The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-10

II arbitrarily determines upon what book, or whs
peculiar combination Of books, We shall revere q
the Sword OF Col" and then denies TO us tn
right Of exercising the same amount of Intellectual
moral and religious liberty. 1t describes the circle
in which We shall move, and think, and reason
and then authoritatively and dogmaticay denies Il
US the moral or religious freedom to advance beyonC
1t. IL thus imposes what we conceive to be impro
per and demoralizng restrictions upon our thoughts
and Investigations trammels the progressive de.
velopement OF our minds, and peremptorily denies
to US the divine privilege of free discussion and
free expression of our inward sentiments.
Second-lt unites with society in its unphili.
sophcal and unbrotherly treatment of the criminal
ana and Of the unfortunate victim Of crime; ,Snd it
barian or Mosaic law of capital punishment.
Ihird-lt emphatically justifes society in the
perpetuation of personal and national animosities
and antagonisms. 1t permits war, conf scaton of
property, and carnage; and it assists to promote
successful military chiettains without regard to
other merit or demerit, to the responsible position
OF emperors and governors.
Fourth-lt sanctions the monarchical despotsm
of monopolies. 1t smiles, with silent Appreciation
upon the conflict between labor and capital 1t
permits the present unjust remuneration of the toll
ing millions. 1t permits them to live from day to
day without the least guarantee of home in case
of pecuniary adversely i'll health; ana, more than
all, it openly and emphatica.y san ,tons the dark
and fearful sin of human slavery,
Fifthlt def)rms and enslaves, but it does no. re-
form an emancipate the human mind, from the
confnements and mournful influences of sect arian-
ism Its influence is not positive and rcformatory,
but it is merely negatively restraining. 1t opposes
almost every measure or movement which origi-
mates with the people. 1t engenders melancholy
and conceptions Of the nature and destiny
of man. 1t keeps up perpetual warfare between
the head and the heart. 1t encourages a gladito.
rial struggle against liberty of speech and freedom
of action. 1t even opposes temperance reforml-
ton, unless it originates in the church; and uni
formly exerts its mutiform influences, to restrain
the progress OF social and prison reforms upon iden
teal grounds.
Sixth-It conveys discord into our families. It
arrays husbands against wives, and wives against
husbands. Il produces many private alterations of
affection and friendship. It causes the heads of
many families to separate, and go to diferen. and
antagonistic s,ctarian sanctuares on the Sabbath;
and it developes sad and unwholesome discussions
among friends-be:ween members of society, and
disturbs the equilibrium Of nations!
teaching children to regard certain doctrines as
truths which (because these doctrines not true)
cannot be felt, but which, nevertheless, fire.
quently manifested with all the sho of confidence
in their validity. This leads directly to practical
Discrimination and deceit. Many persons are in the
constant practice of exhibiting piety, who at the
same time, do not (because they cannot) feel such
piety to be sacred truth; and this apparently will
directly to the theological assumpton-an assump-
tion which has retarded hum an progress for ages
that the heart of is desperately wicked and de-
PRAYED by nature.
thoughts into the minds of our children. 1t teaches
them to believe in the most soul-revolting doc
trines. They are educated to consider them
selves as ''totally depraved'-and as being under
regard themselves as evil and ''sinners by nature;
and as incapable of being good and heaven worthy,
of the Bible and the Church They are
taught to believe in "God of Love-" who, at the
k.t. o,I. f.~-l -
Heaven" who, at the same time, permits the ever
lasting duration of He'll. Thus our youth become
contaminated by the existing methods of religious
education; and, when they advance in years, and
and sectarians, or skeptics and misanthropes. A
sadness and gloom are consequently thrown over
our minds; and we deprive ourselves and our chill
dren of large proportion of that enjoyment and
progressive happiness which are the inalienable
rights Of man.
Ninth-It seeks to array its conservative and
authoritative influence against scientific inventions
and improvements. IL asserts this whole world of
human beings to be under an Adamic curse con-
demnation. 1t has most dog matically pronounced,
and still continues to assert it, that all the
and perplexities, and vicssitudes and trials, and
discords, and disc ases, and all the Affections of this
mundane state expressly sent by the living God to
punish man for his alleged manifold transgressons
And it has openly opposed every medical reform,
every social improvement, every benevolent design,
upon the abuous ground that such moral attempts
they were in opposition to the "will and punish
ment Of God. And it trammels the progress and
advancement of mankind, by teaching our children
and our communities to believe the erroneous and
baneful doctrine, that no improvement or reforma-
ton can be permanently accomplished, except
through the so-caled divine" instrumentaties
and multifarious restrictions and principles Of the
Church.
Tenth-It perpetuates social, political, and pro-
fessonal conflicts by itself manifesng that internal
sectarianism and arstocratic intolerance which
the invariable symptoms and inevitable concomi-
tants of ignorance and pernicious error ltpresents
to the world numerous examples Of Jealousy and
clerical ambition which subserve the purpose vi
sanctioning and confirming, and rendering fashion
able the war Of the trades and professions which
surrounds US in society, and by which We are more
or less injuriously affected.
Eleventh-It unqualifedly to processes not bring
peace, but q sword
Twelfth-It discournges and emphatically con-
dennis natural or physical cnjoyments. strives
maginary computations Of conscience. IL imposes
what we conceive to be unnecessary and defor ming
trials upon AS and to cruelty ourselves, and
bear crosses that are wholly unnatural and wrong.
We therefore feel that II has defrauded u.s. and the
generations that gone, OF twothirds Of the real
happiness and mental consultations which solemn
ly believe to be ours according to the laws OF the
human constitution and the universal Providence OF
God! Yea, IL deprives US, and seeks to deprive
children, of proper amusements-it dsapproves Of
singing those joy-giying songs, and OF dancing
those easy and graceful waltzes, which are mani
testify natural and useful for man.
Thirteenth--lt dogmatcally asserts nature, and
reason, and conscience even, to be subordinate to
ecclesastical authority IL inculcatcs the baneful
doctrine that our very heart impulses are naturally
sinful and opposed to the twill Of God" Here
again IL creates false issue between the heart and
the head and thus IL has been the sole cause Of i'm
polling many minds into sad and hopeless insanity.
Il sheds melancholy, dismal gloom over our fAmi.
lies, our homes, and the nations Of the civilized
Ia Al n. q I.xL orAt ntts u..I
uncertain gft Of God; and, with its clouds Of igno.
rance and superstition, II darkens thoughts and
anticipations Of the other life. When our friends
resign their material forms to the grave, then this
theology fills our hearts with sadness, and minds
with distressing doubts, concerning their future
welfare and eternal happiness. And thus i spreads
gleom and disconsolaton, and suicidal melancholy,
and insane despair and mental misery, where joy,
and cheerfulness and righteousness, and gratitude,
and peace, and happiness should and might exist in
abundance.
Fourteenth--And We are moved TO declare our
selves free and independent Of the existing theology
in all parts and portions OF the EARTH partcu-