Society in organization is unhinged, paralyzed and impotent and fails in all and in each of the objects of moral corporate bodies. Society thus convulsed and embarrassed, becomes restive, impotent, and seeks relief. The adversary influencing the mass of the people, and these, impelled by innate corruption and directed by draconic subtlety, set at naught divine institutions, and resort to human inventions, combinations and expedients, desperate measures are adopted to remove or avert the judgments of God and unreasonable instrumentality is selected to obtain his good will. From the great, the extensive and the various derangement and suffering, in which society is involved, sins fundamental and extensively prevailing, should be searched after, both as to their existence and operation. The committee are deeply sensible that the following are prominent among the sins of our time.
Infidelity abounds, without and within the acknowledged precincts of objective revelation.
This is unreasonable in itself, and the fruits must be bitterness. The church is the light of the world, and those placed upon her walls, are the sworn expounders of her doctrines, and appliers of her laws. They are solemnly bound to measure the temple, altar, and them that worship therein. And to open the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Consequent ignorance and obstinate inattention, lamentably prevail, as to the necessary existence of, and the necessary relations which obtain in the Godhead.