Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-11-03

80 4
ationP Is moral character qHatyfeG-
s;on? think not. Our relation IS ex-
ceedingly slight" If this betnot throw
ing away, effectually and entirely, the re-
ligious and moral character ofthe mission
airy enterprise, and making it a mere mer-
cenary affair, matter only of dollars and
cents, pray tell and show what it is.
AT Poultney. he [Thresherl began by
stating that, to be qualified for co-opera-
lion it was necessary to be Baptist.
After proceeding while he lowered down
the missionary enterprise to being a mere
moral institution. And finally he came
out on the same ground which he occu-
pied at Waterbury, viz that moral char
aeter IS not a necessary prerequisite to
cooperation All this self.confusion,
self-con:radiction, and standardization ap-
peared to be received as good, sound argu-
ment by our sticklers for "sof, words and
hard arguments" The words, to be sure,
were soft enough, in all conscience. But
| in my own humble estimation the argu-
ments were softer have not particle
ofill feeling towards brother Thresher.
There is not the least personal animosity
between US. There is nothing but kind
ness in his manner. But kindness of
manner, without truth and consistency of
matter, will never save an erring and sim
full world from ruin. Let US now sift this
work OF his, and see what will come out
oft. .
THERE'S either the one thing or the other.
Themissionary enterprise is religious en-
terprize-or it is not. Those who engage
In it, engage in it as christians, co-operat-
ing for the conversion of men to christian
iy-or they engage in it as mere mon
eyed speculation, for the attainment of such
objects as they choose 10 pursue, without
any reference to religious or moral char
acter. If the latter-iF in fact there be no
necessity Of religious or moral character
in the case, is it not high time, ask, that
there be new channel? If in fact the
old channel is the valley of Hinnom itself.
the receptacle of dead mems bones and all
manner Of uncleanness, it is high time that
II be made known, that those who wish to
keep themselves pure from such things
may understand and turn away from them.
Will the Baptists of Vermont stand con-
nected with such things2
On the other hand, if the missionary
enterprise be religious enterprize-if
not only moral but religious character be
necessary to membership and co-opera-
| ton, then brother Thresher's main argu-
ment stands on false foundation, and that
foundation being removed, his argument
Of course falls.
1 Now what is the, facti As stated at
| Waterbury, by those who ought to know
and as stated by brother Thresher him.
self at Pouliney in one Of his propositions
lit is thistle constitute membership
and cooperation in management, IL is ne.
eessGry to be BAPTIST. What then be-
comes of the statement that "nsoral char
acts1 IS not qualification? that our re-
tation IS exceedingly sIight?" The sub
division Of the thing brings it out thus
Either moral character is not necessary to
being Baptist-or, as before said, his
statement has no foundation in truth, ard
all his argument based upon it falls with
it. With how much propriety those Bap-
fists who practice and uphold slavery, pre-
tend to religious and moral character,
will not in this place stop to enquire.
They will not be sooner, however, than
any others, to give up their claims to it.
And what is more, as many others as do
associate soith them, on a common platform,
as christians, and as such cooperate 4cith
them IN religious enterprise, for the con-
uersion of the World to christiGnitgdo thus
girs them counfenance and become partak,
ers Of their ecil deeds. i. -. .-~
Having thus disposed ofthe proposition,
we are now prepared to examine The alas
tration. He would receive money from
Gdulterers for the missionary cause Its
not to the purpose to stop here TO enquire
into the propriety or Improperly of re,