Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-09-20


boring classes. The pauperism. and
crime, and destruction of life, coming
from the support of priestcrafi and relig-
ious imposition, is awful beyond all pos
sible calculation. Every religious aris-
tocracy in the land, individual or conted.
crate, is built up on the ruins of the la
boring poor, in one way or another. The
poor lahorers who are employed IN build
ing ed6ces, public and private, for these
religionists, are pinched down to the scam
tiest pitlance. England has now a million
and half Of paupers, made such, large
proportion of them, by her church and
state establishments. Her religion is
clothed in purple and fine linen and fares
sumptuously every day, while humanity
is turned out to starye. There is more
wasted there and here, for religious show
and parade, than 10 feed and clothe and
shelter the poor, and make them intelli-
gent and useful. Even in this republic
anC9 land, the extravaganza and waste
fulness of religion, for pomp, parade, pa
geanlry and superficial show, exceeds
any other extravaganza and wastefulness.
Compare our meeting houses with our
court houses. And going on from this
suppose US 10 have our state
and national religious establishments by
the side of our legislative and congress
ional halls, and what must they be 7!
But | was speaking of theatres, that
are so much condemned, ia pretence, by
and comparing the religious
establishments with them, by way of in
curing into thei- real character and ten
dency compared with each other. And
from all tina, appears, on examination,
what must oe the conclusion? | will
bring them together at one more point,
and leave them for this time Compare
them, then in the matter of strife and
bloodshed. And what are the facts in the
history OF the two? Religion has shed
more blood in an hour than theaters have
in days and weeks - perhaps Imigh say
months and years.
But | must pass on. it may be that |
have said sufficient number of things for
the digestion of religionists and of the
people, at once, as TO the matter as it stands
between the pulpit and the stage. Hence
forth let the aourishing of trumpets cease.
at the conversion of a theatrical play
house into a religious playhouse. until
the facts and the reasons in the case are
better examined and ascertained. Let no
one, from what have now said and done,
say sustain theaters. also visited a
Catholic meeting, while in the city, and
Witnessed The show and parade of religion,
in that department of it After ALL have
said Of religious doiugs and theatrical do
ings, there would be equal fairness. pro-
prlety and honesty, in constituting my visit
to the religious performance, into support
of religion, as in constituting my visit to
the theatrical performance into a support
OF theaters. As well might 1 be called
supporter OF negro slavery, because
now say it is but small part of the OPP
preston there is Under the sun, and but
consistent piece Of it carried out in its Pc
culiar form. AS vel! also might be
called supporter of rum, because | say
tobacco and tea belong with it. Or asup-
porter Of canni5alsm. because say all
flesh eating is, in its degree, Of the same
unnatural tendency That ny position
may be we'll defined, in the matter on
which have said SO much, say that, as
in regard TO rewards and punishmens
place together FIRE and birthstone, peniten-
liarles, dungeons, gibbets, cannons, swords
and bayonets, as being all of one family :
SO class together religious ,heaters and
other theaters. They are all the offspring
of ignorance and darkness things that
men have made to themselves, innocenlly,
perhaps, for wan; Of knowledge to make
something better. The time has fully
come for The examination Of all the works
of men. Whether they will or not, they
must be brought to the test of investiga-
ton.
And now while | dismiss the subject
until it be proper to call it up again, les
[ be thought chargeable with pullinc