Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-08-11
The 'lnfidelity' Of RcfOrmers.
by WILLIAM HENRY cHAliNINo.
From the splrl, of the Az

From the spiri, Of the Age.
Is it denied, that many Socialists in Eu.
rope and America are protested unbelievers
In Christianity, "a generally taught and ex-
emplifed ina, they seek The osertura u
ecclesiastical Institutions, orders, orgapizi-
lions, funds, forms, usages, as an indispensa.
bic condition OF social reform /; that they wish
10 sweep away in a flood Of ridicule Church
creeds and ceremonies as the mere rubbish
Of ruined superstiiion2 1t is not denied, but
frankly acknowledged with sorrow, but with.
out surprise.
How shall the hatred, which these men
seem TO feel and manifest for what others
their equals or suppriors-cherish as the lie
Of life, be explained Analhemas are not en-
plantations ; Teproaches give no account Of
The conduct they condemn; general charges
Of "depravity," insanity" " Internal NAL
ice" &c., are worthless for all ends of intel
ligent appreciation. To hunt down %virluous
and vicious, learned and ignorant, together,
under a hue and cry of - inlidel," s RADICAL"
&c., is paltry persecution and vain as it is
mean. Above all, il is a most childish device
10 escape The c%ensnre, which Christians of
every communion feel that they righteously
merit by pouring volleys of accommodation
on the critics of the Church. Doubtless, in
corporate bodies, as IN single persons, con-
science can be lulled to sleep by opiates Of
self-compiacency, even under The loudesi
thunders of judgment. Bot is God Knocked
by mans self-delusion! Does not the Head
OF the Church know-as his purest disciples,
certainly as his adversaries can not know
that Christendtm is even now unchrislian,
tina, il has never yet been Chrislianizedl
The explanation Of professed unbeliet
among Socialists is 10 be found in the pracii-
raj unfailhfnlness Of professed Christians.
Conscience intuiively recognizes the proof
Of a principle in its use. by their fruits
shall ye know them" is the righteous test
of institutions and individuals, yesterday,
to-day, and forever, on earth and in heaven.
Now, sweet in sauctifying power as have
been through all Christian lands, the lives Of
holy and humane believers, and green the
paths however rough. beneath their steps of
gentle wisdom, yet undeniably thus far, in
every age, these are the exceptions; heather
need never blush when measured by the aver
age standard of character and conduct among
Christians. by craft and hardness, intrigue
and love of sway, by lawIess lusls and un-
cuTbed tempers, many q chnrch.goer habitu-
ally viol ties good faith, decency, humanity
and honor, in ways which might shock a Be-
douin of The desert, or a South Sea Islander.
And when we pass from private to public
manifestations of Christianity, the case is no
wise mended. The earnest scholar recogni.
yes with grateful awe the transforming ener-
ey which flows upon Mankind, in ever fuller
measure. from the life of Christ; and with
assured hope anticipates a time. when com
munilies, nations, The race, shall become trans
figured by the n dwelling glory Of God. But
il must be confessed, that looked at on a large
scale, through long periods, over wide re-
gions, the Christian Church-under all past
modes OF organization, Catholic and Protes-
,ani.-excepting Of course The Primitive
does appear 10 have been a foe as much as a
friend 10 human progress. Has she not sat
like a queen on high places, clothed in pnr-
pie and fine linen, snmptuously fed, luXuri.
ously attended, while her so called children
were perishing amid squalor, nakedness and
want! Has she not proved herself the up
holder Of tyranls quite as much as a redeemer
Of the oppressed, a tax gather Of the poor as
much as an almonefl Has she not laid h,a-
Wy yokos on conscience and reason, crowded