Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-01-28


Mr.: Editor---Sir, permit me to present to |
the public, through the medium of your paper, |
brief view of the Lectures recently delivered
in this place by the Rev. Jas. SMITH, and Of
the plan Of the institution for which he is soil
citing subscriptions. This gentleman is now
on atOur through this State. The objects of
his lectures are to disseminate correct views
upon the subjects of Education, Morality and
Religion.
In the first places few remarks concerning
his lectures. The following are some Of the
topics which were the most fully discussed, viz:
. Society cannot exist without Religion,--A
false Religion, if believed, is better than Athe-
ism,-Society cannot be virtuous, prosperous
and happy without Religion Christianity a
powerful moral engine brought to bear upon
man for the promotion Of the prosperity and
happiness ofthe race.--It has already removed
many obstacles which have impeded its
course,-Tho hindrances that remain to be
remoyed,---among others, the false devotion
and morality Of many of its -adherents,-The
ignorance of many of its teachers &c.
/ was present at all the lectures, and can
safely say that the subjects Of which they treat
were presented ina light entirely new, at least
to myself. His observations on false and real
devotion, and also those upon spurious and
genuine morality, were most strongly mar
ked with originality. lie was judicious ii
his selection and arrangement Of arguments tc
support the Divine authority of Christianity
and while he was portraying the character o
true religion, so happy was he in his effort thai
> the question arose in my mind, how can any
4 one object to such religion who loves his
Q race and seeks their chief good.
4 Here, however, would not have you thinl
f That was led to admire a picture Of the speak
e er's imagination. This resulted solely from
5 the similarity which | perceived to exist be
q tween the original and the copy. It was de
= scrption Of that religion which we witness il
I all devoted and selfdenying christians. |
i would occupy more time than can at presen
t command to 90 into detail of these Lectures
) They embrace many points intimately connec
E ted with che well being Of the human family
$ To say they are highly interesting and instrue
II tive IS not sufficiently expressive Of their merit
!, They embody truths not only interesting AM
instructive in their nature but such as it Is alb
e sqlutely necessary for US to have deeply i'm
y pressed upon our minds, before we can eithe
e act well our part among our iegloW-men or pre-
= pare for that day when we must stand in tn
i presence Of the Judge Of all the Earth.
It AS to the institution for which this gentle
if man IS an acting agent, wishit an the success
nj fol which its most sanguine friends cam hope
/ have ever been opposed to too great an IN
crease Of Colleges. Il would be better for on
X, youth # we had fewer Colleges and NOR
" Academies and common schools. Oneconsd
q Grafton only has Inclined my view in favor {
this institution, xiz It IS TO be founded upo
principles which present themselves as cofret
ar toegeTy candid and unpreiudiced.min It
n to furnish young men with Anrh slrociicn an
i discipline as VIII make them practical mon Il
n aim Is not to spawn forth upon the world nu
or iiiude Of book-worms 1T only for the cl0isle
nor yet to usher into fashionable life d few Ii