The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1844-08-29

eTHWeW, anu piihS "S ~
tyranny"
Distributing the mord Of God among
the people then, it would seem, is, in the
estimation of these worthless, "onc of the
many modern inventions to bmlc mp an
arisiocracy which is to sunvERT OUR FREE
GOVERNMENT and bring as under an eccle-
siasiical tyranny"
That's beautiful stuff beautiful
A little further along we find the fol-
lowing delcctablc attack upon the cltr-
gy!
"But the clergy of this country, hope
not of all sects, the CaiDinisiic clergy
chiefly, are united in prosecuting every
man who calls in question any of their
metaphysical opinions, or who hints at
their views of ambition and aggrandize-
ment."
They are steadily aiming at a Church
Establishment, at an alliance between
church and state, so as to bring the civ
il power in aid of their own plans of ag-
grandizement."
Next comes an outburst against prayer
meetings, as follows
"Praytr Meeting Societies, which, by
means of the weak and credulous females
who attend them, furnish the priests with
sure source of influence and Informal
ton over the domestic concerns of every
family"
In No. a, we find an attack upon Sab
bath Schools;
".Sabhath hools.-The fact that there
is a combination forming in this State, to
be called the vermont Sabbath School
Union, we believe is not generally known.
The thing was got up and is managed
entirely by the orthodox, and we presume
is to be scctarian, which by training up
our Green Mountain lads in the way
they should 60, will make fine access
sion to DR. Ely's christian party in poll
tics. -"
In No. 5 comes beautiful article up
on the observance of the christian Sab
bath: Read it.
"Of all the superstitious notions entail
ed upon us by designing men, perhaps
that of the proclamation of the Sabbath or
first day of the week, being crime of
magnitude is, perhaps, the most prevalent
1t has even been declared by some worse
than murder! and the most ordinary du-
ties are looked upon by many as wide
breach of the scanctity of this holy day
Yet as such notions are established in a.
ror, we esteem it our duty to inform all
such as are not yet acquainted with the
| fact that there is not a sentence in the
Bible which enjoins the duty of keeping
the first day Of the week more holy than
any other day; and we think it time for
those who labor hard six days in seven to
gain comfortable subsistence, to ask
themselves how much they are paying
towards supporting, in ease and afllu-
cnce, set of men who are resting six
days in seven. So long as people shall
be content to rest on this day, and wor-
ship God according to the dictates Of
their own conscicnces, we apprehend no
disturbance to those whose feelings shall
dictate them to engage in worship on
their own particular account, But when
men become so jealous in the affairs of
their neighbors, as to employ their time
in travelling through the country, getting
up Sabbath Societies, Sabbath keeping
steamboat and stage-coach societies,
Sunday school unions, sc. &C., we are a
little apprehensivc that this day, instead
of being day of rest, will become a day
of more business than any other day in
the seven"
We have not room this week to make
very "liberal extracts" from this moral
and religious sheet We may thereafter,
give our readers further specimens, to
show them what beautiful set of crea-
lures swarm about the Vermont Mercu-
ry. Perhaps we shall publish the patri-
otto Grafton of Tom Powers, delivered
before the Tom Pane Society at cele-
bralion held on the Goth of Feb. 1880,
the anniversary of the birth day of that
notorious Inidcl and patron Saint Of the
conductors ofthc Mercury.
Take an extract or two for this time:
"Whle many oithe heroes of the rev.
olution have been toasted by every per-
son. and upon every occasion, the name
of the redoublable PAINE, whose bold
ness and honesty prompted him to an ex
plicit avowal of his religious sentiments
for the benefit of his country, has been
assailed and trampled upon by every foe
10 Deism. Notwithstanding the frequent
clandestine attacks upon his character by
the crafty clergy and their followers, yet
his name shall resound with honors, and
erery foe to his creed shall hear him APP.
plaud'd by GF9he boM and fearless Deist.
Perhaps many worthy men there are who
might become an ornament to our society,
and who from fears of unpopularity are
unwilling to give their support. But to
such we would only observe that ortho-
doxy is fast yielding to The more liberal
views; and ,chiie erery succeeding gear d.
minishes the VARIOUS DENOMINATIONS OF
prIICIoy tho scale hecomes mora onuol