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


versalists boast so much2 The truth is, a
many Universalists as have bound them
selves together as sect, are the same pitia
bic slaves 10 creedism and partyism with al
other sectists. They are not freemen. The!
} are bound and fettered in party chains. TIL
question with them is to know what viii
serve the sect-not what will serve human
fly and redeem the race from sin and suffer
ing. They are saddled with a priesthood
who require to be maintained. And thel
they live when and where it is popular; t
support priesthood. The history Of the
world will show that this is misfortune
enough to any people. The Editor of the
Watchman is himself a priest. It is la
men,able fact. There is enough of him, in
quantity and quality, TO be useful, if he were
a man and not priest. But he cannot be
both. A priest is slave. And slave is
not man. He il, only thing. A piece
of merchandise to be bought and sold for
money. All sectarians are slaves-sold out
to serve the selfshness of parlyism-wheth.
er they be priests or people. 1t is true they
talk about liberty, and do much about it,
So do the slaves Of the South, who sing
hail Columbia, happy land" and raise lib
erty poles. But the enjoyment of liberty
they know nothing of. Nol do the servants
Of sect. And The latter are without excuse
because they bind and ensfave themselves
voluntarily. And Universalists are of all,
the least excusable because they know
nearer what freedom is, than those do who
are 10 greater darkness Of tradition and dis
ciplined and educated ignorance-if may
be allowed the use of such phrase. Those
who have been brought up after the slraitest
sects Pharisees, are inclosed with higher
walls. Universalists might much more ca
silly overleap their barriers. They can see
out Of their prison house of bondage, if they
will allow themselves to open their eyes and
receive the light. Their vassalage is at least
more voluntary aud in this proportion they
are more hypoeritical-more faithless and
reckless to humanity and truth-ifthey stay
where they are. Every slave owes it TO
himself and 10 the cause of freedom, TO lib
erale himselfwhen an opportunity is present.
ed. The light that now shines is sufficient
to show UniveIsalisls the rottenness of
creeds, the heartlessness of formalities, and
the uselessness OF names. The Editor OF
the Wa,chman, and the priests of Upiver-
salism generally, are fond Of discussion with
their sectarian brethren of other orders, be-
cause between them and the other sects they
feel confident that the truth lies on their side.
But when all sectarianism end creedism
comes to be attacked, and UniVersalists with
all the other sects find it necessary for the
safety Of the party interests TO shrink from
manly and faithful investigation, what must
be thought of them, but that they see and
feel themselves to be in the same condem-
nation with the other sects2 Their acts
are the true index to their minds. Their
professions are worth no more than the pro.
LESSONS Of their sectarian brethren. To
profess liberality and practice prescription is
only hypocrisy and fraud. Those who do it
NAV be as honest as their institutions will al
low of-and yet be very far from the true
measure of honesty and fidelity. The church
and state systems by which mankind are
L. dishonesty and infI-
deity, and are built up Of corruption and sin.
They are unsound and vulnerable in all their
parts, and their supporters are beginning TO
see it. The light that is now shining Is
showing their hideous determines and mon
strosities. Hence the unreadiness Of their
devotees for examination. The Editor of
the Waterman felt that it would not do to
let such an article as that Of mine to which
he alludes go unnoticed. Why then did ne
not let his readers see i'll II was less than
two columns in length. And if il had been
extended to four, the space would not have
equalled the importance of the subject.
His 6rst sentence, taken in connection
with what follows, involves gross misrep-
resentation. will not say it was designed.
He shall decide that for himself. He says
am " out against all rewards for virtue and
punishment for vice." From this naked as
sertion il is impossible for his readers who
have not seen the Telegraph TO know what
my views and sentiments are on the point.
And what be afterwards says is calculated
to make and leave the impression still worse
than If he had gone no further than TO throw
out this naked assertion in his own language.
He says again that "reject entirely the
idea that there is any punishment in the d.
vine government" Butih is not the worst
of il. After all this he goes on to make up