Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-06-21

PuSHOuo usoIPaIlOu Ol tndl WHICH, USlOuSS
only to the blessed and only Potentate
who alone is Divine, to whom alone Rev
erence and alteration belong, and palpa-
bly, bare!aced disregard OF the plainest and
oft repeated injunclions of Jesus. whom
they call Master and Lord. Lord, and are
the pulpits of crimson velvet and polished
mahogany counterparts Of the chief seats
in the synagogues chosen by the scribes
and pharisees. those Reverend" persecu-
tors OF Jesus. who, like the modern clergy,
loved "fiattering tilles,'' choosing to be
called Of men, Master and Rabbi, Rabbi
A. Aye, aye.
O. Have the pries,ly and clerical off,
ces, standing as they do as godfathers or
mediators between God and men always
had tendency to ALLEVIATE men from God
by leading them to pay to them the rever-
ence due onlylo God, and TO look to them
as fountains Of light. oracles Of truth, and
teachers Of du:y.and to prevent that direct,
immediate communion with God 0he
common privilege Of all who receive the
filial spiril) which is perfect guide to a
knowledge Ottruth and duty2 Have they
also, claiming as they do TO be the only
authorized expounders of Gods law, and
teachers of doctrines and creeds, had a
tendency TO stagnate intellect, and 10 stu
pity the minds of men By leading them to
receive their opinions, doctrines, and
creeds, however false and absurd, as true
and infallible, without examination or in
quiry2
A. Aye; all true.
Q Are the clergy, at this moment,
with few exceptions, conservatives. oppos-
ed TO all reform or change in the social
structure, having for object the elevation
of the laborer, the poor, or the slave, or
the melioration OF the condition OF the OPP
pressed2
A. Aye.
Q Are they also strenuous opposers
of the doctrine and duty of passive suffer
ing, or meek and quiet forbearance under
injury and violence, contending for the
rig ht Of self-defence bya return Of violence
for violence, and strenuous advocates OIL
civil governments whose authority and
existence rest on the power Of infiicting
punishments for violations of their laws
by Imprisonment for term OF years o.
for life (which to those who adopt the sen
liment "give nc liberty or give me death
is worse than taking lfe) and by taking
life upon the gallows, most iuhumal
and revolving kind Of murder2
i A. Aye, and all this too while the
! make loud professions Of reverence to-
u and discipeship Of, the Man who by hi
own recorded declaration was anoin:ed I
preach deliverance to the caPtiVes, tn
Il opening Of prisons 10 those achO are bouno
J and who exhorted his disciples 10 over
come evi! with good by returning bless
ing for cursiug; presenting the othe
cheek when one had been smilten, and d.
ing good to those who had injured then
: @. Is the whole course of preparatio
for the clerical office, from the academ
10 the seminary, reckless violation
: law, physical, social. moral. and menta
which by depriving the students Of Ii
excitemenl and stimulus OF exercise an
useful employment, tends 10 destroy the
y health and make them invalids, ignoran
and incapable of any useful art or emplo!
ment; which by deriving them OF II
, privileges and restraints of the most salt
" tary social relations and influences is ca
culated to make them selfish and ignoral
of mans true social relations and dutie:
which by removing them from the mo
salutary moral restraints and privilege
and bringing them under the infiuen'
of immoral associates and demoralizir
T. boo ks is calculated 10 de6le the mind ar
ID destroy all moral principle; which by
4 mental training and discipline wholly a
he ti6cial or mechanical and unnatural, ten
&c to make them mechanical or artificial al
'n distorted in mind or intellect, and thus
ne the whole wei! calculated to graduate al
m send them out "learned ounces" as we
en- as conceited, aspiring and bigoled secta
sir ians2