Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1822-11-09
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DEADLY SINS.
From tie NeD HaUen Reeisfer,

Much Is said in griva,e lie, and much
declined in public, by a certain class Of
society, conce rning the orthodox and infsllj.
bic opinions Of our ancestor. in ma ters OF
religion ard government, The following ex.
tract from the ordinances Of The M ,.s.
chuset's," exhibit not only standard Of
the faith and practice of those times, but de.
mnhstrates the enlarged and liberal views
then entertained of the cod ano object Of
Legislation, and furnishes cnnclusiv- proof of
the impi"us inGrcprie,Y aud sacrilsge OF
changing ancient CONSTITUTIONS.
Long hair was the crying ,in of that time.
and the worthy clergy of thosv DAYS were
doubtless ~ zeaiou, AID siucsre in preach.
ing the relisico. oblie alton of wea Ing short
hair, IS he clergy Of thi. day are in preacb.
ing and growing he religious duty end obi.
CATION nf giving money 20 Education, Cent
and Rag Boz Societies Whether they were
as Pr0tl'a6Iy -mpl"yei, must be decided by
those whc knOp hon all the money collecta
ed Tor such pnrpo'es is expended.
The zeal with which these religious beg
gers IN their pulpits and magazines de-
nouac. the dsmnsble sin of negi.ctine to
give, ss these objects. resembles, in spirit
aud ~ truth too, tie zeal Of ,hese good men.
who call Sc God t. witness" against the a.
bn'ninabls and heehebish practice of wear
ing long hair.
But, )" the fashion of this world ussssth
away and the public is often left to lament
that religion, too. has had ita fashions of
fsith snd practice. I, is certainly tru, that
."me ambitious aud aspiring ciergynsn do
deeply lament That the fashion of religion.
by law allowed in this colouy.'' "a. gene
'he way IF ell the earth; and many bitter
bigot mourns, too, thai the fashion Tor " the
g'dly," (rccordipg % their ow,. mode of 10.
depreciation. So of tht rrle OF God. word,e
TO punish by fire and foggot all hose who
are dehled with controversy s'atemeDt,, has
gone to he toEph of the Cseulets.
How ridiculous is It for men, faIlibl4 and
trail men. TO ossume the prerogarive T Je-
hovsh decide with nnhe stating ob,tinacy
what Is right IN the sight If God, End pro.
| nounce hi. anathems On all Who disobry their
mandate.
This bn,ines' Of wearing long or shors
hair Is obviously MATER Of no moment, ex-
ceot so far as il furn.hes IN opportunity To
Eject hoW little we can fCresse and how
tolerant and charitable we should be to those
who eiffeF ;fro m os; how We ought to avoid
that bigotfy which in.is's on implicit confor.
NIFTY 20 b., own standard.
This protest was published much about
she time OF the e'tabli.hmebt, by law, OF
~ HDU pAftsReB iBTRes
~, IN common with that INSTRUMENT. of the
magistrates, Of The duties of church mem
oeTS, in ~ ls'ioD 10 whsrine ,hort hair, cone
tested with the reverend big. wieged clera
ey, OF tho last geneTs tor, constitutes one Of
the ssvere't satires against regulating, By
authority, the faith and opinions Of men.
This weighiy suhieci is recon- amended to
The watchiol care OF these who claim to be
exclusively orthodox.
Fro'eSt against 7resTfng long hair, IN
the GoveTnor, &c Of Massachusetts.
ForsSmucb ss the wearing IF iore haiP
alter the manner OF the Rus,i-n ond barbau
rous indians has begun to invade New EpgA
lard, contrary to The rule of Gods uoyG.
which 8 Us. IL is shame for man TO aueay
long h0sr. 81, siso, Ibe con- rpondsble cus-
tom ct all the cody CT all our nation, until
within thee fw ysarr:
We, ne magistrates, who have signed
this pePer for the sbe wing our innocercy in
this tehaF, do declare and manifest our dis
like aud 5stesfaticn sgsinst the wearing OF
snch tdng hair as against thing uncivil and
nnmarly whereby men doe deforuos them.
'eives, and offend sober end modest men,
and doe corrupt good manners. We doe,
THEREFORE, earnestly in Test ell the elders OF
this JuTIsoiciirB, as often as they shall SEQ
csu'e 20 manifest their zeal sesiDst il in
their public adminlstfs'icns, snd to take caro-
inst nc meWbeTS OF their se'psctive chufcha
e' be not dtfl' d therewilh, 'kst 90 many 90
grove Cbstirse end will not reforme hem
selves rnsy have God ard msn to witness
aesins. them. Tbe third month, I0Ih Gay,
l644
Jno. EpdicoH, Governor.
Jh0S. Dudley, Dep Governor.
Richard BtfWgdom,
Richard SnisfontaH.
III. .f07CRH.
HIM. HibbnS.
Thomas Flint,
Rob. Bridges,