Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-03
The State and the Priesthood.

What have the State and the Priesthood
been doing for mankind? We mean the
State and the priesthood as n whole, during
all generations. We know very well what
they ought to have been doing-we under
stand their proper mission. TO the State has
been committed the protection of the natural
rights of life, liberty, property, and opinions,
of masses of men socially amalgamated into
tribes and nations. To the Priesthood has
been committed the PRONUNCIATION of the Di-
vine law, the incubation and exemplification
of every virtue-the preaching of spiritual
freedom, and the doctrines of Immortality.
They have had under their combined care,
the social development and moral elevation
of the race, as deniZens of time and of
eternity.
But what have they been doing? Has not
the State crushed the multitldes under q
relentless ~despotism, and led cmbattled hosts
to mutual destruction? What a sad record
is history! WA and despotiSm fill almost
every page. Everywhere it is war-war
never ceasing; and almost everywhere it is
despotism. There have been a succession
of great Empires-the one supplanting the
other. There have been n countless number
of struggles between lesser powers. Man
kind have been the victims of rapaciouS am
bition and cupidity. The State has been
concentrated in the will of individuals who
have sportcd with the great interests of hui
mainly. The State has not existed for men,
but men for the State. The world has not
been governed to the great ends of social,
intellectual, and moral advancement; it has
been devoured by Kings and Emperors.--
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. solitary and oft-persecu-
ted ministers of truth and love, have given
light and conducted the progress of the race.
The State has not fulfilled It's mission.
And what has the Priesthood been doing ?
They have entertained the people with vain
shows, and awed them with fearful supersti-
tons. They have written books of legends
for truth. They have shut out the light OF
natural religion itself by pretended rcyela,
tons. They have labored to build up theil
own power, by prostrating the intelligence
of the people. They nave lone for the mine
what the despots of the State have lone fo
the body. The kings have built prisons ant
dungeons, and forged chains for the limb
of man. The priests have built temples
catiledrals and affairs for his spirit. Betweel
the two, humanity has been parceled out
= They have played into each others hard
G o manage the masses the more easily,
@ was necessary that the despots should gai
IS command over the intellects. The prizes
G mastered these, and gave them over into Il
hands of the despot. To quel all oppo
tion-to iay theymore thinking and resile
m spirits, the priests required the aid of eli
power. TIE despot returned the kindne
of the priest, by placing at his disposal 4
20 sword of the State. Have not the two gol
If OH together hand in hand? Is not the hi
tory of mankind the history of the success
n full and united Vaccinations of the king al
"a the priest? These are awful words TO Ii
: man ears-the king and the pricst-symbc
of tyranny, superstition and woe!-.N.
~ Evangelist.