The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-04-17

In the whole vocabulary of the Eng
lish tongue there is not word more de-
serving our notice than HARMONY.
The sound Of it is pleasing and the sense
of it fills the mind with ideas Of all that
is grand or beautiful or happy in nature.
Let our minds be expanded TO a contem-
plation of the majestic movements Of the
Universe, or contracted to a finite view
of the objects of vision and we shall find
that in each where harmony prcsides, the
reign of peace is established, and thar its
influence ever begeis bnppiness. The
ancient notion of the music ofthe spheres
first sprung from consciousness. how
essential was harmony to the orderly
movements of the planets in their respec-
tive orbits and 10 this notion the poet al.
ludes when he uses the following verse /:
"Forever singing as they shine,
The hand that made them is divine"
Confning our thoughts more particu-
lnrly to the planet on which our lot is
cast, we will ask the question can "hsppi-
ness our beings end and aim" be attain
ed without a duo regard to harmony 7
Can nations flourish, or families prosper
without it! Can even an individual at
tain that in pursuit Of which every thing
l that lives and bresthes spend their exist
tence without harmony1 Whether man
lives in society or rstires to the wilder
ness, whether the beast herds with others
Of his species like the buffalo and the
horse, or ronms the forest in solitary dig
nifty like the lion and the Tiger, still
to be and feel happy harmony must
exist. Without its pervading and sootb-
ing influence among men, the sword and
the cannon would fill the earth with hay.
oc and deiuge fields with blood. II
it reigns not In the system Of the hermit,
you may be sure that he has sought his
call in vain. What but the want of il be-
gets war. disease aud death What but
the want oft unfurls The banners of con-
tending armies. or spreads the canvas of
hostile navies What other cause dis
solves the bands of society, array fami-
Iy against family and so often leads man
to imbrue his hands even in a brothers.
blood I? What then are the causes that
we so rarely meet withn, where we have
most reason to look for and to find il :?
In word why is it that we are'so often
disappointed in finding it to exist umong
the different sects Of religion now pre-
vailiog through the earth? Is there a
single individual of .hcm all who pre-
sumes to question its benign influence
or its imperative obligation ms duty I?
Is there single professor ofreligion who
denies Its Importance in relation to the
duties he owes his neighbor or himself |!
Why then we again ask do we so rarely
find it! Let not the arrogant b;got give
as his excuse thar n regard for truth COM
pels him to lift his hand or heel or let
loose the foul ISLANDERS of his tongue a.
gainst his neighbor. Let not the super
stitious devotee alIege that his creed re-
quires him 10 withhold the common
charities Of man to man. Religion ac-
knowlcdges nor requires no such spirits
for her advocates. If it he as we hum
bly, think a matter between man and his
Creator, what arrogance in frail worm
to attempt to rest from the hand Of Om-
impotence his own work What folly for
man to strive with man in things about
which they know and ever will know
nothing! How much more credi,abIe to
them as men and a. Christians TO cult.
vate the good will and the friendly feel
ings Of their fellow men by acts Of char
ity and kindness, than TO bo forever il-