Morning Herald

New York Religious Convention.—The city of New York numbers nearly five hundred clergy of the different denominations of Christians. Why do they not all meet together in a single body—form a great Christian Convention, without distinction of sect—and take measures to aid the great movements of morality, education, science, philosophy, such as may tend to advance religion and civilization together? What a spectacle it would present to the whole world—nay even to the blessed myriads above—to see the whole Christian Clergy of this mighty city, make the first step in that great work that will bind together the nations of the earth in one brotherhood!

Protestants and Catholics—Methodists and Baptists—Episcopalians and Universalists—should thus unite together, and begin the Millennium—for such, in truth, is the Millennium predicted in the Scriptures to my certain and positive knowledge. The whole civilized world is in a state of excitement, bordering on wild enthusiasm. It requires a good, moral, religious direction. Should not the clergy rise with it?

In former ages the clergy possessed the influence which wielded the destiny of nations. They still retain, and properly retain, the same original influence which the prophets, apostles, martyrs and confessors, both of the Jewish and Christian dispensations, possessed—but they retain these influences, divested of all worldly purposes, cares and ambitions. It is now an intellectual, spiritual, social, moral influence, such as the Saviour of the world exemplified during his pilgrimage on earth. The union of spiritual and temporal power in the churches of Greece and Rome, was a departure from the essence of Christianity—their separation, as seen in their present state in this country, and other parts of the world, is a return to the purity of antiquity as well as an approach to a higher order of civilization. Yet from the want of a cordial and benevolent union of action, on matters of society, morals and civilization, the clergy have lost their proper influence—their just position—and their means of public good.

Let, therefore, the whole body of the clergy, at this auspicious moment, the beginning of a new age, caused by the triumphs of steam, meet together, without distinction of sect or party, and take up their proper position in the great movement of civilization that now rushes to futurity with the voice of many waters. Move, move, move.