Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-02-13
q . "a q G. B q p 10
BRANDON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 1889.
For the Telegraph.
Com,nencements--Exhibitions.

var against all sin-sin in high places IT
md low places-in the church and out Of | I
he church 81 have nothing to object to /
your general frankhess, and resolution, and d
Indeed, l commend your /
course. Sill, in charity to you, take it 4
for granted, that you have not the vanity to
imagine every thing worthy of death or OF
bonds" TO have yet received its full share
of attention, in your valuable journal
Notwithstanding the subject mentioned
in the caption 10 this article, among the
sighted, presume to offer to your disposal
a few thoughts as they were presented to
my mind.
am aware that in approaching this sub
ject, may expose myself to the imputation
of speaking evil Of dignites," since they
are sustained by popular influence, and OBJ
tain the sanction of the great and good,
statesmen and divines, and all who are
termed the salt Of the eartn," and "the
light Of the world" And here let me pre-
mise, that address myself 10 Christians,
as such, without the distinctions Of "mas-
ter and lord," or master and servant. not ex-
GLIDING, however, any who patronise, or
engage in, the performances of which am
/ speaking. l may be considered, moreover,
/ by some, to have preached a subject of lit
tie moment, either way and thus subject
myself to censure for meddling with what
does rot concern me. But we shall see in
the sequel.
OF some Of the results that naturally fol-
low in the wake of Commandments and
Exhibitions, as they are termed-and they
are no misnomers-I am happy to attest,
that you have spoken with all desirable
plainness. Very we'll So far, SO good"
Now if you will just hand me the axe for
moment, will endeavor to " lay on" few
; blows at the root-though they be but light :;
and then, if you or some other champion,
$ more sturdy than myself will take the in
strument, | will desist o.
Gu boao2 What is the good? What
the origin, and whence the authority for
such institutions Surely, not in the Bi-
wv DNt hOl wv last we nave Deel LOtI
} by eminent divines, and it has been reierat-
;, ed by others less eminent, that " Schools Of
j; the Prophets" were eXtant in ancient times
e and perhaps they think, though they do no
t. say so, that exhibitions or commencement
U were connected with them. Well, if thu
former be true, am not prepared to say til,
latter is not. Indeed, think the one jus
% about as probable as the other. But mus
Ie acknowledge that the obliquity of my intel
D. lectual perceptions, has hitherto preven,e,
l. my experimenting the proof even of the ex
er lstence of the first. What was the object
9r and what were the branches of study tauo hit
al Have they told US? Rut | forget: tb
;" Rev. Dr." Alexander, Of the Princeto
=. Theological Seminary, in his Pocke
le Dictionary of the Holy Bible," (pages Ak
r. 417) has given US little light on this dar
* subject. He says, "young men were pious
b. ~ educated to prepare them to receive tn
gift of prophecy" So the preparatio
IS was made in anticipation of the gift!
$ wonder how they knew WHOM TO prepare
= Such schools" he continues, eve find q
Bethel, Gilgal, Najoth, Jericho, and Jerusa
+ lem, &c. which were inspected by Samue
n Elijah, Elisha, &C." Ibw do 1--WE find
: this out2 "But it does not appear that a
k these young men were ever inspired."-
What and all their labor lost!
- But seriously, and to return from this d
- gression-for which beg pardon-hopine
y however, that it will not be lost upon thos
TO whom it applies, but elicit lightto "daw
.. or our darkness.n*
I'd What is the object? 1t is my candi
at opinion, and | have had some experience i
at the business, that they are usually the of
O. spring OF pride and vanity The object i
n to excite admiration and applause by til
al exhibition OF ones knowledge and power
90 of intellect, and TO be RECALLED with 9th
~ h., voice Of melody" Be that, however, as
~ may, it is obvious that The tendency is
dlshonor Cos. They tend TO vitate ii
- mind IN general; to retard the growth
: grace, and impair the spiritual health of II
We christian, and Danish, like the demon Of il
I'm temperance, all seriousness from the ava
re ened conscience of the sinner. Instar c,
m IN point might be adduced to prove boz
OF these positions, and that they are destru
tive 10 the interests generally, Of pure ar
n, undefled religion. Hence we never he
. that sinners are "pricked in the hearth |
Sc the considerations which such transaction
'er
10 May be my brothers DEPRESSION y calls
en- me ror ! ro,oorl, IT., .. '''
Ject under consideration, has my hearty concu