Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-06-26
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO THE REVEREND DIR. MOORE,


TO THE REVEREND DIR. MOORE,
BISHOP OF VIRGINIA.
SIR-Aihough do not cn."y the plea
sure OF personal acquaintance with Nou,
yet The importance Of my subject will be
my excuse flr addressing YOU. A respec.
Tor your character as au indh idual, and
reverence Tor Your station as ilie head OF
The Episcopal Church, warrant ne in lay
ing before you my thoughts on subject,
by which The interests ui that ChurCh APP
pear 10 be dceply affected.
In common with many Others, hailed
with hear, felt delight the fair prospect,
winch, Il few Years ago. oueued upon the
Episcopal Church ] viewed her revival
from the sleep OF death, as d joyful event
as an event which would dispense The
bread Of HE 10 Thousands, who were yet
IN Il perlslilng condition. Ia the zeal OF
her servants, | thought saw The morn
ing star which iorriOld the brightness OF
the DAY 10 Come that star | fear will
soon set, ssorn Of lis beams; the church,
l fear, VIII soon RELAPSE inio her SUM
bers
hold il as a self evident proposition,
that The ministers OF the gospel cannot
long continue To do good, unless they OBJ
tam and secure theatieciions of those 10
Whomtbey preach. ltthes wish 10 impartto
others ray OF divine light, they should
draw them near by the cords of love d es-
ieem whatever y calculated 10 produce
disgust and GOODNESS, should be carefully
avoided. Ike novelty ct HE scene, The
powers OF eloquepce, and the force oi
example may iilltheiC churches with hear
ers. But unless they succeed ii gain
ING love an1 respect, however bright their
eioqucnce and iervent their PRAYERS NAV
be, the good effect vii! in a grea, measure
DC lost. The course pursued tor several
years past by some OF the clergy, appears
10 me 10 be calculated 10 cxcit. doubt
and disirusl; tiicir motives may be good,
but 10 rDy mind IT is obvious, that lie ef-
fects produced will be quite The reverse.
II Is with u view 10 obtain the powerful
aid OF your influence and example, in
correcting this growing evil, that now
address YOU.
You have perhaps already anticipated
me, and your own reflection tells you that
allude 10 the Incorporate zeal which has
been manifested by many OF the clergy,
III relation 10 what are denomnated Ger
tain fashionable amusements" | refer
particularly 10 the use which has been
made by some, of the sacrament Of tie
Lords supper. as an instrument for the
| suppression OF such amuSHments. Some
| OF them, have always thought beneath
| The dignity OF public discussion. The
| act OF ddncimg for instance, appears to me
to have no relation either good or bad, TO
| the body of religion; il can only be con
sidered AS connected with the garment of
| religion, and is as unimporiaBt as the
| lringes which adOrn the Episcopal robes
| marvel that any rational being should
choose - indulge i'll such an amusement.
and still more marvel that il should be
| thought worthy of such serious repreIIen-
sion. Two or three years ago, some Of
| lie ministers IN their sermons, expressed
| Their determination TO withhold tile sa-
| cfament from all persons WHO partook OF
Tie prescribed amuscmcnts SUBSEQUENT
conventions have evinCed a pcrinacous
zeal on the same subjects, and probably
| win view to the consistency OF the minis
ters, have made it their principal bust
ness TO animadveTt on the same topics.
II is at the principle alone, thus adopted
that many rejecting men have taken ihe
| alarm. Who can tell where this business
is 10 stop? What will be The consequence
OF the admission, That ministers and CON
| vcLtlouS may impress what forms thew
please or the minds Of their followers
/ Which OF the arts that embellish life, aldy
not at a future day be swept away before
| ny P'Nti VI lHlS mdplc Wd0u HOW lOng
will music, painting. and other polite az
CompiIslmeuts be suffered 10 follow in
the train Of female education These
subjects may, at a future day, hold the
clHef place IN sermon, aud there NAV
not be wanting somel lay deputy 10 con
venlIon, who, IN a reverie Of ianclcd i'm.
| splratlou, v III denounce them ioiie wOrl,
as staining the purity of the christian
character" What, then, il may be asked
would have the ministers 10 do? Ar,
they TO remain silent when they witnes!
practices which they disapprove2 an
swer no. Let them preach, exbort anr
instruct, upon whatever topics they tllinl
expedient. But let them not he swift tC
infllci pmisime'H, on light aud trivial oe
casiOHs. Let them not use the sacramen
as an instrument 10 enforce their will 10
on every subject the Master whom the,
serve, did moi withhold it from sinner IL
one Of the last acts Of his life. II is to,
important an engine TO be used BY an un
skiliul hand: witness the following case
IT may very possibly occur.--A ,irtuou
and accomplished female prescRts her
: sell al the communion table she has un
luckily been At d dance, or PLAY, ard i
. % course rejected The vilesl snneStlg
5 sun ever shOne on comes 10 the same IA
? / be and "a like lGurneg is fpiecfed n,