Jasper Banner, Volume 4, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1857 — Untitled [ARTICLE]

"■" r n ~, :; IIT —— - - _ _ A QoMtion for Clmrchcf—Bh*U Democrats to ■ Admitted to the Church, or to Permitted to Remain in ltl Having aucceeded in dividing the Baptist, Methodist, New School Presbyterian and Unitarian denominations into northern and Southern parts, the next effective work of abolitionism would seem to be division among the northern churches of these denominations on political issues. Our readers haVe been apprised of the excommunication of Deacon G. Pt Stebbins, by the Baptist Church of the towns ot Alpine and Sparta, Kent county, this State, for the sole “offense” of having voted for Mr. Buchanan, and doubtless many of them have thought it an isolated case which would not constitute an example to be imitated elsewhere. In this, we apprehend, they will find themselves mistaken. So far is it from remaining an isolated case, that it is likely to have recurrence in*thotisands of instances ! This will strike the reader with astonishment at first view, but on flection he will not marvel at it. Since abolitionism hks separated denominations on the slavery question, why should it not separate churches ? Since abolitionism has refused to associate with slaveholders, why should it not refuse association with men who maintain the constitution and laws which recognise the political rights of slaveholders, and who recognise slaveholders as equals, politically, religiously and socially ? Since abolitionism holds slaveholding to be a mortal sin, and since President Buchanan countenances this mortal sin by regarding slaveholders as his fellow-citizens and by appointing them to all sorts of offices, why should it not hold the northern supporters of President Buchanan to be equally guilty with the slaveholders themselves, on the score that “ the partaker is as bad as the thief! ” These are precisely the questions that abolitionism has begun to ask. Does any body doubt it ? If so let him read the subjoined paragraph which we take from a letter in the N. Y. Evangelist ; dated at Concord> N. H., June 2, 1857: “In New-England it will soon become a question for the churches to decide whether a Democrat shall be received into the church or be allowed to remain in it, without discipline. According to the common interpretation of the late decision of the

Supreme Court, those who endorse it by their votes or their political influence are doing all in their power to rivet the chains of the slave, to make servitude —involuntary, oppressive servitude the 1 corner stone ’ of our national government, and, at the same tfme, to secure -the moral assassination of a race.’ The Apostle Paul seemed to indicate that those who ‘ approve ’ of such things are more guilty than those who do them. Our .churches cannot fellowship slaveholders; indeed, some clergymen think their souls in peril by associating with or corresponding with those who consent to meet with them as equals. If Christians at the North cannot sit peaceably with a delegate from the South, how can they tolerate north-, ern brethern w%o approve of the prin-, 1 ciples of those delegates, and vote as they vote, on the great and absorbing question of the day ? This aspect of the question is rising in this State. Some pastors have already been unsettled by the withdrawing of Democrattc supporters, and the Democratic papers in the State bitterly assail those ministers of the gospel Who dare to apply the gospel boldly to the subject of slavery.” Northern Christians belonging to the Democratic party, behold the rod in pickle for you ! It will soon become a question for New England churches—it has already become a question for a Michigan church —whether a Democrat shall be received into a church or be allowed to remain in it. The alternative is presented to you, turn black republican, or be turned out of the church. Hereafter no church that is not purely black republican can be considered within the fold. The gate of the true Qhorch and of Paradise is the black republican party. Walk ye therein. —Detroit Free Press. OCTThe very latest novelty in dress in Paris, is crinoline sleeves.