Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-15

thus explained in an aecoun, of+he NIL,
this city. ~ ''quneh
pared, and dedicated as Temple rI -, Osen p.
the pit has been foored over. on keaNs
the stage; in the centre is pulni, level VII
rear of this, fianking it on both sids and In D.
tending across the stage, are the sss, and e.
singers. The pulpit is hung with h Iea,s fOr&
front are inscribed, in Greek charac,,oaaeS Oas
THYsELf;" and on the drapery ovsrh "ks
scribed, in flaming letters ''"eadks
he THAT WILL NOT REASON. f.
He THAT CANNOT REASON, IS Al, INV,
He THAT DAREs NOT REASON, Is A $, ,,r
On the Sabbath, as fin mockerv orn
assemble for Christian worship, the doo muse M
temple are thrown open, and the c OOols OH,
begins to collect; the boxes are. occ"s; CATO
marked as private pews; the seats in ,r az
ed up promiscuously with men and w' VIC PR&
when the church bells cease tollinr tho eh' an
commence. o. VIC serres
"First, the minister rises, and ir,;,.
tention of the congregation to the s"e The Il |
hymn, which he reads,-say the e 77hhs ing Of,
The music strikes up waltz perbaNs "ymn-
quick tune; the singers RISE and sing as S Sn'
Gather your roses while you NAV
Old Time is ever flying;
And that same flower which shines 70 l..
Tomorrow may be dying
Wisely improve the present hour.
Be innocently merry; -
Slight not the pleasures in your mower
Which will not, cannot ,arry.
Let virtue ever be your guide.
While merged in fleeing pleasure:
All other objects else beside
Can prove no lasting treasure.
Though time must fly, though flowers NAV r,d.
And pleasure prove uncertain. t
In pleasures path We'll ever tread.
Till death shall draw the curtain.
After this, the minister rises and invita-. =,
attention of his flock to the reading Of nor, %
Of the Bible of Reason. p'"'a
After reading this portion of their scrin,u,.,
the minister gives out another hymn, or sono
for their hymn-book contains both,-and n.
singers strike up, perhaps, tho l2ith song, which
runs thus
away Will HleldHCnOIy,
Nor dolefuI changes ring
On life and human folly,
But merrily, merriy sing, so gay. &c.
After this, the minister rises and Commence,
his sermon; the nature Of which may be im,.
gined from the source of the texts The ren,.
raj tenor is to ridcuIe the Christian religion n
persuade the congregation that there is no God
no future state, and no soul; in short, 10 preach
the doctrines Of the French nfdels, but not with
the dazzling ingenuity Of Voltaire, or the sub
tie logic of the Encyclopedias; not by fair a.
gument, and from established premises; but B,
bold assertion, impudent assumption, unbusi
ing talsehood, coarse ridcule, and proane lest,
But we leave the doctrines to future descrip
ton. We will here mention as proof ofthe con
fidence with which the infdes look to the pr,
yalenee of their doctrines, that in one of bis d,
courses we heard Mr.. kneeand exhortins hi
congregation not to resort to force in case
should be imprisoned: "depend upon it,n soy
he, sit will hurt the cduse-beSides, il may caus
struggle in which may be killed; and aIihOug
am not afraid to die, | don't want to die by VIC
lence, nor yet awhile; hope to live some tween
ty or thirty years, and die peaceably. know
says he, there is spirit abroad in the country
which cries out for resistance to tyranny; but
my brethren, keep quiet awhile; strive to spr.,
knowledge through the country-depend upo'
it, it will do us the most good, and by and BY
il the struggle must come, and blood be shed
take We measures for securing the victory to lh'
right.
After the sermon comes another hymn, and
then the congregation is dismissed with the an,
nouncement, that "the weekly ball will be held
in this place on Wednesday evening"