Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-06-29

BKFoRE THE MASSACHUSETTS, AZ BIBLE SOCIETY, AT
THE ANNUAL MEETING, NAY 27. 1850
We make the following beautiful and elo-
quent extract from the address made by IIoa.
Edward Everett. before the Bible Society. II
is a noble tribute to the Bible and the faith
upon 1liiel il Is. fsantgeEas.
There Is another consideration Of apractieal
nature; which should BE- glad % offer 10 the
meeting Il had not exceeded my allowance
OF klule. We all have pretty strong and as 1
think Just Impressions Of the superiority of
Ghristendom over the Mahometan, Hindoo and
Pagan countries Our cililization know is
still very imperfect. impaired by many a vice
and many woe which disaraces our Christ
ian nature and
Appears spot upon the vestaI's robe,
The worse for what il soils.
But when we compare the condition of
things IN Cristendom with that which prevails
Ia the countries Just named we find that all the
evils which exist among us; prevail therein
greater degree, while they are subject to IN
nnmerablc othcrs-so dreadful as to make us
aInost ready 10 think it were better for the
mass of the population humanity speaking, if
they had never been born. Well now, Mr.
chairman. what maketh us to differ? know
Of no 6nal and sufficient cause, but the differ
ent character Of Christianity, and the religions
which prevail in Turkey, Persia, India, China,
and the other semi-civized or barbarious
countries; and this difference. as far as / know
Is accurately reflected in their sacred books
mean. Sir. that the Bible stands 10 the Kor-
an and the Vedas. in the same relation as that
n which Christianity stands 10 AIahomefanisn.
or Buddsm:-or Christendom "a Tnrkev
Hindostan or China.
We should all. / believe. more fully annre-
lriakss the value az tbe Scr;ntnros if ;va ,e,,.
psred them with other hooks assnr,ir,o, tba
character Of sacred. I have not done Il so
much as l wish / had; but one reason-a
main one--has been, the extreme repnlsiye-
ness Of those books which / have tried to
read. / have several times in nv life at
tempted to read the K0ran. I have done so
lately: have approachedit il with hiehly ex-
cited literary curiosity. have felt a strong
desire topenetrate this great mystery of the
Arabian desert As have IN some quiet,
Turkish town for in the provincial Turkish
towns is little Of the hustle Of our western Efel
listened at the close Of daV ID the clear.
calm voice Of the n1uzzil from the top Of the
graceful marinet calling the faithful. to even
ing prayer--as have mnsed on the yicisi-
tudes Of al human things, beneath the ven
erabIe dome Of St Sophiass, have / may
say longed to find some rational ground of
sympathy between ChYistianity and Islam but
anything more repulsive and ,uninyitino than
Che Koran. have seldom attempted to 6eruse.
even when taken up with those kindly FEELINGS.
And yet sir, you are well aware that il IS not
conceived in spirit Of hostility to the Old and
New Testament, but recognizes them both as
Divine Revelation. With such portions of
the sacred books of the Hindeos as have fallen
IN my way the case is far worse. The myth
illogical system contained in them is tissue
Of monstrossities and absurdities, by turns SO
revolving and nauseous as to defy perusal, ex-
cept from some strong motive of duty or lite
rRTy curiosity. which would prompt the iuves-
tigalion. really believe, sir, that few things
would do more to raise the Scriptures in our
estimation !; than 70 compare the Bible with
the Koran and the Vedas. 1t is not a course
ar reading ke be generally recommended The
books are scarce, and as l have said. the:r con-
tents eminently repulsiTe; but I viii venture
70 say those whose professional duty II is TO
maintain the sacred character of the Christian
Scripture. that know of scarce anv line Of
reading which might be taken up with great
er advantage for the purpose of fair compar-
iaon, than that of the sacred books as they are
called Of the Mahomstans and Hindoos
One word more, sit, and have done 1t is
sometimes objected to an fndiscrininate distri-
button Of the Bible, that it may be perverted,
misunderstood. neglected and abused And
what means Of mprovement-what instru-
ment of christian benevolence-is not subject
Ia the same drawback? The fault is in the
mind Of man, subject to error, to the binding
effect Of passion. to the debasement of vice, m
al thai he does and 10 alIthat is done by him.
y s''S ote1e ii.s' a. " % eii-