Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-06-11
BY c. L. SHOLES.

the world, though spiritual light and truth
are the first in principle and Importance,
natural Light and unitary combination are
OF primary interest as the practical foun-
dation OF perfect superstructure; and to-
trown upon the science Of Industrial unity,
as an inferior thing Of mere material inn
portance, is silly and thoughtless. The
man must be emancipated from the degra-
dafion of the brute before he can be in6ued
with elevated views of God and a future
life.
No one will deny, we hope, that society
Is much indebted tothe progress Of material
art and science. for refinement and the
spread OF Christianity power Of null
tpIyirg and difiiising Christian knowledge
among nations. No one will denv that the
ability OF men to increase in knowledge,
PoIiteness, ard friendship, is greatly pro-
noted by the alienation Of their outward
circums' ances; ard that comfortable apart
mcn:s, freedom from care and dru lgetv,
cleanliness. constant labor. and education
are efficient auXiliarics in the establishment
oil truth. Now, our only aim ut present
IS to render the services OF science and in
dustriaI act witty, the Raudma DIS of religion,
more constant, more direct. and more eff
fective. We wi to show. as society is
( now constructed, that there is no security
for moral discipline and religious commu-
MON. Every one is left to act, without di-
rect control, as his unbrided passions die
tate; and rs the interests of individuals
/ are everywhere opposed to those of gene
raj society, temptation to iniquity is perma-
nent aud strong.
The Church has little or no bold on the
minds OF men (eXcep, to cnslave their INTEL
IectS;) and never will have the power she
ought to have, until society is organized
materially on plan Of Unity, in which
the light Of Gospel truth can be conveyed
III permancnce, instead Of being, as at pre-
sent, wasted by dispersion among beings
who are not sufficiently accountable to ge
neral opinion for their evil doing and ne
g'ect OF duty. An appointed minister Of
/ light and truth has now no other function
to perform but that Of holding up the ban-
ner of religion TO his flock, shut up in their
/ purchased pens, called pews, for their spec
uldt,ve consideration, once in seven days,
and then abandon them to all the snares Of
| poverty and insecurity Of worldly interests
throughout the week; for il he undertake to
visit and console his fcck, between the in.
iervaIs Of sabbath, he is quite unable IL
protect them from the many alurements
and necessities Of laIsehood in the world.
This is not a system, then, By which re-
hgon can obt7n sufficient influence over
human conduct in the cn,nmon walks Of
life; it is too loose and incohcrcnt. II
needs consistency and un tv, in which tho
! light OF true religion might be ever present,
TO inspire the minds Of individuals and con-
troll their actions. The prot lem, therefore,
/ to hc solved, is not So much the meaning Of
the Word cf God. as the means Of organi-
zing worldly interests in harmony with
truth, and spiritual light and love- The
light Of doctrine is already very great in
the various branches of the Universal
Church, but want o. unity in worldly com
blrntion and material society, prevents
that light from being always before the
eyes OF the laboring population, who are
more or less dispersed in personal obscu-
riiy, deprived Of aid and consolation.
knowledge and security. and left alone, IN
guarded and abandoned to he reckIcssness
OF passion in the snarcs o. lniquitv.
The dispersion OF the body Of society,
the unprotected, dsuniteI !, working classes.
is the cause of darkness and depravitv on
earth, the reign Of chaos and Satan. Not
the absense of religious light, bat the want
Of unllary influence and convcrgency, to
save it from being lost and scattered in the
/ dust Of incoherent worldly interests. TIE
spirit Of religion WAITS corporal organ
ism. TO manifest itself in truth and perma-
/ nent reality on earth, and this is what as
ISOLATION is destined to prepare for it. The
general delusion Of society at present in
regard to Religion is, to suppose that hold
, ing up the type Of truth in principle and
/ precept, once a week, to an unbranded con-
grCgatjon, IS sufficient to prevent their
backsiidng all the week, 10 the midst Of
general deprayty, that the VIII alone of
poor weak mortais IS able 10 protect them
from the temptations and decisions Of the
Adversary, that unl'riended miserable men
can alone sustain the conflict with evil.
without the constant presence and aid Of
their fellow-meu.
Association, then, is not designed to
supplant Religion, bat to be its servant in
Inc accomplishment oil Inc Redemption OF
the Earth. We look upon it as the might
lest auxiliary to Christianity that has ever
been presented 10 men. because it is a d.
rect ou'growth and manifestation of the
Spirit OF Christianity.
/ The object Of Chrisi's mission on earth
was to redeem mankind from sin and sur-
ferIng, and reveal truths of peace and uni
/ ~, that would confer iuco1ceivahIe blessed
/ ness on all his creatures. No injunction
occurs more Frequently in the Bible than
/ that men should make themselves One in
/ faith, ia love, in hope. Almost the last
word upon the lips of the Savior when he
I separated from his sorrowiug heart-broken
disciples, was, BE We one, even as aud
my father are One, "a union the most in.
Innate and most sacred.
/ Fourier did not set Up any other name
than that Of Christ. and in oae Of the last
chapters written by him. describing the
triumphs of Universal Association, be ex-
claims, These are the days Of Mercy,
promised in the Word of the Redeemer,
I "a IL -. !