Canton herald. (Canton, Miss.) 1837-1839, 1838-03-07

VIII tGE
Gryrttatv Called IN the course
Of Divine Providence, % labor lur the
religious interests 0f this community.
have anxiousy examined the laclIi.
ties, within my reach, to effect ihe
desirable and important end Of ms
mission. The direct communication
ol religious truth, or preaching the
Gospel, IS Of course my chief, com
handing means. To this however
there are subsidiary considerations of
importance. Between Htya,Y, mordi
and religious Improvement, there is a
close intimacy. True, a considerable
degree of moral and religions worth
may be formed with n comparatively
low degree of mental training. sui
truth, taken in its widest, as well as a
contracted sense, is sin order TO good
ness and TO the highest development
OF the moral faculties, and Ioftiest at
taInments in happiness, the highest de-
gree OF mental cultivation is requisite.
The remark that Ignorance is the
mother Of DEVOTION" is the offspring
OF The dark ages of superstition and
ignorance, and is a libel on the wisdom
OF the Creator and the religion of the
Bible. Hence, in accomplishing the
ems OF the "ministry of reconciia-
tlon," 1t should be an object of pri-
mary Importance to impart informa-
ton, not only on the immediate sub
Ject Of Religion, but all those subjects
direct, with the Improvement or less
heart.
- Improvement
deserving of less consideration, with
INN who would accomplish extensive
good than the subject of improve
ment. Hence my mind, in LOOKING
over the field of my labor, and exam
ming the facilities for attaining nv
end among you, has fixed upon 9ou as
inc class OF my pensioners demand.
ing my more particular attention.
upon the aged | can expect to make
out, comparatively, little impression,
Inc aged christian, | may console
sustain and strengthen, because the
subject of my message falls in with
MS long fixed habits of Mought and
action. But the gray hairs that crown
heart long held in chains of mentaI
ana bodily (siniuD habits, | may
scarcely expect to affect. You. how.
ever, are now of the are of improve.
ment, OF the formation of habits. and
constitution Of fixed character. Yol
may be informed, aud trained to those
mental and moral excelencies which
cannot fail to raise you to a desirable
elevation as intelligent and religion.
beings. -
Ion too are the hope of our coun.
try. You are the muscle and sinev
OF our nation. You are soon TO have
the control of its destinies. and TO de.
termne the character of the follow.
ing generation. You are soon tc
supplant those who have passed the
stage OF life you now occupy. On
you, ami the young men Of our coun.
try, devolves the fearful responsibility,
OF determining whether the future
generations of this natlen are TO have
handed down to them the legacy of
our Fathers blood-our civil priyi-
leges-untarnishedj'and unimpaired.
or dlsigured and vitiated: whether
they are to be people of virtue and
intelligence, or of vice and ignorance.
Our Republic was founded in intelIi.
gence and virtue. and can be sustained
only by them.H'Ehen every means of
improving your minds and your hearts
cannot be too highly valued and dill
gently improved. The young men of
this STATE. taken as body-and I
intend no ilattery--are not surpassed
for intelligence and enterprise bv any
portion OF our country. II must also
be added, they are exposed TO dan
gers, as respects their morals and
characters, eqadllcd, probably, by no
State IN the Unionl And TO this we
must also add, many and fearful have
been the skipprcck' Of both which
have blen made | could detail to
you instances that have come under
my own observation, which could 40.
fail to rouse the scnslbiliiies Of The
mostt,rpid! The importance of your I
period ollie, To your own mental and +
religious improvement; and the i'm.
por'incs Of your example and life up.
vi The destInies Of this community and