Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-21

cics, when he appeared in public after the
battle of SaIamis, and was followed at
Olympia with acclamations thatnterrupt~
ed tie public Ceremonies-to exclaim
that it was the finest day OF his whole
life Thus the splendid rituals ola com
mon worship, combined with Il diversity
OF striking objects-the prizes of enUla-
ficn, Produced admirable ehecis-harmo-
nizing naughty inrlinations, smoothing by
personal intercourse party luminosity,
and assimilating rcpugnant customs and
habits. At these grand public amtse-
ments, men at knowledge impaired to each
other their discoveries. Soldiers organi-
zed systems ofdeience. Scamen excllan-
ged their projects for maritime improve
ment. The feeble solicited and Obtained
protection of the potent or. slready Sue
coured, proclaimed their gratitude. He
roeS were terminated by general-admira-
ton : and the competition OF the young
was stimulated by the distinction OF the
eminent
Recollec;ing crowd OF facts which are
so familiar 70 every reader-cf what has
been well STYLED "Philosophy teaching ty
Examples" | was commenting or them,
Of late, with complacency; when rcspec-
table man, eminent for gravity and sub
mission TO ecclesiastical discipline, interpos-
ing, begged me to des;st lie obsery-
ed that such doctrines had an anti
christian tendency. For, that all dan
g cling assemblies, all coEvivial meetings
and all public amusements, however
ciyiizing TO the ancient pagans, were
demoralizing TO the modern Christians:
That all such entertainments being pro-
hIbited by the holy scriptures, are in
themselves and by reason OF several ag
grayaiions as heincus in the sight of
God as the br ach ofany command in the
deoalogue: That ourreyerend clergy, of
various denominations, had denoun-
iced all such meetings, in mass, as abso-
lutte abomination aud were determined
" 10 exclude from the participation OF no.
. ly Things in their respective churches,
every individual who should hencefUrth
partake OF them"
Then, said I-ifwitii dancing and fesfal
music, they Interdct, as wicked, all con-
vivial meetings and all the people of Uni
ted America say Amen whatwill become
of the only secufdr feast-which | ceie-
brate mean that of our national birth
day-tlle glorious anniversary of Ameri-
can Independence Surely these worthy
communications err al least in tie Greaoth
ct their demncidtioR. For one, plain,
blunt Christian Layman, shall say open
ly-ought erroneous Teachers of any per
suasIon, III this happy land, TO be cornte-
na@csd by rirtaoms Pairiots, if they mams-
firstly encroach upon the re,y elements Of oar
political. fa5,ic? And by the same doc
trine trench too upon those Of biameless and
poflshed manners? WHsic, Dancing, Cor
rcysation, andthe free interchange of courtesy
dnd opiHon-amid tayge ciycioS Of educated
or ingenious citizens, are throughout Ame,i-
I'm Il 81, II. 4
meetings and with such seasoning, the
Sorereign Peopfe impd,f the majesty of'taeir
wW. Cornwall entertainments, mOdera-
ted by the presence of the mature with
tEeyoung, are among the most common
and obvious means, by viii n considera-
bic bodies of men, dispel that distrust
and shyncss, which abolute strangers 10
each other, are but too apt reciprocally 20
nIngie even with the FIRST dawnings of
regard. Men mast socially approach
and mingie together benignly, ere they
can rlpen into generous confidence,
which indeed nothing short of the famili-
arity OF close acquaintance can duly
cherish. Such approaches can neither
be made i'll churches or at cOurt-houses.
TO interdict them, by denouncing as vi
cIous one of the most connections ave-
nues ofsocial sympathy and political ap-
Proclamation !: what is it, but TO attempt
to divide men like slaves in order to do
plneer over them like Tyrants But, A.
mericans will celebrate festivals in honor
of the heroes of their country and com
memoTate their iilustri0us deeds IN the
teeth and forehead of al. such innovators.
shall tor one, continue 10 maintain, that
the convyiai meetings which furnish al
most exclusively the p,ae tmcost{y homage
that we render TO our maritime ard terrific
RAT dJehdcyS, ought neyert0 beabOlshed.
As TO the cornwall meetings and public
amuSements instituted to commemorate
our independence, ! go further and liz
sist that the exercises of these ought 10
be enlarged and imprOved-by the Sove-
reign People of America, into a perfect
Olympiad Tile day that emapcipottA tie
aeto uorld .frOm tint dominion Of Kings art
Priests Uhich hos GaBruinedibeold. ought
forever TO be celebrated in the west by
the most brilliant demonstrations of ma
tiona gladneSs. TO contribute 60 en-
bellish aud perfect the holiday ofthe rights
of man, by universally diilusng zeal for
their unmpalred maintenance, is the
sound policy of every FREE Siatesman and
the duty OF every free BiaR. For at some
future period, within tlie present century
perhaps, such an institution MAY become |
the main pivot upon which Lnion, the |
palladium OF American happiness, NAV de |
pend. Koti0Hri dchQM is the most pOi.tic |
SeGSopiRg tor pycjoeHddafH Iadep,adence |
Shoad be rendered, by b,JHiat nssociotiors 1T |
cOIUcctcd objects. mt 0pig pyeciOfefD mn. an