The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-03-10
THOMAS PAINE, AND HIS AGE OF REASON.

THOMAS PAINE, AND HIS AGE OF REASON.
We were on the deck of beautiful steamer, (which
was crowded with passengers-some excursions
of pleasure; some on business; Fastening to
join their friends from whom they had been long sep
arated. The various groups around presented every
variety Of character, and sentiment, and feeling
More conspicuous than most others young
man who strove not TO conceal his n6del opinions,
and seemed to lay claim to respect, just in proper
ton to the boIdness with which they advanced.
lie plunged into discussion with any and nil who
would debate with him and avowed his belief in the
doctrines of Tom Paine, and his Age of Reason, with
out the slightest hesitation
81 despse the BibIe,'' said he, ''and the hypocres
who pin their faith upon it. Religion has caused
bIoodshed than all other causes put together
more than war, pestence, famine. The Christian
religion has been the OF more bloody wars and
prosecutions than all the religions of heathensm.-
Is this the religion of the God of tho religion
am bound to believe. or be damned"-a and he turn
ed away his heel, while his lip cured with scorn,
and his face dnrkoned with anger. "No gentlemen
said he turning again to the company, 81 am be-
lever in Tom Paine and his age Of Reason, not in
the Bible"
s'Win you allow me-" said tall and dignifed old
countenance, ''to tell you little Of my history. II
may not be Improbable TO you, and those who listen
to us. When was young-quite young man
had heard OF the Age OF Reason. read it; drank
in its sentiments, and determined to renounce the
ligion Of my fathers But felt uneasy, and as had
the opportunity, concluded that would seek an
interview with the antho of tho Ago Of Reason, and
have all my doubts removed. found him alone;
and, Introducing myself, told him my errand-told
him Of my pious father, my still more pious and ten
der mother Of the religious instruction they had Civ
en- me; and the reverence they had taught to
terrain towards the Bible, being the words Of God
But, said |, Dir Paine have been readng your Age
of Reason, and have about made up my mind that
the Bible is false. ! shall never forget the agony
with which he seemed TO regard me, and the agony
with which his whole frame shook and trembled as
he suid, almost in the voice Of fury, Young man!
The Bible is mol false: ii is not false; is true; TOO
true; and The Age Of Reason is false And then he
sunk into melancholy mood, dropped his head upon
his hands, with his elbows resting upon his table, like
one absorbed with his thoughts, & those thoughts
of the most painful nature; and left him, every
shadow of doubt about the truth of the Bible left me-
with the last words which heard him utter after he
had buried his face in mis- hands. They mem,
orable words. They wcro these: wish had neve'
a0riuen it, You me far advanced in life,
continued the old gentleman sand expect to try the
reality of the religion which profess, very soon.-
am believer in the Christian system, and
perhaps, under God to that interview with Mr. Paine
Just before his last illness, that believer.
saw the agony of his mind as he looked upon thu
young man who then stood before him as he ther
supposed, ruined by his own instrumenulity. Tha
wish of his has followed me to this hour, and if h
wished that he had neUer tor,ten it, the time may
come when you acish you had neUer believed it,"
The old gentleman said no more. He walked q
way in silence. The young man looked abushed, a
slammed, thunderstrucls, confounded; and heart
no more of him or his Gage of Reason during thu
remainder Of the voyage. We made inquire: