The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-23
plt were looked npon with sr gis-
plcion Of 5islilfe.
IIndearfaeiiV ACtiVo

.
Not only was this true Of the New
England clergy. but throughout ~ tnc
colonies the great body Of the clergy
were INCREASINGLY active In promoting
hostility 70 the rulers. They feRrlessly
proclaimed from the pulpit the prin-
clples OF liberty. They wrestleu in
prayer for their country. and reYer-
entity believe they prevailed with Him
who holds the destiny Of the nations N
His hand. Public meetings were nelu
in the various CHURCHES: pFoelaMGtlons
were read from the pulplts; fast days
were held, which intenBified and con.
secrated the spirit Of resistance and
gave q semi-reiligous tone to the whole
movement. The minutemen were urlll.
ed in the various towns--the deacon OF
the parish was often elected captain
and the minister his lieutenant. And
the company, after It's field exercises
would repair to the meeting house to
hear a patriotic sermon
Some Df the ministers, IKE Dr. John
Witherspoon, president Of Princeton
college, and one Of the slgners OF thp
Declaration Of Independence, gave their
wise counsals and espoused the cause
OF freedom with great energy in our
legislative halls. Others accompanied
their parishioners to the field Of battle.
Some went as chaplains, like Or. John
Woodruff and DR.. James Caldwell, OF
New Jersey. The latter suffered almost
everything for the cause he espoussd.
Toward the closa Of the war his church
was burned and his wife murdered by
the enemy. In the old historic buTiai
ground OF the First Presbyterian
church. on Broad street, Elizabeth, N.
j., where repose the remains OF many
distinguished men of the revolution,
stands the monument erected to the
memory OF Rev. James Caldwell and
his wife, citizens OF Ellzabethtown.
Others SIN, like Parson Allen. OF
Pittsheid, better known as the BELLE
cose parson, led theIs Practitioners and
were found in the fisrcest OF the tight.
Aliens balllcose ardor was OF the most
glowing kind, as was shown OF the
battle OF bennington Heights. Before
daylight and while rain was yet ran.
ing, the impatient shepherd. who had
many Of his flock with him, went 70
General Stark and said: General; the
people OF Berkshire have often been
summoned 10 the field without being all
lowed to fight, and II you do not now
give them a chance we have resolved
never to turn out again." well, SAID
Stark, do you wish to march now,
while It Is dark and rainlng?" mo. not
inst this minute" replied Allen.
s.Then . seId the general, III the Lord
viii once more give US Sunshine, and
/ do not give you fighting enough, Ill
never ask you to come out again.
Sunshine came with the morrow ana
"dRhting enough was also given the
parson and his men. The hgnt. as
Stark described in his official account.
'lasted two hours, and was the hottest
/ ever saw. It was Ike one contlhueu
clap OF thunder
Courage Of the Clergy.
The heroic courage OF The clergy on
the field Of battle was not excelled by
that Of any other class of men. ] am
reminded of,the Rev. Dr.. Daggett, at
when wounded and made prisoner, and
his captors wero cruelty piercing MIN
with bayonets, was asked, II released.
would he again take up arms against
them, and he replied: II rather believe
/ shall IL get an opportunity such
herolsn was only eQuallcl by the sac
rlflces OF many who did not go TO the
front, recall the experiences OF kew
David Caldwell, Of North Carolina-one
OF the most ardent Wings from the time
of the Regulator movement. During
the war, this pure patriot and his lam
lily were great sufferers for conscience
sake" CORVALLIS ordered everything
destroyed but the buildings on the plan.
tation of Dr. Caldwell. Every Parcel
Of fence on the premises was burned;
every article of provisions was con
sumed or carried away; every living
thing was destroyed, except one old
goose: and nearly every square rod OF
ground was penetrated with iron ram
rods. In search OF hidden treasure. BY
command of the officers, the Doctors
valuable library and papers-even the
family Bible-were burned in an oven
near the house. Thus the clergy OF
those days were frequently made. the
special objects OF assautt-they being
held responsible largely for much OF the
resistance that was inspired into the
people. But the ardor OF their pRtri-
otism and the herolsm Of their devotion
to the cause of freedom never faHered.
Some Of these men of God rose to high
rank and great honor In the service OF
their country Who does not recall the
name OF John Peter MuhleuIberg :
Lutheran minister OF Woodstock, va?
IN 1T74 he was chairman OF the commit
tee of safety in his county. md was
also elected member Of the house OF
burgesses. In 17I5, his ardent patriot
ism and military spirit induced him, at
the solicitation Of Genera Washington,
with whom he was on the most intl-
male terms, to accept a colonel's COM
mission in the army 1t Is said that
after he had received his appointment
he preached valedIctory to his con-
gregatlon, in the course Of which he elo-
quently depleted the wrongs our coun-
try had suffered from Great Britain,
and then said that, In the language OF
Holy Writ, there was a time for all
things; time to preach and &. time to
pray" and then. In a loud voice that
echoed like o. trumpet through tho
church, he said: hut there is also time
10 fight. and that time has now GOMEZ"
Then, pronouncing the benedictlon, he
deliberately laid aside his sacerdotal
gown, and stood before his flock In the
full regimental dress of Virginia coll
onel Proceeding to the door OF the
church he ordered the drums to beat
for recruits, and almost his entire male
audience, capable OF bearing arms, en-
listed under his banner that day. In
I777 Congress- promoted him to the rank
Of hrGgadIer- general, ard he was with
Washington in all his movements Till
1910, Including the battles OF Brandy
wine and Germantown, the sufferings Of
White Marsh and Valley Forge, and the
dangers and responsibilities OF Mon
mouth. Stony Point and Yorktown. AT
the close OF the war, before the army
disbanded. he was promoted to the
rank OF major general. and he after
wards rose to high positions Of honor
able trust In the gift Of n grateful ma
ton.
Influence Of the Pulpits.
Much has been said OF the influence
OF the pulpits of that day in stimulating
the patriotism OF the people. Too much
credit cannot be given to the character
and inspiration OF the discourses which