The Northern star, and constitutionalist. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1834-1837, 1836-01-16
sFrom the Boston Patriot.

THE SALARY OF CLERGYMEN.
The country in which the Christian re-
ligion was revealed, is now possessed by
those who believe that Mahomet (cr Nh
hammed; was the prophet Of God They
possess ahd rule that part OF the earth
which was first peop!ed after the deluge
the whole valley ofthe Euphrates and the
Iigris, and that vast region which was
once Assyria, Media and Persia They
possess Asia Minor, where Christianity
first established itself, overthrowing the
idols and the temples of many rich and
populous cities. They possess Cons,an-
,inople, which claimed for 1000 years, to
be the mistress Of the Christian world.
They possess, also, Egypt, and the whole
Of the North coast of Africa. But eve-
ry where the Nah homctan is idle, when
not engaged in war he is ignorant, SUI
perstitlous, debased and savage. His
women, strangers 10 the world, shut up
in imponetrable seclusion, are still more
ignorant aad debased than himself.
Wherever the Mahometan rules, his
country, with few exceptions, is a silent,
dismal solitude, through which the adven-
turous traveller passes with fear and treni-
bling, whatever precautions he may have
taken to ensure his safety.
Where Christianity has been most cor
rupted, through a series of ages, a mere
mortal, clothed in princely robes, and ex-
erclsng regal power, has assumed to be
the successor OF st Peter, and the depos-
tory Of the keys Of Heaven. Here, al
so, there is ignorance, poverty and mise
ry and ecclesiastical authority leans on
the arms Of temporal princes, to maintain
its dominion. 1t is little better in any
country, where the religion oil the sue
cessor Of ST Peter is the exclusive one.
1t is only IN countries where Christian
itv is called Professionalism, that every
man may read The bible himself 1t is
only in these, and not n all of them, that
, man is free to acquire information, 10 la
bor as he pleases, to feel the manly SEN
timent of freedom, and to exercise his
powers, and improve his condition, thro'
: knowledge Of the true purposes of human
J life. Free Christianity IS thus seen to
be the real foundation of all the intellec-
tual improvement, Of all the moral refine
ment, and OF all the innocent and endur-
ing pleasures TO which human nature is
adapted. BY whom has Christianity been
made the instrument Of thus reforming,
and refining society," Certainly by those
who have devoted their lives to teach the
consoling and berefcent truths OF the
gospel 1t Is this class of men whose ell
ioquence has created, adorned and made
sacred all the good which is expressed UNI
der that precious name of HOME, 10 which
all tho world, but free Christians, are
strangers This is the class oi men, who
have, from time to time, addressed them
selves TO the reason of their hearers and
who have shown, by the purity und gene
raj example Of their own lives, that tlor
believed and practlsed, as they eXhore0
others to believe and practise. Ii IL T.
this class of men, and TO those who have
found it to be equally their duty and into
rest to sustain them, that the world is III
debted for its social and moral improve
ment, and for its sentiments Of rational
liberty, as consequence.
!, Suppose the American people should
f abolish the religious worship OF the Sab
bath, and get rid of the nume of Sunday
by dividing the month into decades, as
tho philosophers OF France once did
what would become of domestic relations,
Of the sense of justice, Of the duties OF
neigbborhood, Of civil heedom,--o ev-
cry thing precious in human lile?
: Ought not class oil men who devote
their lives to the promotion OF social and
national welfare, and whose duty il is, to
: warn those who are involved in the busy
, scenes Of worldly existence, that death
, is certain, the hour uncertain ; and that
all which is done on earth will be sub
| jected to Judge, who can neither err
nor be deceived ought not such men 10 be
sustained in their ministry! In what man
ner? They can perform no labor but
those which pertain TO their vocation.
These occupy all their working hours.
They nre expected TO learn as the world
learns, and TO know, in an age Of seveio
nnd learned criticism, by what mems they
can best defend the fnrtress which misdi-
rccted talents, and malicious ingenuity,
nre ever disposed to attack. They arc
husbands and fathers. Ought they not
to be so placed as TO enjoy the benefits
which these relations were intended TO
/ bestow Ii they cannot so educate their
children as 10 feel assured that they will
be ablc to sustain themselves, ard per-
haps n widowed mother, those who nro
! naturally the dearest objects TO them, may
bo the subjects Of most painful soiciiude,
since they see that they may have to look
to the worlds cold charity Tor their daily
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