The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-01-03
Errors Of the Ministry.

and Him cfucihed, and very many, VINO
are good and piOus servants Of the Lord,
do confne themselves to that work. In
the Northern and Eastern sections Of this
country, however, it would be difficult to
tell, from pulpit discourses, what are the
missions Of many ministers, or whether
there are any limits to their actions and
ntferances. They ramble away from the
Scriptures aud talk politics and science;
roam oat of the straight and narrow path
Of truth into the broad realm of doubt and
speculation, which leads to inhdehty; try
to make religion embrace science, and de-
nounee material and positive facts which
may differ with their theories quarrel with
society because il delights in innocent
amusemeuts; theatres operas parties and
harnless games are pictured IS it iadal-
gehccs fos only those who ore preparing
for the eternity Of the condemned, aud
hue clothes are regarded as proper habi!i-
ments for only the proud, naughty aud
uubelieving; Shakespeare, Byron, Burns,
Sterne aud other great authors are por-
trayed as evil characters, aud their works
as teaching only immortality. Their ser
mons for a year would form such an in
congruous mass Of conflicting opinions that
nm attentive listener would not be able to
separate the wheat from the tares. Every
reader of the daily papers in the large
cities in the Northern aud Eastern sections
of the Union can bear witness to these
facts, while some Of them would apply to
Baltimore and to many Western cities and
towns.
Beeeher and Talmage are the great
leaders and models Of one Of these classes
Of ministers, and their imitators are legion.
Their novel aud bold opinions are express
ed with tragic and dramatic air, with an
occasional witicism and clownish action to
give spice to their entertainments,
Another class are the over-saucti6ed, 10
words, who sec evil in all things which are
not interspersed with prayer and songs of
praise, and yet who are the most intern
perate and unchristian 10 expressing their
views. Their language is often as un-
chaste, immodest and irrcverent as that
Of the sinners they denounce as 50 vile.
For them they have no words Of love, en-
couragcment or ersuasion--ouly those of
deDunciation.
Still another class, who combine many
Of the characteristics Of the others, are
those who make politics leading theme of
Sunday discourscs, This class chiefly
prevails in New England, though they are
found in various places. For nearly
century New England ministers have been
preaching politics and stirring up agitation
between the North and South, and de-
nouncing the Democratic party aud its
principles. In the time of Washington
they began their pulpit harangues on the
horrors Of slavery and never ceased until
tho system was swert away by the sword
the blood Of those engaged in the strife
being spilled as the result of their wicked
and fanatical utterances. Jefferson and
his administration were special objects Of
their wrath, and they not only denounced
both from the pulpit but published their
sermons in the press Of the day. Not only
were Jeiferson's public acts vili6ed, but
his private matters we're severely criticised
and he himself held up as an in6dcl, yet
he was more orthodox than his reviIers.
Madisou's administration formed the sub
.ieet for many pulpit discOurses, and hatred
to it and the Democratic party, during the
last war with England, found utterance 10
eounselling separation Of New England
from the Union.
Politics, interjected into sermons, be-
came 40 common, that it ceased to attract
much attention 10 other sections, until the
late war came on, when in Sunday dis
courses politics was upperinost--religion
oaly secondary consideration. For a
time STAGE pulpit views have not been so
extreme, or are not reported, but the
Maine imbroglio has aroused all the latent
hatred aud malice towards the Democrats,
and it is finding expression in weekday
prayer meetings as we'll as Sunday morn
ing sermons. Instead of preaching Chris
sianity-faith, hope, charity, love and
peaee-they are melting the people to vio-
lence and bloodshed; to eiyil war, with all
its attending horrors. On Sunday last
someofthc churches of Maine, and through
out New England, fairly rang with poll
tics. AT Augusta Rev. H. W Tildeu,
Baptist said that partisan utterances from
the pulpit were not well, but that in great
emergencies, like the present, it was legiti-
mate for ministers to speak. After dis
cussing the constitution and laws he main
tanned that the Governor and Council had
trampled upon them, aud said he blushed
for the hoaer Of his State. aThs question
was, he CONTINUED, ashall we be denied
The right Of suffrage No, never, at what
ever cost The people know their rights
and will never yield. Mob violence would
settle nothing whatever; but opea, sys,s.
marc sear sconla. IL il must be had :
Other samples Of these melting utteranees
may be found in the sermous Of Rev. A.
r Crane, Of HaIlowell, and Rev. II. v.
Enmens, as reported ia the Kennebee
.Jomaal, aud in those Of Rev. Dr.. Fled,
Rev >. Ps Fay, Rev. +. r. Hardwood,
and Others, as reported in the daily papers.
As . consequence Of these teachings, the
threats Of riot, revolution, and armed re-
slssanee 70 the State government, with
which public speeches and resolutions in
thai State arc filed, are the result.