Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-20
COMMUNICATION.


nature of "Cephas" The writer has made an
effort to conceal from the public his real name
and calling, and processes to "hail" from Wash
ington. Unfortunately for himself the like eau
ton has not always been observed. The same
sentiments, clothed in the same words with
others, which might only be uttered by an avow-
ed infidel, have been expressed by him, in the
most public manner. This subter(uge, there
fore, can avail him nothing. He has too
far committed himself already, to escape de-
lection by this means. Let "Cephas'' know,
therefore,-if the same sweeping declarations
are again used, and an attempt is made to as
perse the characters of men, whose age, talents,
and piety, enttle them to the respect of the
whole community, the writer of this no
tice, aware of the place of his concealment, and
of his real character will not hesitate to speak
out. in the language Of such rebuke as the ar
rogance Of the attempt may merit
"Cephas" assumes that "the Office Of Chap
| lain to Congress is now perverted and abused"
! What ground has he for this declaration? When,
how, has the Office been perverted or abusedi
The men who for years past have filled that Of
! flee. are not the men to pervert or abuse any
institution of the kind Will "Cephas" look
over long list of names which might be given,
| and then venture to call in question the piety,
talents, or faithfuIness, Of the men who have
filled that office? Will his own character sus-
tain him on any one of those points, when
brought into contrast with the Rylands, the
Posts, the Durbin's, the Sparks, the Stockton's,
| and others2 Have those men, indeed, played
the sycophant"2 Have "hey brought religion
irto disrepufen? Is |" filthy lucre the god Of
| thr idolatry"2 Are they to be designated as
" footballs, to be kicked about amongst hungry,
needy, greedy expectants of mans favor"2-
| Verify this .Cephas' must be rare instance
of piety, dignity and devotedness, when he can
treat such men with so little ceremony.
Sweeping declarations, such as your cores
pondent uses are easily made; but care should
be taken that nothing but the truth be spoken.
1t may be sport to "Cephas" to indulge in such
reflections, but il is death to The innocent and
unoffending.
"Cephas" wishes the office abolished" He
| could find others to join him in this wisn.-
| Nay,-if his zeal should carry him still further,
and he should Notwithstanding his protession)
be willing to put down every ordinance and in
s,itution, Of rrligion-he would not be alone. A
mass of ungodly, unprinciprd men-of inhdel
pretenders, would unite with him, most cordially,
in the prostration of every thing that is I" fair
| and lovely, and OF good report" connected with
Oh, istianiy. Happily for the country and the
cause OF religion, This Cephas" has been born
a century or two too late to bring about such
state of things as this. An experiment was once
made, in fair and beautiful county, to do with
out the Bihle-withOut the worship OF God
without the ordinances and institutions of reli-
gion and the result Of that experiment has
been wrirten out in characters OF blood. Would
"Cephi>" bring hack those day of impiety and
bloudshed? Would lie exclude the Minister Of
God from the halls of leg station. and forbid
that he should be found there, invoking The Di.
vine blessing on our happy country?
Yovr correspondent asserts that ever since
the commencement Of the present session of
| Congress, a set Of men, protesting TO be Minis
tiers Of the Gospel have hecn hanging about the
| Capitol and Boarding Houses eieciionpe1ing"
&c. Let "Cephas," If he has spoken The truth
on this subject, give the names of the indvidu-
| ais referred TO. Does he mean TO include in this
statement oil those Individuals whose names
have been before the public, and who have been
voted for as Chaplain to either House of Con
gress? lfso, repel the calumny. AS appid to
some of them, at least, the statement is rhoIIy
untrue. II all are not included, why should the
innocent suffer with the guilty? ] challenge to
the exhibition Of names. Better that few in
dividuals suffer, than the whole body of Clergy
should be so stigmatized The proof of the
statement is demanded, and the vulgar gibes
and tauntings of your correspondent, as they
are intended to be general in their application
are thrown back with the most perfect con-
tempt
Warming with his subject. your correspon-
dent makes most powerful attack on the Cer-
gy of this country, asserting that 'they are the
persons who bring so much scandal upon reIi-
gion;" and charging them with the love of
OF power and the love OF money" "A scandal
to religlon2' No. Mr.. Editor this slang of inf
deity, will not be believed at this day. No coun-
try, and, perhaps, no aye of the world. has pre-
scented a greater number OF talented and holy !
ministers of the gospel, than this country can
boast of. If, indeed here and there, single !
exception is found, and another Judas ntrudes !
himselfinto the ministry, let not the whole body
be reproached for the misconduct of single in
dividual. "The Clergy a scandal to Religion !
and the Church," Where, then, are its orna-
ments its defrnders-the bright and illusrious
examples of the power and influence of Picty?
Does not every branch of the Church require |
that the hands which hold her ChaIice shall be !
pure?-that their character shall he as "spotless /
as the vestments Of their Officer" Will "the |
christian public" for whose information your
correspondent writes, thank him for this attack
upon the character oftheir clergy? Surely not
"Cephas" more than nsinuates shat the Office
Of Chaplain has been made one of the sPorLs OF