Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-09-18
RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSIES.
From Niles Register.

We have "fa!len upon evil times" Indeed,
IL would almost seem that return to the =" days
of fire aud fagot" might be speedily looked for,
If the secular power could be rendered sub
servent to the propagation and g glorious pro.
gress" OF some of the leading Christian sects
Concerning such quarrels, (which then existed
as now. though with better excuse than at pre-
sent,) Franklin, about sixty years ago, said, in a
private letter TO hiend:-
When theoogians or religious people quar-
rel about religion. each party abuses the oliver;
the profane and the infide believe both sides,
and enjoy the fray; the reputation Of religion in
general suffers, and its enemies are ready to say,
not wha, was said in the primitive times-behoid
how these Christians lous one another. but, mark
ho,c these Christians HATE one another"
And when we refer TO certain newspapers in
which sthe drum ecclesiastc' is most loudly
and wickedy beaten-with rub "a dub here, and
rub dob thrre-it NAV well be SAID" mark
ho,o these Christians hate one another.''
There have been many regular Seito's between
wranglings priests-whose zeal was maaifestly
greater to floor" their antag0nsts-and, by
cart loads Of Latin and Greek and Hebrew,
" With or &" without points," send each other
into the safe and fast keeping of "the prince Of
DEVILS" and gather laurels for the selves-out-
rageousiy aud indecently Inconsistent with the
sublime principles Of that religion which teaches
meekness and iorbearance, and "peace and good
will to all men," And even the 4th of July-a
day which of all others should be kept tree from
such controversies. and mainly because that per-
feet right of conscience were established by the
Declaration Of Independence, has been used for
the purpose Of forwarding sectarian or particu.
lar religious vie~s, and the progress Of one of
the d" churches" has been toasted on this day |!
Such things are not only in "bad taste''-they
are decidedly miscellaneous, and should promptly
obtain the most decided marks of public re-
proach, contempt and scorn.
We lowe no subscription" to the rules of
faith of any party of rplisionists-for we cannot
receive the whole dOgmas OF any one; but We
agree IN practice with the good people Of all, who
lido Justice. 1--we mercy aud walk humblv.'-
And II always delights Us to witness, or be in.
formed OF, such instances Of cooperating good
ness, as is found in the Baltimore inf mary.
where our valuable and valued friend, Solomon
Etting. Esq. the governor of that institution and
=" Jew" has a charge over the Sisters ct
CHARITY" devoted to administer to the wants
anu relieve the pains Of the sick and wounded
and sore, No one who is acquainted with the
persons Just alluded TO can, for an instant. sup
pose that " Jew or Gentle" - bond Or Tree. is
regarded, IN the fatherly or sister like kindness
and care With which patients are attended-or
that between the two. there is any difference in
doing what the lao and the gospel enjoins on both
We read that" the harvest truly is great, but
the laborers few" Every church." more or
less, has adopted certain 'sarticles of faith"
which are regarded by its thorough going mem.
bers as essentials; but il all these " essentials"
were collected together and made into one book, a
Chinese philosopher would. probably, regard the
Christian religion, las set forth in these utterly
opposing dogmas,) as much more confused
mass Of matter than that of the various sects
which abound in bis own land; and, perhaps, also
claim, in his own behalf, the iact.-that far
greater number of the inhabitants Of the world
arc of his own general way OF thinking And
yet on the important point Of showing the duty
which man owes to the CREA TOR by rendering
Kindness 20 his creatures.-the followers of Mo-
ses or of JEsUs-of Confucius or Mahomet, or