Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-01-24

the road to political prefermen,. Who
mat seeks to Perpetuate the republican
institutions Of our country, and sustain
them IN the purity in which they were
framed. will not lend his aid 10 the SUP.
preston Of political Anti Masonry .-the
hobby upon which desi sning dcmagogues
ride into our halls Of legislation. Let ne
enquire. What Anu.Masonry is, and
upon What foundation il rests II isa IA
na.'ei'm gotten up by disappointed spirits.
calculated TO set at defiance the laws of
this government. and destroy the conf
dence rcposed in our fellow men, with
regard TO their moral honesty. But.
Brethren. there is another class Of the
community, which oppose Secret Asso-
cations, that | name with extreme re.
llciance they are found standing in the
sacred desk. and denomina,ed the heralds
oil the cross. Let us consider this point
lew momenis, II has become customary
for Ministers who profess 10 have been
called to preach the Gospel Of God. TO
take their stand as Wstchnen upon tho
Walls Of Zion, and leave the great com.
mission gwen by the Eternal Son 10 hold
out the lamp OF Aviation 10 fallen man
and ia direct opposition to the hsllowed
precepts Of the Book OF Inspiration. s,oop
10 abuse their .ellow-men for the pursuit
OF christian virtues. OF which they know
nothing, and declare that which is in ac
cordance with the standard Of eter.
nal truth. TO be productive Of evil. Eel
low-Ciiizens, is this the spirit of that Re.
l,gion taught from the reekine cross Of
Calvary: think not, but have made i,
settled maxim, when I see one Of the
above named characters, or in Scriptural
language. false teachers" disgoreing
their venom, the product Of bigo.ry. a.
gainsi the Promulga,ors of Virtue. Char.
~ and Morality, and To give il a sem.
biance OF FEASIBILITY. draw around them
the robe Of sanctity. and screen their act,
beneath IFS ample folds. an. induced TO
exc'aim IN the language Of Pollock, that
they have
S'oie The livery Of the court of Heaven,
To serve the devil in
La virtues guSc dcyourcd tn. Widow = bousc
And eat the orphans bread
For, Clansmen, IL 10 nv candle onin;o,
that in the heart where bigo,ry predomi.
mates. the mild and GENIAL influence ol
religion must wither, droop and die
B'gotry is the bane of religion, and how
ever you may bubble upon words, I give
u no softer name; but II in the vocsbu.
larry OF the English language, there i, one
more harsh, It's this, that intolerance is
bigo,ry, and bigotry intolerance. Here
with the French MARTYR. I might appro.
pusteiy exclaim, oh Religion what
deeds Of a,rocity, are perpetrated in tbv.
name! In the name Of the Cross Of
Christ, rivers OF CHRISTIAN blood have been
caused to overflow. Amid the horrors of
sectsnan strife. millions have been de-
Pnved OF the rights OF ireemen. Do Won
ask me Tor proof look at the noble but on.
pressed sons OF the Emerald Isle. aud
see there two-.hirds OF her people until
very recently, disqualified from the r;ob,
oil 'nii'age:. or OF holding any office, be.
cause OF their religion. DO you starile
Are you asionished Let ne give YOU
the language Of one Of her inguished
Orators, and he at the same time opposed
IN religious sentiments to those who were
thus disqualified. What" saws Ph,llin.
"Whst pretence has England for her m.
reference in your religion? /, was the
religion OF her most glorious era. IL was
The religion OF her most ennobled pal,i.t,
IT was the religion Of wisdom that framed
her constitution, 10 ~as the religion Of
vaiour that achieved IL, and IL would have
been TO ihis day the religion OF her empire
had u not been for the laWless lust Of
murderous AdultUrer. When her thou.
sand secis were brandishing the broken
fragments OF christianity against each
other, and Christ saw his garment. With.
out a seam. piece OF patchwork for eve.
~ moun'ebauk who figured 10 the panic.
mime; when her Babel temple rocked
at every breath blown sssinst II by The
caprice Of her PIiestleys or Paines. Ireland
proof against the menaces OF her mower
was proof against the impieiy Of her ex.
ample. Alone, amid The runs Of soil.
;uGe, her temples stood rich in the VIZ.
tues OF her SAINTS, and cemented by the
blood Of her martyrs" Taking this view
Of religious intolerance, should We be
amazed that their prosecutions extend 10
Ne, when With the blood of their fellow
believers, differing only IN Church govern.
meni, they seek to pave their way 10 Hea.
ven, and cnfuh their bloody flag Of ex.
ierDinatIon. on the very verge a. the
grave, that they may display q on the
ba,ilements OF Heaven.
h's calls me to notice my second pro.
position. the principles by which We rro.
Tess to be governed. Ia this part Of the
subject, are embodied many interesting
reflections, ~ reference 10 that social in.
'efeoUfse which should invsrisblycris, be.
tween man ~ Our civilized state. ~ fui.
III the objects OF our gfea, Creator. Pope
has iroly saId that the proper study Of
mankind Is man" In the nature ~ NJ an
there u combined such a c0nifsfiety Of
inclination and sentiment. that when we
consider The formation 81 any bond short
Of that hamed BY inhnity, which will
have q tendency 10 concentrate their
minds add bring them 30 the consideration
and propagation u the principles Of yif.
tue. Ws must come a. The necessafy
conclusion that u must originate. and
have 'is being IN the essential qualities Of
vutue itself. Virtue ~ the Grand pillar