself in sweet repoae the sales
men, creatures Of nature, are only
then beginning to finish their daily
labor.
Now, this allusion to DR.. Clarke.
This action can only be attributable
to an unfair assault upon lost cause.
DR.. Clarke never intended to have
his words misplaced, misconstrued, or
misapplied.
You, gentlemen, your syllogiams
would have been more thorough and
complete had you based your pre-
misses on natural, easily-conceived
grounds. Evidently that was i'm
practicable, for there we demonstrate
you have nothing. You only made
the true issue by attending to infin-
itesimal technicalities.
The whole question narrows itself
down to this: Human interests
elo4ld be regulated and Judged by
raason-to act on that rule of utility
which conducss to the greatest good,
thus ennobling and deserving anoth-
er life by unresting pursuit Of duty.in
this. Then if this question accords with
tie alove--if it is useful--if it is moral
lift is in just accordance with thepre-
cepts of nature, then re say it is
prominent feature of duty that would
sxalt and not degrade any church.
LAUGHERTY.
E--------------as--