Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-27

law, morals and religion would be, if the above text
was the ruling principle of all men?
The truth is, men are too much under the influence
Of prejudice, much more than they are aware Of
Prejudice is blind guide-a blind leader of those
. who are blinded by its influence. Like blind eyes
which are closed against the light of the meridian
sun, it shuts ont the rays of TRUTH though they
r emenatc from the "sun of righteousness" 1t shuts
up the mind in darkness, and precudes that thought
and investigation which is necessary to "prove all
things" The mine of truth is wide spread, and should
be worked in all directions. We are too apt to fol-
low one particular vein, and in melting down the ore,
do not separate the dross from the pure metal but fan
cy it is all pure.
A great proportion of education amounts, in fact,
to the incubation of old prejudces, which have been
transmitted from father to son and from teacher to
pupil, from generation to generation, and also those
: new ones which have been generated by the old in
their travel from past to present All these receive
rank nutrition in the virgin soil of the youthful mind
And the whole course of mental training is cacula-
ted, in very great degree, to render this soil more
and more susceptible to their reception retention and
nourishment
The virgin soil is open to receive any seed which
may be cast upon it. Of how very great Importance
then it is that none but "good seed be sown; that
seed only which has been 'proued" by its practical
f utility and adapedness to the good of man, to be worth
"holding fast"
We see the effects of prejudice in our every day
, experience. 1t casts dark shade of evil upon poll
tics, upon social intercourse and upon law and
religion Partisan feeling is fed by it. Party leaders
Irn1V nlv FIR
schemes upon being able to create and fan the flame
of prejudice in the minds of the masses Thus many
features of law may be accounted for Laws are not
always based upon intelligent integrity and often
destitute of any kind of integrity as many have found
to their cost.
Look also upon its effects on social feeling in our
q intercourse with mankind Neighbors imbbe preju-
dices against each other, i'll feelings generated
evil words spoken, SANDER and defamation flow on
in the channel thus cut out, without being in the
least degree checked, controlled, or even influenced
by candor Or truth Quarres thus generated, extend
into schools. One parent is afraid TINT teacher is,
or will be, influenced by neighbor whom he hates
or he fears that the teacher will not ncucate his
notions he wishes. Another becomes prejudicad
against teacher before he knows aught of his per-
SON. character or talents simply because he has been
engaged by committee whom he dislikes. All such
prejudlccs are preerinenty foolish and mischevous
in their effects as well ungrounded and wicked
Many teacher has found to his deep sorrow that he
t 5 thus completely shorn Of his strength and his in
huence for good over the minds Of his pupils almost
perfectly parayzed. This is not his fault and he
knows it; but he feels it nevertheless and the more
deeply because he knows that neither his labors nor
, his abilities will be appreciated as they deserve.
1t will be seen that there are various kinds and de-
grees Of prejudice all which prevent the mind from
having free to truth, from receiving it when
n presented We have small prejudices such as the
above,) and large ones; religious and ant-reigious-
Y political, social, sectional UNCONVENTIONAL, clerical,
y lay legal, local, &c
n The best and most honest minds are more or less
/ tainted by prejudice; how much more then are those
of inferior grade This is the greatest obstacle to
T. reform. Mena not only prciudiced against truth,
. but against persons; and the latter kind is often sut
cient to prevent the eXlnnltoa necessary to prove"
Y Il subject. man goes to lecture in neghboring
town on temperance slavery and notice is given Of
the fact-"Who is he?" "Mr. -" "Oh, have
heard of him before, he is peace man." or Gle is a
nonresstant," or "IIe is a ocoloco in disguise" or
| "a whg," or "a Liberty man," or "a Garrsonite" or
t something else"l don't want to hear HIM" Thus
men apt settle the claims of truth on some such
mad dog" basis, AM refuse to prove al things"
e This is wrong in theory AMI wrong in practce.-
1t narrows down the operations of the human mind
to a pey small point 1t confines its Investigations
if in tact investigates at ALL, to very little and
Ii nited channel. While truth is flowing in upon it
:. fom every source, the mind is hodged around with
dams to keep back the current-to keep it from being
nourished and watcred by its Influences Unless a
man pronounces the shbboleth of our party, our
church, Or our ism, we will not hear him.
| Now error is more or less mixed with truth, and
vice versa, e., men are so perfect, either in
their powers of discrimination, their principles, as
to be free from error however honest they may be in
intention, or DESTROYS of doing good to Others Let
then those who wish to do good have hearing as fur
practicable, at least let not foolish prejudice a.
gainst them on account of their entertaining senti-
ments adverse to preconceived opinions, prevent
us from hearing them, when nothing else hnders and
"proving" their doctrines with a view to "hold fast
that which is good"
How else are we to come to the knowledge of the
truth but by adopting the above rule? If we are al
ways to wait and ask-"IIave any of the Rulers be-
eved" the testimony of any man before zoe can ex-
anime it, we are mere fools, or babes in knowledge,
drawing all our mental nourshnent from others, and
often much poison with it; and all because we lack
independence either of thought or action, or energy
enough to form an opinion of our own What adyc-
cate of reform and good morals, has not encountered
this monster prejudice in countless forms.
Perhaps in no other case is the blghtng influence
of prejudice more apparent than in connection with
religion. We see multi III lie of sects or denomnl-
tlons all sefshy striving to build up their own church,
es at the expense of others, all insisting srenuouslg
on the peculiar sanctty of their creeds or dog4
mas, and all magnifying the errors of others and scek
ing to prejudice the unnformed against them. we
have High Church and Low Church. Old School and
New School, Episcopal, Protestant, Wesleyan and
True Wesleyan Mehodsts, several kinds of Baptsts,