Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-07-28
RELIGIoN-AhR. su,xxrxe.

In order, however, that Religion should Weld
its full and best fruits. one thing is necessary;
and the times require that should state it with
great distinctness. 1t is necessary that religion
should be held and protested in liberal spirit
Just as far as 1t assumes an intoerant, exclusive,
sectarian form, II subverts instead of strengthen
ing the SOULS freedom and becomes the heaviest
and most CALLING yoke which is laid on the intel
Iceland conscience. Religion must be viewed.
not as monopoly Of priests, ministers, or sects,
not as comforting on any man fright to dictate TO
his fellow beings, not as an instrument by which
the few may awe the many, not as bestowing on
one prerogative which is not enjoyed by all,
but as the property of every human being, and
as the great subject for every human mind
1t must be regarded as the revelation Of COM
mon Father To whom all have equal access, who
invites all to the like immediate communion.
who has no favOrites, who has no infallible ex-
Founders OF his will, who opens his works and
word to every eye, and calls upon all to read for
themselves. and to follow fearlessly the best con-
victions of their own understan i -. l. reliaion
b. seized on by individuals sects, as their spe-
cial provinces; let them clOthe themselves with
Gods prerogative ofjudgment; let them succeed
In enforcing their creed BY penalties Of law, or
penalties OF opinion: let them succeed in fixing
brand on virtuous men, whose only crime is
free investigation; and religion becomes the most
bhghung tyranny which can establish itself over
the mind. You have all heard of the outward
evils, which religion. when thus turned into
tyranny, has inflicted; how it has dug drearv
dungeons, kindled fires for the MARTYR, and in
vented instruments of exquisite torture. But
70 me al! this is less fearful than its influence
over the mind. When [ see the superstitions
which it has fastened on the conscience the spirit
ual terrors with which it has haunted and sub
dued the ignorant and susceptible, the dark ap-
palling views of God which il has spread far and
WIDE, the dread Of Enquiry witch it has struck in
TO superior understandings, and the serviity of
spirit which it has made to pass for piety.-when
see all this. the IRE, the scaffold and the out
ward inqusition, terrible as they are, seem to me
inferior evils. | look with solemn 10y on the
heroic spirits, who have met freely and fearlessly
pain and death In the cause of truth and human
rights. But there are other victims of intolerance
on whom | look with unmixed sorrow. They
are those, who spell bound by early prejudice or
by intimdations from the pulpit and the press.
dare not think; who anxiously stihe every doubt
or misgiving in regard to their opinions, as if
TO doubt were crime; who shrink from the
seekers after truth as from infection. who deny
all virtue, which does not wear the livery of their
own sect; who, surrendering to others their best
powers, receive INCREASINGLY teaching which
wars against reason and conscience; and who
think 1t merit to impose on such as live within
their Influence, the yrisvOus bondage, which they
bear themselves. How much to be deplored i
it. that religion, the very principle which is de-
signed to raise men above the judgment and DOW
er Of man, should become the chief instrument of
asurpation over the soul.
1t is said, thatin this country, where the RIGHTS
OF private Judgment and of speaking and writing
according to our convictions, are guaranteed with
every solemnity by Institutions aud laws, religion
can never degenerate into tyranny; that here its
-Aele inaasase must csnsp;re to the Liberation