The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-09-01

Nor do all of them adhere strictly to
Christ's prohibition of swearing not at
all. Yet it cannot be denied that they
came within the limits of the commission
which expects us to 90 out into the high
ways, very important part of preach
ing, one quite too much neglected. But
I will leave all these side issues of the
question to some better judge, and in
form you of a theological lecture which
was delivered on board a steamer on
which was a passenger. The lecturer,
1 think, was a semi-atheist, and he most
fuently presented his views of matters
and things. He maintained that knowl-
edge was misery, and that not more than
one person in ten ought to be allowed to
think. Thinks l to myself you are about
half right, if all thinkers think as you
do Only one in ten have a right to
think. This must only be applicable to
men. For such a species Of monopoly
will never be submitted to among women.
| would like to have had Fanny Fern
present, and [ think he would have
thought himself among fern brakes. To
be an atheist, only one in ten may think.
Why rather than to have my part of
thinking monopolized by every tenth
man, | would believe in as many gods
as Paul found in Athens. But | suppose
that the Lecturer was Of the opinion of
very celebrated person of ancient noto-
riety, that atheists and fools we're one
and the same thing If they are then
perhaps one in ten is enough to do all
the thinking necessary. L hope the
editors of the Echo will not become
atheists, at least, not until their paper
can echo ten thoughts to one think
Another speaker objected to that kind
of theology which taught that fire and
birthstone composed the ingredients o.
hell torments. And 1 confess it is a
matter of surprise how theology evel
adopted that Interpretation of scripture
The lecturer supposed that Geolog,
stand opposed to orthodox theology
Another gentleman commenced quite ;
harangue in favor of A. j. Davis's the
ology and spirit revealments At las
quite confab arose whether said Davis
was a reader. The atheist, maintaining
that Davis had acquired his knowledg,
by reading, while the disciple of Davis
as strongly maintained that Davis wa:
not a reader but that he obtained his ex
tensive knowledge by spiritual instruc
ton when in state of spiritual clairvoy
ance.
And here [ would remark-that i
spiritual communication do or ever die
exist, it is death to atheism, which, like
ancient Sadduceeism, denies the exist.
ence of angel or spirit. The lecturer.
argued that the laws of nature forbade
spirituality. That all a priori reasoning
stand opposed to any such revealments
Your correspondent then undertook tC
show that admitting these spiritual phe.
nomenon were not in accordance will
past known laws Of nature, it did not
necessarily follow that such phenomena
were not according to the laws of nature
For, to admit that, would be to deny thai
nature could develope itself at present
otherwise than in the past, which is wha
cannot be shown. That admitting there
was no God that atheism is true, who
can SHOW tnat the laws OF nature (al
though blind as bat and determined b,
fate, may not produce such things a.
well as others. Is dame nature les
energetic than one of her children nameC
Sam Patch.
Dear Edo, before you become al
atheist, think before you leap. Atheism
has some inclined planes which run VI
hill. | used to sit down and let Atheist
catechise me, but since 1 became /;
Yankee, [ have turned catcchist myself
1t is high time that Atheism began t,
give some reasons for her belief, and b,
ready to say the catechism herself.