Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-07-14

" thereof, aud for the suppression Of tksafriec'
snte Garments. horse rdcfay, Cunning, and such
" Other diversions, AS arc productive OF idleness,
I" dissipation aud "A general depravity of man.
"ners."
VIII net trcspass npon your patience and
that of your readers IN urging arguments TO
shew that gaming and horse racing (Which is
not only gaming in one of It's worse forms, but
cruelty, and disgrace to civilized mani are
practices that no man ought TO count enance,
and mat ~ Is peculiarly uhbecomiug chris
tiae 10 indni.e in them. The laws of the land,
have condemned them i'm the strongest terms.
But 1 will enquire wherein do the frequen-
tiers OF the theatre, gaming table, ball room and
race held differ in practice from the rich man
described IN the parable in the 10th chapter of
Lake, 18Th verse, TO have been clothed in pur.
Pile anu hne linen and Jared sumptnously every
day, except that his lite was not so sinful as
that q: those who are devoted To these fashion
aDie amuSenieDts, Yet what was his fate The
same DIVINE record informs, that lie lifted mp
ms yes IN hell, being in tOrneEts.
Mdtcns has complained much of the vi-ip.
Ton OF the freedom OF conscience. which the
resolution OF The convention has i'm his opinion
"a tendency 10. lfhe will be- candid, he must
acknowledge thar in this country there is not
lie least danger OF either our political az iei
gous Tres dom bein. irtrin.od. i; seems HAT
Tue isens'biliiy Of the nominal christians is
quite t7fii6, except when the ministers and
rhris'iam niemters of The Episcopal Church.
"thinPt 10 i'drcc the members of ihvirco
"ct upon Ctsie! principles.
ihe Eo'rrnmelit aud practice ofott er demo
iniLaion> i>worthy OF being rrsOrteh 10 u!, this
occasion In doing this, ann ia ,iicd by an
eAtt"Ct tion tue introduction VI the form OF
S"Fernii:ent and discipline OF the ptrshYierian
chi.i en- III the United States which has iueu i.r
inherent purpose published M Tie Enquirer
"f ii- 5t OF JunP, which cX!tact asserts what
all Nlit admit, that tie GIRL iiorer cannot Of
i!@ht interfere Y iil thC CousCtcnccs OF intn in
.nI mot N.Y.. A.
what WAS Designed ny iEe pcis5n Nha sent il
20 TIE prV>>-tliat is, that II isa violation Of
tiYiuuS freedom for the society Itself TO de-
cli'ie what practices are inconsistent and un.
worthy the christian character. The fact OF
a,in-- Il : form ct government and discipline"
m that society shows what is the opinion gild
practice Of tie ,nemhers of that church.
tao seventh charirr OF the work .'om viii Il
That extract is taken, declares the absolute
necessity OF certdin dCtiuita rules tor the roy
eminent oi the members of tile church. The
second section Declares that the object of the
church government, is no, that OF Girl juristjc
ton, but wholly moral aud spiritual THAT t;tay
posses the right of requiring obedience TO tie
iaus ~ Christ, and of excluding the discbedigM
and disOrderly, from the prirHcgcs oil the
church. 10 give efficiency however to This
necessary and scriptui al authority ,theypossrss
the powers requisite for obtaining evidence
and inhctlng cenSnre. They can call before
them amy offender against the order aGd gov.
ernment OF the church. They can require
members OF their society to appear and give
testimony IN the cause. But the hi. hest pun-
iNhineut to which their authority extends, is 10
eNcimde the contamacious and impenitcnt from
The congregation of beiievers." See The foim
OF government, page 3S3
he 10th chapter prescrbes the mode of in.
hlctln@ church ceHsures
In their confession of faith il is declared Iha
" they WHO, upon preteRce Of Christian i6rriy
do practise any sin, or cherish auy Inst, do
" thereby destroy the end OF Christian liberty"
See ch. 20. And 1T the members OF In. clurck
publish any opinion. or maintain amy prnci,ce.
" whichis contrary TO the Ii. hi OF nature or 10
" the known principles of Chrisiiani.y whe he,
" concerning faith, rorship or conversation ,hey
. may lawfully be called 10 account and pro.
" ceededagaiusi bythe cehsuTeSO of the church.
have made the preceding ~ ;-acts 10 shew
what IS the opinion and practice OF thai demo.
mnafIon OF Christians. The recent stOral
letter of the genera! assembly oftliis church.
held al Phliadeiphia. and dated .inne 1878 in
express terms declares the practice OF gaming
" ana Tue fashionable anuseRients OF theatrical
" exhibitions, dancing, attending horse racing
" and the encouraging lotteries and purchasing
lottery tickets, are Inconsistent ,ci!h The Chris
tar character.
Ia Will nst be denied that such are also ibe
opinions and principles OF The society cahed
Friends OF tie methOdists and Daptists. and
that they require their members 10 act and
live in conformity thereto. letthere has been
no complaint against them thev have not be, n
standard of opposition is no where raised "a.
SaIDSi them for expressing The same ornions
aud avowing tie same principles. WHY thcn
Is such an i I'm attempted 10 be excited against
the Episcopal Church? Ii is hoped and bclicv-
ed that the opposition does moi proceed from
any but those who are either not Communicates
who have what Uey call a decent respect for reii.
gion, and wish church that will c0uutenaHce
tie members OF it in pariaking ofihc fasai0aa5ie
and @isNPnfed amusemeniS of lie wuri... Such
n church cannot he CIluICu OF Christ nnr
Savior has said " use cannot serve God and
ma.ninon '-that we must give up the one or
lie other.
ilamh you, Mr.. Editor, for the opportunity
YOU have afforded me TO express my opinion on
what consider legitimate act OF Tie Cnu
vention, aud whi.'i they in dnty were bnund 10
perform, and which sincerely trust Will be
adhered 20 by every sincere Christian member
Oh the Chni cb. CONSISTENCY.
Communicated.
WILLIAM & MARY COLLEGE.
On i!ie 4th inst. al IL o'clock, lie viSi-