Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-09-13


ters Of the gospel of peace. Do you sxcsse i.
yourselves by saying that you already preach
the gospel. which is sufficient 10 bring about
the millennium, and that therefore there i no
need of peace societies. We demand an an.
swer to these two plain questions. n the gos-
pei does indeed allow nations TO settle their
differences by an appeal TO arms, how cap the
preaching Of the gospel produce peace! and il
the gospel does not allow of war, why arc no
Christians told ,o' Why. since the present
generation came on the stage Of action. hsvv
five millions and sixty thousand men, bearioe
the Christian name, been sacrificed by Christians,
SO called, on the bloody altar Of Moloch, ss
the shrine Of military glorys Yes, in the dv.
ration Of twenty years, Christians have slain
more Christians than Mahometans have prob
ably, from the Hegira TO the present day, ees-
tainty for these two centuries back. What
have you been doing these eighteen hundred
years; or, at least these fifteen hundred yssrs(
Has the preaching of the Christian religion il
all that time put an end to war' On the con.
trary, are not now Christian nations the most
blood-thrsty and ferocious Of any nations Yn.
der heaven-the terror of Pugons, and the
scof Of Jews and infides' But ministers havs
preached; yes, aud they have prayed. Prayers
have ascended TO God from cha aplains Of cvn-
tending fleets and armies, prayer against prayer.
and anathema against anathrma; and Christ.
ians, members of Christ's mystical body, and
pious men, no doubt. have shed each other's
blood like water. aud thanksgivings have bseu
offered up, in temples dedicated TO the Prince
Of Peace, for bloody victories obtained over
his followers. But, reverend fathers, we would
not reproach you. You have but shared in
that delusion under which we all have laborsdB
and let him that is without fault cast the fret
stone" Nevertheless, wc do indeed believe
that the preaching Of the gospel is the most
efficient means of bringing about the millennium.
but then is must be preached N a dAerent
manner from what it has been for fifteen hnn..
dreJ years. But we know that we have this
treasure in earthen vessols;'' Wa know that
F." the fear Of man brngeth snare;' that you
feel reluctant to oliand the preudices Of your
flock. Accept then the aid of peace societiesJ
let them takc the brunt of the battle, they fear
it not. Let them attempt to remove the preju
dices which you fear; they have hitherto been
successful in the undertaking, und with your
aid they will be still more successful. Tie
gospel has been preached, without tho help IL
peace societies, for these eighteen hundred
years, and it has not yet produced peace amsns
its followers, if we except the three first ages
of the church, "when the lamp Of Christians,
burnt bright Now try the aid of peace 80
cieties, and grant us in return your assistance
your influence, and your prayers, We has
one appeal left, which, should ali others fa;'.
we are sure will prove successful, and that
Ladies, is addressed TO you; you who wet-
i" last at the cross and earliest al the grave
Of our Great Master Oh! could you witnes.
the misery Of your sex, in the warlike sta,rs
of Europe, where so many men have been coh
sumed in war, and left an equal number u,
women to want, and what is infinitely worsr.
TO vice and degradation, your hearts wouii
bleed. Remember that the same causes whiyi,
produced this misery and vice in the old world,
will, if unresisted, produce them in the new
Then plead for peace, for who can pIead liks
you?" To conclude, we appeal 10 you, into
whose hands this paper may come, in whatevsr
Of the above named classes you may rank yout.
self, and we ask your assistance. We ask you
to form peace societies where you have inHus
ence, which shall beco Auxiliary to the ma
tional society; to subscribe 10 our constitution
as life member, or an annual contributor; or,
if you can do do more, to subscribe for n pc
riodical, and get what subscribers you can; by
that means, you can investigate cur principles.
and investigation can do you no harm. Lastly,
can you not influence others Of your ssx, to
mako your minister life member Of our soeiss
ty, and thus at once, give US the influence Sf
the fair sex and of the clergy' At length W.
close cur letter, with tho bcnodiction pros
nounced by our blessed Saviour's own lips,
Blessed are the pea ace-makers, for they shall
be called The children Of Cod"
The Litchteid Decision.-lt will be recols
ec,ed, that the Cour, Of Errors. in Litch6eld
County, Come ct icut, decided. n short time