Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-12-30
VOL. XIII. NO. I5

Ties OF a faltatul pastor. Aud that I'M the
! opinion of competent judges, Mr. O. was
considered an able, faithful, jealous, and
successful, minister of Jesus Christ That
| he possessed the entire confidence an6
esteem Of the church of which, he was
! pastor, and likewise OF bis brethren in
England and America Real Christians
! OF various denominations who have heard
81 his Iabors and trials for Christ's sake,
deeply symPathfsa with him, hold him in
he highest estimation, and regard that
! men calling themselves Christians should
| oppose and prosecute him.
| They objected that Mr. Oncken and
/ his followers We're few, and poor, and did
not deserve protection. We replied that
! The rich and~the many might take care If
! themselves, and that it was the few and
the poor who seeded protection, and that
it is the dictate ola generous mind TO affard
I 1t. We Tod them that they asked only
protection and liberty to worship. They
maintained their own expense, and asked
nothing but to remain unmolesed, while
they conducted as good citizens.
And here it may be well to give some
| facts relative to the state of morals and
religion In Hamburg. |. is wei! known
! that there are several valuable literary
and benevolent institutions in that city.
But the Sabbath is awfulIy profaned.
There are probably not less than one or
! two hundred houses opened for dancing
on every Sabbath afternoon and evening.
( The theatres are also opened and frequent-
| I'd by-alI classes, for purposes ofcar0usaI,
and al Minds Ut immortality. There are
about five thousand prostitutes who ars
publicly licensed blythe police, and who
pay into the treasury q dollar per month
tor this license. A member Of the Senate
is always at the head of the police, this
office being held by them in rotation.
| The clergy are paid out Of the public
treasury. Under the administration of
one OF the Senators who was at the head
Of the police, the rule was adopted to re-
fuse license to any one I'LL she had re-.
ceiyed confirmation in the church, the
usual ceremony for admitting members.
( Mothers have been known to GO with
| their daughle 10 church to See them
conf med, and then to GO directly TO The
roliCe office to have their names register
ed as public prostitutes. Fathers have
been known TO give their const mt 10 have
their daughters enter on this course, only
on condition that they become Confirmed
as members Ofthe church. Such are the
tcorruplions Of a national church, iuto
4 which members are born as they ate boen
I into the slate; and such the inevitable
consequences, sooner or laler, Of The Pa
ldobapist error of admitting nfan,s to their
inglatory ordinance of the church, in
~ hair 4 4
er words, these are the fruits of deviation
; from the, Scripture principle, that The
vislbIechurch should be compose OF such,
J, and such only, as. in@the jud gment Of
D charity, are born, mot Of blood, nor Of
= The will ofthe flesh. nor ofthe will of man,
g but Of God" rejoice that Mr. Oncken
t is establishing such a church in Germany,
and this fact IS the real cause of his per-
d seculion. We observed 10 the Senators
d and clergy, If Mr.. Oncken should oner
{ louise for dancing on the Lords day,
: and tempt the young 10 spend their time
" ia ninth and folly, you would consider
h him good citizen. But when be preach
al es the gospel, and endravofs to turn them
in from these lying vanities, you make law
at against him, and say be must be pun.
I'd lishtd"
he Il was pleasing. however, to find that
us the more evang' heal part Of the Lutheran
ry clergy were cordial friends of Mr.. Oncken
ed And it was patjcu larry gratifying to fac
ne hat nei5 her friend nor foe uttered a WORD
h. against his character in any shape. no
90 even attributing to him the expression O
at a single harsh or severe word. His tx
b. Ipnsive usefulness is seen from the fac
a that he has formed eight or nine church
we es His converts, also, were highly sIok
tn en- of for their elevated morals, and col
* rect aud peaceful department.
ge On the whole, think that our visit va
los productive of much good in several aay:
They seemed surprised that we Sbout
MS come so far TO interest ourselves in bthai
ms of few poor people, and our impression
IA is, that the civil authorities will moles
Il: them no farther. They sreaed to hav
ICE no proper understanding of The oPeraiio
a of Christian sympathy and principle.
at These facts, and others which nigh
RI be told, will no donh, surprise many wh
ar-I have formed different opinion of III
nd moral and religious condition of Ham
vn burg. The true principle of religion
ose liberty, and church membership, is scarce
he w at all understood. The church is null
ms Ell with the state in all lis concerns. Eve
for rylhing which is done by the clergy i
10 paid for BY fee, from The christening Q
he an Infanl, to the giving of dissolution. a
it'll performed by the Lutherans. Freedol
of thought, and freedom II soul are allls
fas crushed % the germ. The Senators oGiel
hal insisted that they suffer every man /
The think as he pleases2 but then il is eYiden
that it is only liberty to thiak, and not +