The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-26


have presented the statement, repeated in the
Boston Journal, from the Salem Register. |
am aware that some explanations have been
offered Of this apparent blasphemy by the
friends of Pillsbury; but | am not aware that
he himself has offered any public denial or
qualification of the charge.
DESTROYS Of knowing to what extent the
friends and colleagues of Garrison had gone,
upon this occasion, addressed few lines TO
the editors of the Salem Register, who placed
them before a gentleman Of the highest respect
ability, from whom | have received very full
account of the transaction, with an assurance
that he is willing at any time to hold himself
responsible for the truth of all the facts stated
in the original article in the Salem Register
and in the abstract in the Boston Journal of
July IL.
According to this statement, it appears that
Parker Pillsbury, on Sabbath afternoon, in the
good old town Of Danvers and in a church,
went through an imaginary baptism and admis-
sion into the church, as communicates, of three
dogs, whom he baptized in form, under the
names of Bose, Lion, and Tiger. He COM
menced by asking each one of these dogs what
were his views in respect to the trinity, regen-
Grafton justification by faith, &C.; and appear
ed to draw from them such replies as cast an
air of ridcule upon the Christian religion. He
then declared their answers to be satlsfasssr1s 4
and, with an air Of mock soemnty, extended
his hand over the head of one of his imaginary
dogs, and said: 81 baptize thee, Bose, in the
name of The Father, and of the Son, and Of the
TIoIy Ghost .4mlen" He then proceeded, in
the same manner, to baptize Lion and Tiger;
after which, he declared these dogs to be mem
bers of the church in regular standing. Such
is the statement Of my highly-respected CORE
spondent.
The only explanation yet offered of this
atrocious conduc: is entirely unsatisfactory. 1t
is asserted, in tie first place, that the dogs
were not actually introduced into the church
1t was not the intention of the writer in the
Salem Register TO. say that they were. The
expression is, that Pllsbury .'acent through a
mock ceremony Of taking several dogs into the
chiTch"-that is, of receiving these dogs into
the communion of the Church of Christ. Il
was not meant by that expression to say that
the dogs were present. 1t will be bootless TO
frame false issue on this point Again, 1t is
said that the act which, as rectej above,
stands uncontradicted, was employed by Pills
bury as an illustration. | take this part Of
the defence TO mean this to show that human
beings ought not to be treated like brutes, he
exhibits an example of dealing with brutes, as
if they were human beings; no example would
philosopher, but the application of the holy
ordinances of baptism and the eucharist TO
dogs. He could not be satisfied with general
illustration OF reference. In the presence Of
an audience, some of whom are convulsed with
heartless laughter, while others are horror
struck by his implety, he goes into a minute
preparatory examination of his three dogs, and
baptizes them, in the name of the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, emitting no part of the solemn
ceremony. For all this he was prepared at
Andover, being, as | understand, like Abner
Kneeland, renegade. This fellow, |
told, is graduate of the Andover Theological
Seminary.
To come at the quo amino of this man, we
must contemplate the context Of his imploas
career. 1t is not a matter for marvel that
prominent and active member of the anti-Sab-
bath convention, whose relations to Garrison
& Co. are most cordial and intimate, should
make public mockery of religion, by treating
its most holy ordinances with rldicule and con-
tempt AS to the real intention of this Parker
Pilsbury upon the occasion to which we refer,
and his brutal conduct in the church at Dan
vers entertain no doubt whatever. Should
he declare that upon that occasion he had no
intention to treat the ordinances of baptism and
the eucharist with ridicule and contempt,
should surely believe him to be consummate
liar.
| move the previous question-Where is the
grand jury Of EsscrY SIGMA.