Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-10-15

entertained by the public respecting her, must DE
an evidence al weakness and folly. it possible,
at least an hundred fold greater. What, afraid
of one who is expecting TO live and grow MIGHTY
by cutting of his own head.
But is the Church thus active and industrious,
in d%iHusing light and knowledge? Let facts
speak. BY whose influence have three tourths
of the colleges and seminafies in our land, been
endowed, and carried forward in their operations!
Whose influence has been most prominent, yea
and permanent. in multiplying aud perpetuatlns
academies aud schonlss BY whose exertions, Is
the Bible going into every house. and Sunday
Schools-I was about to say, IN every family
TO whom is the public most indebted, Tor the pre-
sent prosperity of the Colonization and other al
filiated societies.? These questions are not asked
by way of Boosting; and by me, would never have
been asked at all, did ! not feel constrained, IN
defence of what | conceived, right
But if the implied answer to these questions
be true, must not the church exert IA vast amount
of influence: Undoubtedly. But is that infu-
ence fearful? Look at it and judge. On what
object does it terminate calculated TO awaken
fearP Are the books Of study fearful! They
are all open to inspection. Is it fearful to see
such a vast amount of knowledge pouring out,
aud running over all the parts of our beloved
land? Is it alarming to see the rising genera
ton, springing up into Intellectual vigor, prepar-
ed for active usefulness and manly effort on the
theatre of life? Is it dreadful that civilization,
and the grateful Establishments of Il'e' should
multiply and expand from one extreme OF Inc
country to the other? And can any one ma
CINE objects different from these in the complex
ion towards which the influence of the Church is
directed? | submit the question most cheerful
~, to a candid public.
But is it not possible, that, heretofore this
influence might receive a different direction and
thence become mischievous? Certainly. But
what then? would you strangh the church nor,
innocent, and erer doing good, through fear she
NAV be induced to do harm hereafter! Or is II
hest to val, till the treason be committed? The
most lovely and promising child may possibly be-
come a very. wicked man.--But whether 1t be
best to kill the child at once through fear Of that
event, or wait the developments of time and then
act according to The merits OF the Individual
this seems to be something like the question be-
tween Old Times and
4 Friend 10 Religion and the STATE
p. S. | have made no structures on but one OF
the quotations of Did Times, because none were
necessary. They contain truisms no doubt,
but have no bearing on the present controversy.
They refer to the usurpations of a certain class
Of the priesthood, not on the civil, but the sccte-
~siasiicaI rights of the people. And though even
that. is greatly to be lamented, it yet serves on
" to shew. that in most respects, the clergy are
men o fhke passions With others-fond OF UhA,
and never entrusted with power without some
times. and almost mconsciousiy, abusing it.
All | contend for is, that the Church should be
treated according to her present merits. N she
do wrong. let the wrong be clearly and distinct
ly pointed out-and if there be manifest en-
croachments on the known rights of any class of
men, with a proper spirit, let her be checked
But let her not be saddled with all the sins of her
predecessors through the long line of the dark
ages:-let her not be s~trangled through fear that
she may commit treason some hundred years
hence:-and let her not be compelled TO bear on
her shoulders, the iniquities Of the State super
added TO her own. That she is consciously aim
ing at domination, in the affairs Of State in this
land, know to be a charge which never can be
sustained.
SugAr. MoIasses, &c