Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-08-04
4 SO

O0I DIG the OOlueu NUT ASSOCid-
4ionl Notwithstanding the obloquy which
is attempted to be cast upon it, il is raising
the veil which conceals the hideous defor-
nifty OF the nation, and exposing it TO the
gaze of the world and, though that veil
is not yet half lifted, it has exposed all
around US, corruption which cannot De
contem plated without shudder; when
fillsnot only our streets, butlhe very chu ~
es, which should be the sanctuarleS OF Oou'
The resolution which | have read as
serts as its first proposition, "tnat inc
cause of moral reform is one IN which all
who gre pure in heart must lnstlnctlVeiy
feel n deep interest ;"-iE other words, 1t
tells YOU that wherever you find mind
Tint affects to be so delicate, that 1t cannot
hear the name OF adultery or incest, you
may be assured that inquiry dwells with
in il. Purity fears no contamination: 1t
is not of this blushing character 1t fears
not TO have all its thoughts, and all It's
conduct subjected to the ordeal OF the most
searching srutiny. Those who, from an
afectvd delicacy, stand back from an OBJ
iect like yours, are not the possessors OF
such purity; for as well might it be said
that the sun is the enemy of light, as that
any individual can be hostile TO this cause,
and at the same time be pure in heart.
If ever sin is 10 bereformed, it is not 10
Dedone by concealing, but by preaching
the truth. Show me man, then, what
ever may be his station, whose delicacy
on this subject closes his mouth, and in re-
gardao him my verdict is at once made up
he must be the possessor Of polluted
soul. Oh, but we are told, there is great
deal Of virtue in the community! Alas !!
like our Christianity, it is spurious. 1t
may be, il is. exact in tithing Mint and
anise, and cunmin, yet when the test of
duty is applied to it, we find the most Of
it mere pretence.
We all remember what was said of the
lamented cDowell-how he was made
the butt of every ribald jest, the mark for
the arrows of every scorner; how he was
assailed and hunted with ferocity which
would have done demons dishonor, down
to the very grave in which he now lies,
martyr TO the accused spirit of your
churches and your clergy, who joined
with the polluted Of the land TO make his
name odious.
The next proposition in the resolution
is, "that those who assail it. Moral Re-
'form,) or stand aloof from it, give evidence
that they are strangers to virtue" Why
should any one assail the cause of Mora
Reform, unless he be the enemy of virtue
and estranged from Code Let US be
thankful, my friends, that the day has gone
by when the people can be deceived by {
mere profession of Christianity; and tina
we live in an age when light is streaming
down from God, Illuminating the depth:
of licentiousness, and making manifest it
abominabe rottenness. The greatest prof
lga.es have ever been, by profession, tht
friends of virtue-the greatest drunkard.
have always been the friends Of temper
ance-and the stakeholder, who fatten.
and riots upon the blood of the oppressed
is the friend of liberty. But the time ha!
gone by when we can be made to believe
these palpable contradictions. We have
but to apply 10 them the test of sincerity
instituted by the son of God, and they are
proved to be whited sepulchres. which
indeed appear beautiful outward, but ar
within full Of dead mems bones, and of al
uncleanness."
The next proposition is, "that the grea
body of The American Clergy in view o
their high religious professions, are de-
serving of special depreciation for their
criminal silence in regard 10 the awful
proAigacy of the country" know how
many will regard language like this,com
ing from my lips; for many suppose M
to be hostile to the Clergy, merely from
their profession as ministers of Christ
God is my witness, however, that it is nc
so. But as the Clergy have protested t
be moro virtuous, more holy, than an
other body OF men-as they have set them
selves I'D as instructors and examples I
the world, do but judge them by tn
standard which they have themselves in
stituted; and il such trial establishe
their guiltiness who will impute TO me
desire TO do them injustice2 The grea
body oSthe clergy hare apparently ente'
ed into a conspiracy to blot the SeUent
communicated from the Decatogae. The
have great deal to say about the foGrt.
commandment-abou remembering tn
Sabbathday they occasionally toucl
upon most of the duties enjoined in th
others; but, though have been from cal
lyyouID arconstant attendant at houses c
public worship, and have heard man,
clergymen, / have yet. to hear the frs
Tor atieast. the second) sermon upon th
awful crimes of incest and adultery
must be that they are tongue-tied on thi
matter, either by their own impurity
or the impuIity Of their churches, Q
that of the community in which they re
side. Why should nOt the seventh com
mandment be as frequently enforced as IN