Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-19
MISSIONARY.
From the BAp. Missionary Magazine for April
.--Ea FRANCE.
WwS-..s. ~ = l.Aa@,. &c.. NJ ~N..S


Exfrasts ~ letter from Mr.. Sheldon,
. dated Paris, November ., 1896.
Obstacles to success Catholicism, Ru-
tiOaalism, and InjfdeLity.-You are al.
ready well acquainted with my situation
In Paris, and with the Obstacles against
which | have to contend. There is every
thing to divert the mind from the deep and
steady consideration Of religious truth
Yesterday was the festival Of All Saints,
and the Catholic churches were thronged
with individuals of all classes and char
aeters attracted by curiosity or supersri-
tious regard to hear the music, to see the
splendid priesily vestments, and witness
the imposing ceremonies which belonged
10 the occasion. To-day is the fele dss
trspaSssssin which prayers are offered for
the dead, particularly for, those who died
BY violence. or remote from their friends,
and 10 circumstances which deprived them
Of such religious Offices as in Catholic
countries il is customary to pay 10 those
who are 90 the point Of leaving the world.
Crowds Of people will resort TO the ceme-
teries for the purpose Of ornamenting the
tombs and monuments under which re-
pose the ashes Of their friends, and of
others who have earned claim to re-
membrance or gratitude, with chaplets
and beads tastefully arranged; while, as |
understand, there will be in the churches
an exhibition equally we'll fitted to capt.
yate the senses and the Imagination, as
that displayed on the preceding day, and
sdmirably contrived 10 inspire the mind
with feelings which il would be strange
indeed IL many of the attendants should
not mistake for the genuine sentiments of
religion. tits bypomps and ceremonies
such as these, frequently exhibited before
the eyes Of multitudes here, that the Cath
Ole religion continues to exert a power
ful influence over the minds of consid-
erably large portion Of the inhabitants OF
Paris. and Of the other large cities Of the
empire, while in the smaller towns and
hamlets throughout the nation il main
tains sway, which. with some few and
rure exceptions, Is almost wholly undis.
puted. Il is impossible not to feel under
what great disadvantages any attempt TO
convince This class Of persons of their err
,rors, must be made by the teachers of a
religion which foregoes and disowns any
other means Of recommending itself than
m appeal to the Bible, and to the reason
and consciences Of men for its truth
i wish could say that the other por-
tons of the population in the midst of
whom am placed, were more accessi-
bic to evangelical instruction than the
class Just described. But how can this
be said by one who has had an opportu-
nifty Of observing their tastes, habits, and
amusements2 Many Of them Identify
ing, perhaps, the form of religion with
which they are most familiar with the re-
ligion Of the New Testament, consider
Christianity as an obsolete thing, which
has spent its force and is no longer capa.
bic Of comforting an benefit upon indivrd.
uals or society. If urged to read the
scriptures for themselves, and put them
selves into possession of the means of
forming more Just Judgment Of what
efficacy there is in Christianity, they in
stanny reply In substance, that il is all a
vain and useless matter; that the Mbject
is too trivial to merit so much labor that
il there were anything true and impor-
tant in the Christian religion, it would
have been found out before this time by
the distinguished literary men and phi
losophers who never fail TO examine all
! such questions 10 the bottom, and who
conduct their inquiries without prejudice
and a. the greatest proportion of these
writers make very small account of it, we
may very well spare ourselves any idle
troebleof inquiry about It. Now, plainly.
where such state Of mind as this exists,
there y little prospect Of making any d.
rect personal appeal without q painful
feeling that i will most certainly be slight
ed. have had conversation with some
persons who realize exactly the above de-
scription, and I daily see numbers. who
appear in all respects to resemble them.
And then there exists, as you do not
need to be told, another pretty numerous
elass. who are avowed infdels, and forti-
fed in their in6delity. In this class are
included many of the most learned men
in the Kingdom portion, at least. Of the
professors and lecturers in the Universi
ties and in the Medical School, and many
Of the writer's in the journals and period.
ical publications. Il Is true their in6del.
ity isnot uniformly Of the very same hue.
Some are simple materialists, believing
that the soal Of man Is nothing more than
. result OF organization and that all tho't
and consciousness cease as soon as the
nasterial framework is dissolved. This
u that species Of iD6deIity which is mos
in vogue among the anafsHrs Of the
physical sciences: | call il, for distinc
tons sake. the inf6sIity Of organisn.-
And there is another variety which does
fst secmto differ much from paatheisn
ittakes. however, the more imposing name
Of 'pAilosophie. hsHaniIaire.s (humanita
rion hhiIoSoDhv. II anneare bv an arti