Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-07-27


the church? Truth or no ;rmh - holiness
or shl-heaven or hell-the church must be
sustained, at all events, and by all means
by fair means if this will effect the object
by foul means if necessary What if the
church befull of robbery, adultery, murder.
every evil and destructive work? It is
Chrisfs church, and must be defended!
Vile and blasphemous as are such sen,i-
ments, they are known and read of all men,
as being sentiments which actuate popular
religious leaders at the present time. AS if
Christ's church could be injured by truth or
scrutiny. As if Christ's church needed TO
be defended by force and arms. Or as if
Christ would own that church to be his
which shrinks from the light, and takes to
itself such weapons of defense. The work
has begun IN New-aampshire in good earn
est. The Legislature Of that Slate las re-
Gently enacted law for the defense of the
Church, BY force and arms, against the en-
croachments Of Truth! "Stephen" S.
Foster, a man "full of faith and power,nn
has been preaching after the primitive man.
ner. He discovered that the people were
blinded and led away by their religious
guides and teachers. That truth is fallen
in the street, and equity can not enter"
That if this state Of things be allowed to
go on, darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people," So, in imita-
stion Of Christ among the doctors at Jeru.
salem, Of Stephen Of old among the
/" Libertines, and CYrenians, and Alexan-
drians," and Of Paul Gin the midst of Mars
hill" he has "withstood them "ro the
face" by going into their assemblies with
messages Of peace and love and Christian
faithfulness. "And they were not able TO
resist the wisdom and the spirit by which
he spake.'' = ~ *7"And they stirred up
the people, and the elders, and the scfibes,
and came upon him, and caught him, and
brought him to the council, and set up false
witnesses, which said, this man ceasetb moi
to speak blasphemous words against this
holy place and The law" Deacons and
others, with ministers conserving, have
seized upon this non-resistant individual,
and in most ruffian-like manner dragged
him out Of their holy place, on their holy
day, for no other reason but because he was
showing them their transgressions and their
sins. This was too much for them TO bear
So their cry is, "away with him." have
seen no 2retension that he was not perfectly
mild and christian in his demeanor, and per-
fectly truthful in his charges. The difficult
ty is, the church and ministry can not bear
the truth, and they are determined they will
not. Stephen S. Foster feels impelled, in
imitation Of Christ, Stephen, Paul, and a
host of others, "of whom the world was
not worthy" to declare the truth to them,
!" whether they will hear OF forbear." So
he goes quietly and peaceably among them,
and commences preaching. This they pro-
nounce to be disorderly, and call in the vio
lence of the State 10 crush ii. The Stale |
of w-Hampshire, whose worthy son was
the mover of the gag law of Congress, mas
undertaken the case. Thus church & state
have come out before the world, and shame
lessly combined their powers against liberty
Of speech. AID overtutning will follow i
which they have MT -dreampt Of Modern
religionists have already been allowed TO go
on with their usarPations quite too long
and too far. They now assume 10 dictate,
as 10 the aohen and the auhere, as well as
The Thdt. The High and the Holy One
sends forth his messengers on errands of
oeace and love. The devotees Of violence
Ind sel6shness, who have kept The people
n ignorance Of their highest spiritual inter-
ISIS and privileges, say&these messengers
must not be heard. Unless the eyes and
'ars Of the people can be kept closed against
verifying except what their teachers die
ale, support will be lost TO the present order
# things. If the people are allowed to learn
hat the sustenance they give 10 war
clergy and the military system !
prevents peace on earth & good will among :
men, they will throw off the yoke = they
will no longer beat the grievous burden ,
which has been laid upon their shoulders,
" those who will no. touch il with one Of
heir fingers. This the church and the !
leroy understand. And feeling their own {
want of truth with which to meet the truths /
reached BY Stephen S. Foster, they resort |
0 violence and call in the State with its
military power TO aid them in their war upon !,
reedom of speech. Now it would be the ,
eight of ingratitude for the military power,