Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-01-02

THIS INTGDELTrY OF MODERN SoCIETY.-
Few persons seem to be aware of the utter
want of faith in any high, spiritual reality
which characterizes the thought, the feeling,
the expression, the aims and purposes of
modern society. The men and women ofthe
present day are as far removed from any thing
like a sincere religious sense, as can be deeil-
cd possible in a world, moistened with the
blood of martyrs, resoundlng with the songs
of prophets, and daily blessed with the mu
niicence Of the divine bounty. They may
persccute the bold brother who dares to call IN
question the creed in which they were suck
led, outworn as it is, in their own minds;
they may curl the lip in proud scorn OF the
p~lebcian who denies that the chat they deal
In can ever be made into the bread of life;
they may stalk in costly robes through con-
secrated a@isles, and thank God that they are
not so low and vulgar, as to wish the abate-
ment of any established usage; but the inner
souls are as Gaad to that high, glorious sense
Of the Infinite, in which consists the essence
of religion, as if they were kindred to the
warm that flttens in the clods of the valley.
They have no faith in the power and ma
jesty Of disinterested love. Devotion TO the
hottest arms they resolve into selfish purpo-
SEES. The passion for Universal Unity, which
inv vi NHNAN a. "a ~ =
which is wounded by a discordant note from
a single human being, which longs for the
sounds of the great anthem, cloud as num-
bors without number, sweet as from voices
uttering praise" that is to ascend from a Te-
deemed earth they are scarce acquainted with
even by name; much less can they be made
to cherish the slightest confidence in amy pur-
pose, however wise in its conception and
shilful in its execution, which is prompted
by no lower motive than this master passion
of the truly religious mind. They have no
faith in the inspiration of the prophecies, or
Of the soul. They do not look for a new
Heaven and a new Earth, in which dwelleth
righteousness. Good enough for them, as
they think, are the old Heaven and the old
Earth, in which dwelleth responsibility. So
long as they can nave their ''roast chicken
and their little game of cards." like the good
lady who wondered people could take such an
interest in the reform oCPArlianent, 50 long rs
they can stand well in the society OF their sort
while they live, and be sent out of the world of
by pulpit elolucnce and newspaper
tribute when they die, everything is well
enough, and should be let alone; the world
is the best Of all possible worlds; and wo to
the wild visionary, the poor fanatic, who has
faith, and who acts on his faith, that the
kingdom of God IS to come on earth, that a
Order is to be released in society, that
the possibilities of human nature have not
been exhausted yet in any Of the habitations
Of men,
Friends, do you fear infdelity9 Look for
it in the right place. Go not far from your
houses to find it. Think not that ii was
all embodied in the New York InlIel Con-
Y%cntion. See it in the fdithlessness, the du-
the ~antlgonlsm, the internal compo-
ition, the murderous warfare, with which
whole atmosphere of your daily society
IS reeking.-Harbin9er.