Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-07
TO THE PUBLIC.
NO. /.

NO. l.
DIR. Bell;nqer as an alderman before the City
Council, denying the right Of protection OF tn
C;ty Aathorities TO Protestant Clergyman
acho acas threatened by a naOb-H's uncalLed
foratsaek on the Moral Teachings Of the Chic,
Reformer"-Receiues the sanction and aid Q,
the Church.
The public is so fully aware OF all the circum-
stances which have compelled me to enter into
this discussion that they need no explanation
The multiplied calls on my time and my period
of life would lead me infinitely to prefer the rest
and quietude of my own thoughts, agreeable stu
dies and ministerial abours and associations to the
excitement and often embittered feelings, which
are engendered by religious controversy. When
however, great principles are to be defended and
the regulations of the benefactors OF mankind
are to be rescued from defamation, it then be-
comes our duty to lay aside for time our more
agreeable occupations and battle manfully in the
cause of truth and of justice.
As native American citizen and an inhabi-
tant of Charleston, for nearly forty years, have
recently felt deeply grieved, that an attempt has
been made resulting in partial success by Ro-
man Catholic Alderman to deprive Protestant
Clergyman of the privilege of free discussion in
matters of religion and he, as member of the
City Council voting against his being protected
from Roman Catholic mob.
As minister of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church, holding the sentiments of the great re-
former, whose commentary on the Book of Gal
atians, was instrumental in inducing me to enter
on the trials and duties of the ministerial life
believing him to have been great pure and a
good man, and the greatest benefactor of the
Christian world since the day of the Apostles.
have been greatly astonished and shocked to
find that the Infamous forgeries and abominabe
ISLANDERS invented by the Papsts Of old, to des-
troy the reputation of man who as an lnstru-
ment of God was enabled to break the fetters
which had so long enslaved the human mind,
and so shake the Papal throne, that it has been
tottering from that day to this, and even now is
only upheld from the fury Of its own people by
the bayonets of France-that some OF these
ISLANDERS have been once more reproduced with
variations and additions. They have been re-
peatedly proved to be false and their authors
shamed into silence ard confusion. But about
eyery quarter of century they have been walked
ND from the grave of infamy in which they were
buried and once more paraded before the world
tn prove that if many of their Popes had been
impnre and wicked men, the Reformer's had been
no less so.
will endeavor to confne myself in this mum
Der to the first head, and enquire whether Dr.
Bellinger had any right, under the Constitution
or laws of our State or City, to refuse protection
to Leahey, who was prevented leetunng oy
mob. As far as l understand the spirit OF oul
laws they permit a toeration OF all the forms Of
religion, and the Protestant, the Roman Catho'
Ic the Jew and the Heather are all placed pre-.
cisely on an equality. Freedom of thought and
speech is the grand palladium of our liberty
Il is true this is not the case in many Roman
Catholic countries. Protestant churches are not
allowed to be built, and Protestant Ministers are
sent to prison if they dare to preach. | had
mysef, whilst travelling in Austria to lock up in
nv trunk, which, from circumstances connected
with INV scientific pursuits, was not liable tc
search. the Bible of young fellow traveller CIV
on tn him by a pious mother. If found in his
trunk Il would have been confscated and burned
IF YOU did not kneel down whilst the Host was
passing along the streets you received thumP
on the head from the long slaves OF the ofhclal'
in close attendance, VINO seeHled to say W 'ii'
head-bow or break. But we have no such
laws, and should be sorry to see any such Gus
toms in our free country. The Protestant Al
,dermen who stood up SO nobly in Council for the
right of private judgment, and the free tolera
ton of religious worship, seemed to be perfectly
aware of their duty under the laws and institu
tions of our country. should have though
..,,.lIv we'll of them If they had under simila
olic priest in his rights to preach, to say mass
,orto lecture when and where he pleased, even
they knew before hand that he intended to abus'
the Protestants as fercely as DR.. Bellinger be
iaboured the moral character Of one, whose sho,
latehes, neither he nor Iare worthy to unlOose
After having proceeded thus far friend sen
mo The United States Catholic Miscellany
which contains an article which is worthy of be
- roruscd not only as curiosity, but as al