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

We copy from the New England Magazine
the following extract from an article on the pro-
gress of Atheism and Infdelity in this country
with some particulars Of the indecent profani.
ties publicly practiced in Boston.
Gin the city Of New York, there are three
large societies. which for want of better name
we shall call congregations of protested inf
dels; some Of their papers have said that they
numbered twenty thousand adherents At Will
mingtOn, Delaware. is another regularly organ
lied congregation; there are several Of more
or less notoriety in the West; one in Providence,
X. /. and one in Boston.
"Besides these regularly organized societies,
it is well known that protested infidels exist in
large numbers, in all the considerable towns in
the West. DR.. Cooper states that half of the
male inhabitants Of South Carolina are infdes;
and the population of the valley of the Missis.
sipp may be set down as half infidels We
! have only to look carefully near home and We
shall be surprised at their existence where we
had not suspected; Satan is no longer scared by
sound ofchurch bells, nor is industry Safeguard
against the insidous approaches OF the tempter;
for il is stated that more than three hundred in
fidels are to be found among the inhabitants of
Lowell. There are very obvious reasons why
they have not openly formed themselves into a
society; but they will inevitably succeed in sha-
king the faith of a majority Of the operatives
there unless attention is given to the subject by
the guardians Of morals and religion; for they
so address themselves to the passions, and pand-
er the appetites of the young, as to be certain
Of gaining their ear
"In all the different towns in the country il
will be found there are several men of idle hab-
its and loose morals, who have no chance or
wish for success in any fixed and honest calling.
and who are ever ready for the introduction OF
any thing by which they may gain distinction
and profit Distinction an depravity Is better tina a
none; and as they are generally Of commune
cative turn, in every body's shop, and about eve-
ry body's business in the village, they make ex.
celent distributors of atheistcal and agrarian
principles. Now it will be found that such men
receive the infdel papers, and from SUI h begin
nings have small parties or societies heen formed
attempts are now making to affiliate these
societies; and spirit is breathed through the
whole by means of the establishment OF news.
papers, and the dissemination of infde tracts
and books. The Boston Investigator strikes off
two thousand impressions weekly, which are
eagerly taken up, read, and handed from one
TO another. The Free Inquirer of New-York.
issues also about two thousand: the Comet has
an extensive circulation, and the athestica IA
per at Wilmington, Delaware crculates about
one thousand copies. These are tn principa
newspapers that are professedIy athe slical, but
how many others are there, which neglect no
opportunity of giving sideway blow al Christi
anity!
Besides these, there are immense editions
OF atheistical works printed at the various inf.
del presses, and sold dog cheap, nay, they.are
stereotyped, and In some instances great pains
have been taken to distribute them eratuitously
over the country.
Yin these works. no hesitation is made, about
sapping the very foundations OF society. and
sowing discord between the various classes to
get rid Of them. They are the wicked insiru.
ments OF oppression, and they must be annulIed,
or we are ruined people,"
The writer alludes to the gradual formation
Of Atheists, inidels, and Agrarians into party;
gree-and will be done more perfectly bv or.
ganization of congregations several OF which
are regularly established and proceed with all |
the order and system OF other societies. The |
nature OF the services in these congregations, is