The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-29
A CONTRAST.

notice by way remarklng upon their opposite
aims and tendencies They were both held on
one street, but under very different influences.
The one, Circus exhibition; the other meet
ting designed to promote the circulation of the
Sacred Scriptures. Both were numerously at
tended, if we may Judge from the crowds which
met each other between the two places of ga
thering. Endeavoring as we are to guard the
public morals, we feel bound to call the atten-
tion of the people to few facts presented to
our mind by the assmblings referred to.
In our humble judgement, one or the other
of these meetings must have been wrong, be-
cause their effects are exactly opposed to each
other. Which was wrong2 Which ought to
be NEST encouraged2 Let us examine
First, suppose we all adopt and 81 out
the principles, if such they may be called, in
culcated by the actors of the Circus. To do
SO we must, Of course, lay aside those derived
from the word Of GoD. What are those prin-
ciples2 Are they such as would be promotive
of our good2 Are they not evidently evil in
themselves, and demoralizing in their tenden-
cies We dare assert that they are, and have
illustrations Of the assertions at hand. What
improvement is derived by our people from the
scenes exhibited in those tents of wickedness,
which have been pitched in the centre Of our
city2 What blessed results have been occasion
ed by the jests and plays, the mirth and music
of the applauded company2 How many have
been made to feel disposed to greater propriety
of life2 How many have become better citi-
zens by their appearance and their displays a
mong us2 What good has the Circus done ?
Let those who have attended answer. Let
the conduct Of our youths, in all our streets,
decide; or the actions Of our more mature citi-
zens, who have frepuented the Circus tell. So
far as we know, the tendencies of these ex-
hibitions have been evil, and only evil, and
that continually. We have never noticed any
change for the better, but always decided
change for the worse, after the encouragement
OF such shows; and without fear, and with all
honestly, we must say, we are opposed to
them, because they do not promote the true in
terests Of society. This is, to be sure, only an
opinion, but we judge it to be a righteous one,
we will hold it until we are otherwise con-
vinced; and, while we do hold it, we will warn
our fellow-citizens against the encouragement
of any such works in their midst. We think
that in such places viceis countenanced, GoD's
name is not honored, mans good is not pro-
NOTED. So much then for one Of the meet
ings.
Now, the other; an assembly Of persons fa-
vorable to the circulation of the Bible. Truly,
here is a contrast to show which let us ask,
whether any community ever encouraged this
object without signal benstit7 To what is it
that we owe our happy condition as people;
to what, il not TO the influences Of the religion
of the religion Of the Bible2 1t was this that
made our government; it is this that must per
petuate our institutions of freedom. Beyond
the precepts of the divine word, we dare not
venture, but at our peril. This constitutes the
palladium Of our safety and national prosperi-
ty. Here we need not dwell. 1t is known to
all, that the sanction OF such efforts, as are be-
ing made by the friends Of Con, to give his
word to the people, promote peace on earth,
and good will to man. For witnesses to the
truth of our position, we call up the religious
portion of our community of all names. There
is no religious body amongst us, whose doc
trines are founded upon the word Of GoD, that
does not advance our true interests. Shall we
then, as the advocates of virtue, neglect to give
our hearty appreciation to the efforts of the
good, and to express oW most earnest discppro-
baton of those things that tend to our injury
Let our readers Judge for themselves in this
matter. and decide whether it is to their real
advantage to countenance any public move
ment which is not for the glory ofGoD.
These remarks are designed not to win
men to our peculiar belief. but to awaken them
to the importance OF considering their ways
and turning TO the Lord. We are temperance
men, but our cause can never be sustained if
we appeal not to the moral sense OF the com
munity. The mere outlines Of a contrast, be-
tween two events of one evening in our city,
have been presented.
1--WE speak as unto wise men, Judge ye