ECCLESIASTICAL DOMINATION.
By Editor
THE N. Y. Christian Advocate recently had the following to say on the "Ecclesiastical Domination in Secular Affairs," which we commend to the attention of our readers:— An English statesman, speaking not long ago at a conference of his own political party, uttered a sentence always true: "Ecclesiastical domination in secular affairs is a parasite which eats the vitality of all." This has been true wherever Rome has dominated; equally illustrated for ages by the haughty domination of the Church of England; made visible to the world for more than a century by the equally arrogant domination of the Established Church of Scotland; shown once more by the Puritans of New England. Indeed, every denomination that ever had the power has endeavored to dominate in secular affairs. Every church has stupendous power, if true to its principles, by uttering truth, by individual influence, power enough for human beings. When it was necessary in New England for a man to belong to the standing order to hold a civil office, both the church and the State felt the demoralizing influence. Roman domination is indeed more dangerous, in a certain sense, than any Protestant domination not united directly with the State could be; for Rome can deliver its people in masses at the polls, the exceptions being few relatively to the whole. The very spirit of Protestantism, except when organically connected with the State, makes it incapable of such united action. A principle that divides the visible church into sects is often even more divisive when the church attempts to intrude into secular affairs. With the above we agree, except the last sentence. It is true that the very spirit of original Protestantism is incapable of such action. It lays hold upon Jesus Christ and depends upon his power alone. It is a principle which, if followed, unites instead of divides. But we are to see the so-called Protestant church of to-day—we even now see—divided into sects, though it may be, with the spirit of Protestantism departed, intruding into secular and political affairs more and more, till but a little way before us we will have in this land wholly, as now in part, ecclesiastical domination in secular affairs. Its time is near to come. A mighty advance step has been taken by the American Sabbath Union and its intrusive meddling in politics. Woe worth the day to liberty when that domination shall have been secured.