Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-06-18
Letter of Thomas .Je6ersOn to Doctor Cooper
MONTICELLO, November 9, la2,

MONTICELLO, November 9, 1922.
 Dear Sir:-Your favor of October 18th came 10 hand yesterday The atmosphere of our country is unquestionably charged with threatning cloud of anatlcsm, lighter Tn some parts. denser Tn others, but too heavy in all l had no idea, however, that in Pennsylvania the cradle of federation and free dom of religion it could have arisen to the height you describe. This must be owing to the growth of Presbyteriansm. The blasphemy and absurdity of the five points of Calvin, and the mpossibility of defending them, render their advocates impatient of reasoning, irritable and prone to denunciation. In Boston, however, and it's neighborhood, Unitarian ism has advanced to so great strength, now to humble this haughtesto of all religious seets; insomuch that they condescend to interchange with them and the other sects the cvilites of preaching freely and frequently in each others meeting houses In Rhode Island on the other hand no sectaran preacher will permit an Unitarian to poute his desk In our Richmond there is much fanaticsm, but chiefly a. mong the women They have their night meetings and praying parties where, attended by their prests and sometimes by hen-pecked husband, they pore forth the euslons of their love to Jesus in terms -amtosy and carnal, as their modesty would permit them to use to mere earthly lover. In village Of Charlottesville, there is good degree of religion with q small spice only of lanaticsm. We have four sects, but without either church or meeting house. The court house is the common temple, one Sunday in the month to each. Here, Episcopaan and Presbyterian Methodist and Baptist, meet to- geher join in hymning their Maker listen with at attention and devotion to each others preachers, aud all mix in society with perfect harmony. It is not in the district where Presbyterianism prevails undvidedly Their ambition and tyranny wouldtol rate no rival if they had power. Systematical in grasping at ascendency over all other sects they am, like the Jesuits, at expressing the education of the country hostile to every institution which they do not direct and jealous at seeing others begin to attend at all to that object. The diffusion of in- struction, to which there is now so growing an at tenton, will be the remote remedy to this fever of fanaticism; while the more proximate one will be the progress of Untaranism. That this will, long, be the religion of the majority from north to south, have no doubt
 In our University you know there is no professor ship of Divinity. A handle has been made of this, to disseminate idea that this is an institution, not merely of no religion, but against all religion. Oc- casion taken at the last meeting of the Visitors, to bring forward idea that might silence this lumny. which weighed on the minds of some honest friends to the institution. In annual report to the legislature, after stating the constitutional sons against public establishment of any religious institution, suggest the expediency of encourag ing the different religious sects to establish each for itse professorshp of their own tenets, the con- fines of the University. So that their stu dents may attend the lectures there, and have the free use of our library and every other accommoda- ton we can give them; preserving, however, their independence of us and of each other. This fills tne cnasm ODected 10 oufS as ueIect Tn an lnsttu- tion protesting to give instruction to al useful sci ences. think the invitation will be accepted, by some sects from candid intentions, and by others from jealousy and rivalshp. And by bringing the sects together, and mixing them with the mass of other students we shall soften their asperities, iber ase and nutralise their prejudiccs, and make the general religion, religion of peace, reason and morality.
 The time of opening our University is still as un- certain ever. All the pavilions, boarding houses and dormitories are done. Nothing is wanting but the central building for library and other gene ral purposes. For this we have no funds and the last legislature refused all aid. We have better hopes of the next But all is unceran I have heard with regret of disturbances the part of the stu dents in your seminary. The article of discipline is the most difficult in American education. Prema- ture ideas of independence, too little repressed by parents, beget spirit of insubordinaton, which is the great obstacle to science with us and principal cause off decay since tine Revolution. look to it with dsmay in institution, a breaker ahead, which I am far from being confident we shall be able to weather The advance of age, and the tardy pace of the public patronage may probably spare the pain of witnessing consequences. l salute you with constant friendship and respect.
 I'll: JEFFERSON.