Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-04
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1881.
COMMUNICATED.

sion Of the question relative to religious excite.
ments," will be pleasing to you, or acceptable to
a majority of your readers. Nevertheless,
will again trespass upon your kindness.
Men may very honestly differ in their senti-
ments with regard to this matter. can readi-
ly conceive of conscientious and devout Chris
tian, being impressed with the facts, and con-
WINGED by the arguments used in the Watertown
Address. In sending you that paper however.
and calling the attention of your readers to
neral train of reasoning. never intended refec-,
tions upon or an insinuation against any Particu-
lar sect or society. looked at the subject
on broad grounds, and being fully satisfied my
.elf shat these q excitements. )" were productive
of much harm, and that perncious consequences
might and and do follow in their trap, deter.
mined, if possible, to satisfy others OF the same
fact. of my right to do this, presume there
can be no doubt The pulpit is occupied by mi
nisters who strive with energy and zeal to Gre
ate these excitemeuts-I, all unskied in theolo-
cy and biblical lore, did not hesitate to put up
an opposing hand. The opposition, it is very evil
dent, is not relshed.
The disclaimer put in above, will satisfy A
Friend to Religion and the State" on one point.
His question, however, at the conclusion of his
article rather surpriZes me. To answer the inqul-
ry as to sthe time and the manner, when and In
which Religion was known to court an alliance
with the State,'' would compel me to turn over
the records Of the Church ever since the death OF
the Apostles. presume bubble is not intend
ed and that it is not designed to reply that the
Church is not Religion. Granted, even it the
reply should be made. But have not the eccle-
siastics made the two words synonimouss Is It
now allowable to separate Religion from the
Church, - Which Of u.s. is not looked upon
as publican and sinner" if we do not be-
long to tie Church, Is any thing good aeknow-
lodged out Of it's pales And are not the Church
es considered and avowed as the sole repos.
,tories of all true and genuine Religion
Though we speak with the tongues of men and
of angels, aud though we have the gift of prophe-
cy, and understand all mysteries and all know
ledge; and though we have all faith, SO that we
could remove mountains" yet Gf we lack tel
lowship in the church, 1--WE are as nothing."-
When the liberals, then, as they are sometimes
called, speak of the union Of Church and State,
they are compelled. &c nece,sitate rel. tospeak oil
Religion-not as It came, pure and uncontaul-
mated, from the bands of the Almighty, but-as
they find it. contaminated and defed by the i'm.
purity of mans devices. In all ages Of the world
under every form of government-the Church
has courted an alliance with the State. The Ro'
man Pontiffs soon united great temporal with gu
preme ecclesiastical power. The Reformed
Church In England placed the mitre upon the
Kings head, and thus secured its strength BY its
union with the State. The Presbyterians in
Scotland-the Pilgrims of America-havs, al
different times, &" courted the same alliance"
With difference, however, to your correspon-
dent who perceive is candid man, the discus
sion Of this subject is DEPRESSION from the de-
sigu Of my appearance before the public. My
object was to induce the community to agree with
me in sentiment as regards the "religious excite
ments" Of the present day. The other matter
an union between church and state-was but In
cidentallyEintroduced am notwithstanding, per
fectly willing to abide by what have said on tina
head. Even here, IN our country at our ume
day, there is evidence enough Of the design o
this sp,ous fraud" to alarm the fears OF all Wit
are opposed to Christian party IN politics.
In all discussions of this kind, mems motive
are apt to be inviduously treated. l am anxlou
not to be misconceived. would make my con
fesson of faith in the language Of one OF the reso
lutions adopted at the Watertown meetng-tha
is that .sdo most conscientously appreciate pur
and unde6led religion, and sincerely desire tn
extension Of its influence in the hearts and live
of all mankind" This is nv unalterable belief
Let it not then hereafter be urged that in an
thing have said, or will say. l am'oppos'ng Ne
ligiou. No. that is farthest from my intention
Believing so, however, am prepared to agre
with the other resolutions adopted at that meeting
which without abridgment send you.