Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-04-12
DIR. BEEcHER ON ATHEISM.

ONe O4N "A ~ 04sAs
DR.. BEECHER has commenced course
Of Lectures to the Mechanics Of Cincin-
natl. From the report of the FIRST, in the
Cincinnati Journal, we copy some charac-
teriStic passage:
Political Bearings.-How to preserUc
Liberty, there's the rub Other nations
have made themselves free; but their light
of life has been like the meteor's glow,
flashing a,hwart the horizon, and going
down in endless night. Shall it be thus
with ours2 Have we been called into the
light Of Liberty aud shown what we may
be. only to be thrust back into more terri
BILE darkness? trust not. tvus, we
shall shine brighter and brighter, till the
nations, encouraged by our success, shall
break their chains and walk erect and FREQ
upon the fair earth which God has given
them.
When at first we set up for Indepen-
dence, Kings, Mobiles and P Priesthood stood
aghast ! They pitied US, poor orphans,
who had no Church and State to take
care ofus. They feared we should all go
back again to skins and acorns; but we
have kept along for fifty years or more,
and we have in that time made some bread
stuff, some cloth, and considerable pork.
We have thought of trying it fifty years
mors-and five stick TO the good old way
of God and Liberty think we shall
succeed.
Thus far have we done pretty well but
there are some, not many hope-though
fear there be those, who are not willing
TO let pretty we'll alone, and are anxious to
try some experiments to make US more free
and happy than we have yet been. They
have discovered, they think, that there is
no God! That the Bible is fable And
they think that civil government is a usurp-
alton. and separate families and separate
property are curse; that it is vile mo-
nopoIy for man to have any wife in par.
ticular, or for son 10 know his own ia
Their /; that liberty is the right of every man
to do as he pleases, and equality the right
of every man to be as handsome, wise, and
witty as his neighbor-the right to live in
as fine house, TO dress as well, and eat aud
drink as much by weight and measure.
You all remember the fable Of the deg,
who grasping at the shadow of his marrow
bone, lost what he had and gained nothing.
Let Us be careful lest by grasping at the
shadow we lose our marrow bone. Let US
wait until some other nation has made the
experiment, and by the principles of athe-
ism-and by the overthrow Of civil institu-
tons and in the abandonment of all sacred
and social ties-has made itself freer and
happier than we now are. Let Us not
therefore. abandon them for any mere ex-
pertinent.
II any thing can destroy our nation, it is
such fanatical and profigate opinions as ]
have mentioned and were they not print
ed and circulated, would not believe they
were entertained. 1t is true, that while
Atheism has corrupted kings aud mobiles, 1t
has served to overthrow despotsms and
exalt the people; and after all the convul-
sions which France has Undergone, there
is, on the whole an increase of liberty.
But put these Atheistic principles under
republic and set the match to them, and
the people, as well as rhe rulers, will be
blown to atoms. Let opposition to author
ity and law obtain here, and we are LOST
our constitution will be but rope Of sand.
Ever since the apostles of Infidelity have
turned their mission to the laborers and ar
tizans, l have trembled for my county,
My own ancestors were artizans. My fa-
Their was a worker in Iron. He was well
read in history. intelligent and virtaous.--
He. was industrious and patriotic, and had
respect and influence IN the community in
which he lived. Until was sixteen
worked on the farm, or with him welded
the hammer in making hoes and other im-
pIements of husbandry. glory in my an
cestry. TITS TO my habitual muscular ac-
ton that owe the measure Of health and
endurance which has attended me through
life, and which has enabled me to breast
storms and exposure to east winds withou!
quailing. ar
know the heart and bone and sipew Of
liberty are with the agriculturalists and ar
tizans, and that with them is the last citadel
Of liberty. And / know who has carried
among them lying sophistries and corrupt
ing principles. And I have looked on and
went: and would fain come to the res
cue Of this best hope Of my country. II
ever longed for the power Of ubiquity, it
is that I might 60 to every arlizan and
counterfeit the poison that ln6delity has
mingled in his cup. .4
EnglanTs Maiden Queensland Ell
phinstone is now currently reported by the
foreign papers, as the intended husband OF
Young Victoria. II seems that the queen
Of England has heart, like other women
quite a warm one, too, il seems, palpi-
tating beneath the robes Of royalty--and
some years since, when she was only the
duke ofKent's daughter, Princess Victoria,
she though. proper. very imprudentiy, to