Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-06-17
Rev, Mr. Dudley's Fast-Day Sermon


WoIcot, WIN. l.. Bragg e. Jacob Dimi'k'
The subject of the discourse is, "Ihe
Ner,c0n War md american Sarcry,"-
Mr. Dudley has the reputation of being
good scholar aud finished writer, nor do
wo discover anything in the document
before us to contradict this impression,
but we must confess that his good judg-
ment and notions Of proprle,y do not keep
pace with his other qualifications, il he sup
noses that some of the sentiments in this
sermon arc what the public expect from
sach a source. Though the committee
"beieving the sermon delivered by you on
the occasion of the late Annual Fast, will
be of service to the public at this time,
were influenced no doubt, by such mo-
tives rs would actualc men closely con-
nccted with, aud holding prominent sta
tons in the church. (ror we cannot bchcuC
that they would wish to manufacture po-
liticaI capital from the puIpi') must have
felt desire to be complimentary TO the
author as well as useful TO community.
But to say nothing of the sensations OF
the ludicrous which we enjoyed, when we
saw so formidable list of names append
cd to the "requesl," associaIing, as IT did
the idea thai" church aud Stale intend mar
riagc;" we will proceed 10 make few,
and bu, very few extracts from the SER
mon in QUESTION.
In very brie exordium MIR Dudley
speaks of The necessity of fasting and re-
pen,ing for national, as well as personal
sins, then states that ne proposes TO call
the attention of his hearers to ''the two
leading sins of This nation, SLAVERY AND
WAR" lie then remarks:
| shall present these sins as they now stand re.
lated to each other; relation, which presents us
TO the v lew of righteous God, and an observing
war has its origin and Justification in The savehold-
ing interest of these United Sa,es, ! need not
spend Tine to prove. That is n settled point. Its
advocates avow it, They have been forced TO The
shameful concession.
The assertion that the present war has
its origin aud justification in the slave
holding interest, the gentleman does not
see fit to prove, And why? simply because
he cannot prorc il, Others have asserted
It before him, but it never has yet been
shown to contain the first shadow of truth,
| Nor have we ever before learned that 'lls
advocates avow it, "and we now call on the
author, or those who have given publicity
10 this assertion, (ipr we take them to be
responsible endorsers) to show singh
Instance 10 sustain lhcm in their a'Uwal.
We prefer proof 10 assertion in these mat
tiers. But here comes a repetition Of the
above statement:
This then is our position before the world, We
are now in the heat of an aggressive war Its on
Iy and avowed object is the protection md perpet-
uation of .AmeriCGn Sldreru.
This then is the starring point. lie as
serts what he should have labored to prove
and then goes on through the remainder
of his DISCOURSE to prove what every body
admits, viz: that slavery is an evil. In
this he has shown much labor and has
called together considerable information,
Bot il was in decidedly bad taste to sacri-
flee the foundation Tor the sake of rearing
a beautiful supcrstructure, simply because
the materials for this branch of his labor
we're available. But such an editice must
share the same fate of the house built up
on the sand
lie says farther, like all true enemies
to our country;
The Mexicans are defending their affairs and
their homes, thei, wives and children; and they
ought moi, and will not yield. How shall we JUS
tify ourselves for this strange work! How shall
we wipe off the stain on our character, and es.
cane the scorn of future timer What can we say
before the tribunal of the despots of the Eastern
World, who instead of waging war for the extern
SION of their slave territory are setting Their cap.
lives free and giving to thousands the boon Of
freedom?
The Mexicans would, no doubt, derive
"aid and comfort" from such sentiments
had not Tom Corwins speech preceded
them. But we pass over some eight or nine
pages, devoted as we have said before ia
the benefit of the peculiar institution
and close with n few extracts which need
no comments, not without questioning
however, the proprie,y of making such sub
jects the theme for pulpit oratory, before
popular audience. We would suggest
the expediency, a. least, of letting these
matters remain in the hands of The pollil-
clans, and can but blame the short sight
edness of being overreached by political
demagogues, who have no higher respect for
the pulpit than to convert it into an arena
for heralding party tene's, degrading to the
author and unworthy an American citizen.
The following extracts are from The
,lo.o nj tho dscouIse Sc.