Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-26
1882 MRW SERIES vOAo saeNOo 1850
Ra1DAY MORNING. O0TDDgR es, 1885,

remarkable devotion To THIS engroSsthS topic LOT
| the last six months and upwards
am glad to hear that the coiored people have
been accommodated with place Of worship bet
ter suited to promote the purity Of relislous de
| votion, and, hope, less acceptable to the dlsso
lutte and depraved; where their proceedings will
be more Immediately subject to the vigilance OF
| the respectable congregation TO which they are
attached, and their conduct, individually and col
lectivey, more in accordance with the hol pnr-
pose for which they assemble. ! agree that it
there is any thing in which enthusiasm is allowa-
Bile, 1t is the subject Of Religion; but Consist
ancy' must excuse me for withholding my appro-
baton from some scenes as have witnessed
amongst coIored people, "whp protested TO meet
10 worship their Maker" | may be singular in
my opinions IN reference to their meetings, but
| am only intoierant where there is i strcng proba
bility of danger. as we'll to those who compose
them as to the community at large. When this
is the case. trust that Inconsistency" himself,
sensitive as he appears to be. wousd not hesitate
to relinquish his sectarian prejudces, for the
good of his fellow citizens have, also, some
''private opinions" but they are pot altogether
peculiar to myself. have not forgotten the his
tory of the last fifteen or eighteen months, nor
am so sure that what mas ever been accomplish
eG BY ignorance and delusiun, NAV not be attemP-
ted again under similar nlatuatiUn This view
of the subject certain y deserves attention. and
nothing short Of the most sinful temerity Will re-
iect it. The question is not whether certain
persons belong Ia your church. or my church. or
any other church, bat whether there NAV not he
privileges and opportunities exteaded to them,
under the peculiar circumstances OF our situation
at variance with that system OF subordination
and security it is incumbent upon US to sustain.
resident Of a powder house cannot be sttan-
ger to the fear OF explosion, and will take every
precauton TO prevent it, ii he be prudent lndi-
,dual, IN the face Of every argument that can
be advanced against the possibility OF such an
occurrence.
1t lurus out (says :" Consistency just as
expected; that scf.love has been at the root Of
this matter" | should be sorry TO think that
any, thing have SAID on the subject OF the CO.
lored peoples meetings, could, with propriety,
b. ascribed to self-love, any other motives than
those | nave already stated. | should sincerely
regret having said any thing Of sincerely pious
persons, " though guilty of skin not colored
like nv oan." that could be construed to give
color to the suspicion that am capable OF being
Influenced by any such ungeneruus or narrow
hearted feeling as that imputed TO me- may la
Dor under mistaken views, and incorrect infur-
NATION, bat hope shall never so far lose sight
OF that justice which is the common property oil
all and that liberalitv and federation which should
accompany my opinions OF others, as NIlfully to
m,Srepresent any one. or maignanlv assa' MS
religious opinions and worship. trust shall
always he found leaning. where bias is at all dis
csrnable to the side Of charity.
One word more as to the seJfSiness am &C.
cused Of, and gill take leave Of "Consisten
c,," and the subject which has introduced me to
his notice am as unaffected ID my detestaiion
of dram shops as he or any one else, aud ieei as
deeply concerned for those who suffer from them.
But. Sir. if the oft.rcpeated advice Of the Med-
cal Faculty. the zeal and example oil Temper
| ance SucIeties, the unceasing anathenas OF the
Pulpit, the innumerabe instances Ut loss OF
health. reputation and fortune, TIVE destruction oi
hopes aud prospects the NEST brilliant, AMI the
overthrow Of reason itself, are incapable OF de-
terring mankind from an Indulgence in dram
drinking. any feeble ELECTS uf mine, with view
to the suppression of this vice, would scarcely be
attended with success. NV philanthropy Is per-
haps, as unbounded as that OF Inconsistency "
though it is no, of that Qpisotic character that
! would! lead me to wage war with wird,nlll
am inclined to think thar it is the peculiar pro
uincc as well as duy Of Consistency IT" cali on
the public to Suppress intemperance." an
very certain he has the best opportunity to de,
claim against it.
b. October %. PRECAU lloN.