Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-28

onfy an argument why more should be
done; and if the State of Rhode Island,
become really an enlightened and reli-
glous community, her moral influence on
the world in days to come will be very
great and salutary. AS God has directed
our steps there, we have reason to feel
that we have noble object to promote
Ii it were possible for me to love the
principles of the Baptists more ardentIy
since left home then did before, have
certainly done so, for the more clearly do
| see, and deeply feel, that these princi-
pies are requisite to work the permanent
reform of Christendom. | rejoice and
thank God that our missionaries can
make no moral compromise with estab-
llshed churches, and political hierarchies,
that with such they have no ecclesiastical
afflnltles to boast of; that though they
may for time abstain from teaching Gny
thtag at all respecting the constitution OF
the church, yet the moment that they
touch that points, they are obliged TO de-
clare, that no human being can hold, any
connexion with Gods visible kingdom,
except by voluntary profession of re-
pentance and faith in baptism. Other
missionaries, though evangelical, visit
ing these CORFU pt churches established by
law, in GREECE and Armenia, acknowi-
edge. indeed that they are very ignorant
and superstitious, but are led to say. new
ertheless that the essential elements of
their constitution are right and scriptufal,
that the baptism here is valid and answers
the end of that ordinance, that the people
are rightfully connected with the christ
ian church, and that their object is not to
re-organaze the church, but only to bring
out the obscured and hidden doctrines Of
its creed SO clearly, as to promote its NOR
al purity and piety. Now it is doubtless
true that these brethren will do immense
good by scattering light through the me-
dunn of Bibles and tracts, and by iacul-
eating personal piety on indioiduals, but
with their views of church constitution
they cannot work that extensive and thor
ough reform which Christendom needs
They are not the men to separate the
church from the world, to break the bands
which bind her in vassalage to the State
and to raise her to the enjoyment of christ
ian liberty. They may attain their OBJ
ject and yet the germ Of infant church
membership will always be producing the
fruits of corruption, and make the church
forever secular. 1t will continue to be
mere worldly sanctuary.
The Congregational missionaries who
are laboring in Constantinople, are men
lof excellent character. | have enioyed
their society very much. Mr.. Goodell is
the Oldest man on the ground. He is a
man of vigorous mind and excellent spir-
it. There are also here Mr.. Schaufler,
(who is of all most deeply learned,) Mr..
Holmes and Mr.. Hamlin. Of late the
evangelical part of the Greek church and
the Armenian, have been suffering from
persecution. Several have'been banished
Though Mahometism is the religion of
the Court of Turkey, yet the Greeks and
others are tolerated, as they call it. The
Greek patriarch is responsible to the
Porte for the good conduct of those who
are under him. AS soon, therefore, as
one manifests spirit. of inquiry, the pa
Etriarch says, | can no longer be respon-
sible for the conduct of that man, and
then is banished at once Thus kings and
priests conspire against our RICH Of con-
Escience, and "take counsel against the
Lord"
have been this week to several Turk
ish mosques. Among them was one of
the "howling services" Having taken
off my boots at the door, | went in and
sat down with my feet under me-"a la
Turque." A;priest soon entered with a
number of followers. They paused at
the door, stroked their boards, uttered a
brief prayer, and proceeded to the central
erea, which was covered with skins and
mats on which they kneeled ard perform
ed their prostrations, bowling with their
faces to the earth. This was continued
for some time, after which they arranged
themselves in line, and chanted togeth-
or In a most inharmonious manner. In
the course of an hour they placed them
selves against the railing in close col
umn, and began to utter inhuman sounds,
waving first to the right, then to the left,
thence bowling forward. This motion,
connected with a sort of trembling thro'
the whole frame, was slow at first, soon
more rapid, till at last it became SO quick
and violent as to exhaust the strength of
the performers. The persqiration stood
on the faces of the phrenzied devotees,
and it seemed as if they would fall faint
ing to the floor. The nerves of the spec
tator were painfully agitated by apprehen-
sions of this sort, when on signal given
by the priest, they ceased at once from
their convulsive motions and their noise.
The sounds which they uttered seemed at
] times to resemble those of various ami
mails, such as the grunt ola hog, the howl