Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-12-30

ime to the President OF the Senate, an,
| gave me a letter of lnFoluclion TO any 0
the Senator's. The petitions from Amer
-! ca, signed by about two Auudred Bspt.Si
ministers, had been previously presented
10 the Senate, The purport Of which was,
that Mr.. Oucken aud the Baptist church,
might enjoy liberty 10 worship Coz &C.
cordtng TO their own views otdnty. Inc
documents which the English b-ethren
broug twith them, with Others fdrast-
led by Lord Palmerston, were presented
by Mr.. Canning. who introduced lheta to
the President OF the Senate.
The petitions from England, and also
ffouf America, were respectfully received
by the Senators, bat they declined giving
an immediate answer relative - the sub
iiect mater ofthe object therein coatemPlat-
ed. We visited the Senators and The
clergy Individually. as it was contrary 10
E4helr rules to admit Us in sbeaf assembled
capacity.
In Hamburg, the Lutheran is the es-
tabIished religion, and the civil and re-
EIigious af1irs are much mingled together.
1t was at the instigatton OF the clergy that
Mr.. OncIlen was imprisoned; and what
IS very singular, a special law hid been
enacted, in which The was mentioned by
name, forbidding him to preach, to admin
ister ordinances, or to admit 10 family
worship any besides his own family.
Several Of the members of his church had
been imprisoned for holding meetings at
their own houses, aud Mr.. Quicken was
charged with the expense, as well as VITA
the expense of his Imprisonment, aud his
goods were seized by the constabIes IN
the midst of a scene of great domestic
affliction, while his child was in the ago
mes of death, and carried off for this pul-
pose.
A circumstance which occurred short
time previous t. our arrival, will serve to
exhibit more fully the character of the
present Lutheran clergy in Hamburg.
! In>one OF their meetings a young minis
ter said that the Bible was a very well
told tale, but that it was absurd 10 consd-
er it inspired. AID he also denounced in
strong terms the divinity and atonement
of Christ. A clergyman, less heterodox,
wished that the young man might &be
ICenSUFed lot his liIiIlCiltS, buL ne was ptD-
tected and defended by the majority.
Another young clergyman had reviewed
two sermons published By two senior pas
tors, and had censured certain unscriptur-
I'll sentiments contained in those discours
IS. This young man was, by vote Of
he majority, laid under cen$ure, and for
hidden TO preach for the space oftwo years
Tor this offence. A clergyman who had
aiken no part in the discussion. sarcastl-
caIIy said. No doubt gentlemen, you
nave done right. This Young man has
Emerely bla$phemed Jesus Chris, and de
MED the inspiration of The Scriptures
You have no doubt done right in screen
lug him from all punishment and al
blame. But that young man has bias
Dhemed two doctors Of divinity, which il
IA offence not to be tolerated nor forgiven
You have doubtless done right in layin!
him under censure and forbidding hum t
preach for two years, Doubtless, gentle
: men, YOU have done right" But thes
remarks appeared to produce no ef1e'
upon them.
We visited most of the Senators an
the clergy Individually, and endeavore
to meet and remove their objections to tt
tiect of our petition. The first obj
ton was, that it was contrary 10 law IL
Mr.. Oncken 10 preach, and for his churc
10 meet for worship. We asked, VIII
law2 A law which you have made
opposition TO the law Of God, and tn
10 while you profess to be Christians al
| Protestans We reminded them Of I
le commission which Christ gave 10
a apostles to preach the gospel to eve
er creature. Would Luther have obey
# sucb law? He did not obey the Pc
or of Romeswhen he forbade himsto preaC
p The Pope excommunicated him for di:
ly bedience, and Luther burnt his bulls
IL the cross, and continued to prea
in Would thesaposlIes have obeyed such
s,s Iaw2 We referred them to the adecis
u Language of the Jewish council, "Whe
IN er il be right 10 the. sight OF God TO hea
We en- unto YOU more than unto Cod, JqC
vn We. For we can not but speak the thir
M which we have seen and heard"
h, They objected again, that Oncke
hn preaching and worship caused dlRlsit
IN 10 families. We replied that was u
he voidahle in propagating the gosp
Of Think nat that am come 10 send PEI
Or, on earth; | came not 10 send peace bu
la sword. For | am come to set Il man
he variance against his father, and the daa!
I'm ter agains; her mother, and the daught
ng in. Law gainst her mo;her-in-law- A
sh- a mans foes shail be they of his o
ed household. We replied farther, supp
on an individual becomes conveite fuader
of preaching of Mr.. Oneken, he abandf
his vicfoas courses, and is prosecuted
,us it by his wicked relatives; who Is
cir blame for it? The prosecutors OF
ar. prosecuted Will you take part Y
tad the prosecutors