The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-05-19
Hon, De En, clinton's .adsress


May Is, 1924.
In consequence OF the resignation OF
the worthy and respectable president of
this institution, have been honored with
an invitation TO act in his place. And
in acceding 10 this request, I have fel,
all the responsibility attached to the oc.
casion, and sll the solicilude connected
withthe important duties WHICH VIC are
assembled to perform.
IL is certainly work Of supererogation
TO expa'iate on the high interests which
arc Blended with the prosperity OF this in
stitution. The solemnities of the Jewish ri
tual have given away to the mild admins.
trahon OF Christianity, and the establish,
ment of the cross has destroyed the san
culinary prescriptions Of the heather my.
theology. With this change of the cha
racter OF religion, the Offices and func-
tons OF its ministers have received a corr
respondent improvement and instead
OF the priest, presenting victims at the
altar to propitiate the fabulous deities OF
superstition, the Christian divine offers
up prayers TO the Almighty Father Of the
Universe, expounds the revelations of
heaven, administers the solemn ordinan.
ces OF religion, and exerts all the powers
oil his mind 20 inculcate the observations
Of morality.
The experience of mankind evinces
that religion is essential 10 cement so.
ciety and to promote good government |:
and IN reference TO future state, il de-
termines our des,inies for ever. The
influence Of religion must be co.exteD
slve with the number and character of
Its ministers. An able and pious clergy
will produce moral and religious peo>
pie, And in proportion to deficiency
10 the numbers, and failure in the
jurisdictions Of the ministers, in that ia.
ito VIII the morals Of the people be affec-
ted and the interests of the community
impsired.
In this state, the functionarIes of reli>
gioD are constitutionally interdicted from
office, and in most OF the states thew are
practically prescribed. And is well
known that the emoluments of the sacer.
dotal Office furnish no alluremeEts TO Gu.
p'dity. The sons of the great and the
powerful, OF the opulent and the ambi>
tious, will seek the road to civil distinc
ton or wealth through other professions:
and 1t thus unfortunately happens that
the most able to bestow the blessings OF
education on their children, arc not the
most willing that they should devote
themselves TO the mihistration of religion.
ibis defect must be supplied, this evil
must be remedied by gratuitous educa-
ton. And with this view, institutions
like the present, which cherish meri,
without any regard to the fictitious dis
functions OF society and when rescue
poverty from privation, and elevate hui
mllity above depression, and which ap.
preciate talent and virtue in the abstract
without any connection with the epdow.
'nents OF fortune or political distinction,
are calculated to enlist in the cause of
religion, men of gigantic minds and
wonderful energy. In the dark abodes
OF Poverty, and in the seques,ered shades
of obscurily, genins often exhibits IFS
powers and the virtues OF a saint and
martyr are frequently cherished with no.
~ enthusiasm. Cultivation and patro
mage must unite III drawing forth these
latent and dormant energies, and in en-
listing them IN the service of mankind.
It's In vain to contend that the func |
lions OF d christian minister can be sue
cessiully performed without education
Fhe apostles Of Christ were, at first, men
without the benefits OF literature. bui |
they were armed with the Gift of tongues. |
the power miracles, and the visitalions |
oil the Holy Ghost. But besides these
preternaiural eDdowmen.s, all the learn,
ing and philosophy of the ancien,s were
united in ST. Paul, who was called 10 the
Christian church by miraculous inter,
position. Ills writings display the mos,
talent, and he has even corde.
'cended to refer to some of the great
classical authors Of antiquity. His elo,
lueHce was of Demosthenian energy
md TO his intellectual cultivation must be
lscFloed, to certain extent, the vast
that resulted from his Ia.
'ors the cause OF Christianity
An able divine ought to understand
he original languages in which the in.
pHed writer's promulgated our religion.
And it would be well if he extended his
acquisitions to the other radical laneua>
res OF the eastern hemisphere. His ac-
luantance with literature and science
'ught to be extensive and profound and
'e should be deeply read in moral phi,
osophy, metaphysics, and theology
lie should also be master of all the points
u polemic discussion, and be prepared
lot only to defend Christianity against