Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-09-03
From Duchanan's Journal ofMafi.
OLD F0GYISM.

The stubborn class of stand-stil philosophers,
who regard iracrnal democracy and revolutionary
science rs hunilugs and troublesome nuisances
have never been more happily represented than hy
lMAUM ALI IADE, II Turkish Cadi. Mr.. Layard
in his oriental explorations at Nincveh and Baby
lon, addressed certain enquiries to this Cadi, in
reference to the commerce and antiquities of the
city in which he resided. 10 these queries the
Turkish philosopher replied 10y the following letter
II is easy TO imagine the fckering expression on
the faces OF our conservative friends they read
this letter, not knowing at first whether to laugh
Mt the stupidity Of the Turk or to compliment him
as pious oriental philosopher who has forcibly
expressed their sentiments in reference to the
folly Of modern science
"My iustrous Friend and joy of my Liver :
The thing you ask Of me is both difficult aud use
less. Although have passed all my days in this
place, have neither counted the houses, nor have
| inquired into the number of inhabitants; and as
to what one person loads on his mule and the other
slows away in the bottom of his ship, that is no
business OF mine. But, above all, to the prcvi-
Gus history of this city, God only knows the amount
OF dirt and confusion that the nfdcls may have
eaten before the coming of the sword of Islam.
1t were improbable for us to inquire into it,
"Oh, my soul, oh, my lamb! seek not after the
things which concern thee not. Thou camcst unto
us, and we welcdmed 90 in peace.
"Of truth thou hast spoken many words; and
there is no harm done, for the speaker is one and
the listener another. After the fashion Of thy pco-
pie, thou hast wandered from ono place to another
until thou art happy and contcntcd in none We,
praise he to God, were born here and mover desire
to quit it, Is it possible then, that the idea of
general intercourse between mankind should make
any impression on our understandings? God for
bid!
Listen, oh, my son! There is no wisdom equal
to the belief in God! lie created the world: and
shall VIC kcn ourselves unto him in seeking TO pen
citrate into the mysteries of creation? Shall we say
behold this star spinneth round that star and this
other star with tail goeth and comcth in so many
years! Let it go! lie from whose hand it came
will guide and direct it.
but thou wilt say to me, stand aside, oh man,
Tor am more learned than thou art, and have seen
more things. If thou thinkest thou art in the this
respect more learned than | am thou art welcome !
praise Tod that seek not that which | require |
not. Thou art learned in the things | caro- not for
and as Tor that which thou hast seen, | dclc it,
Will much knowledge create thee a double belly.
or wilt thou seek paradise with thine eyes? oh,
my friend. thou wilt be happy, say there is no
God but God! DO no evil, and thus wilt thou fear
neither man nor death for surely thine hour will |
come; The meek in spirit (Elk Fakir.) IMAuM
ALI ZADE"
Who can fail to recognize the spirit of this res.
poctablc Turk in the numerous dcnunciations A.
gainst science from Pharisaic conservative? Gram
loiogy was denounced as impous and il was thought
absurd totakc somuch troublein studying the brain
wheh philosophers could explain everything out of
/ w
unhoy doctrine, not to be encouraged by the pious
and the Neurological system of Anhropology was
still worse, since we had philosophy enough in the
Bible and any additional philosophy of man would
only tend to throw the Bible out of fashion Spir-
itualism was the climax of nquity for il proposed
to investigate matters which God did not desire us
to know anything about. So it was in former
times whom canals were ui. i.;cctod 10 in Spain, be-
cause God had already made ali the rivers he des-
red, and any additional channels were an intorlcr-
cncc with his plan ofcrcation. The Portland Tran
rcript pertincntly remarks
when innoculation for the small pox was in
troduced IN England, about ore hundred years ago
u was objected to as irregous A writer of that
time maintained that Providence had wisely or
dalned small pox to be fatal, and human science to
be unavailable against i'll Tho greatness of his
power was thus contrasted with the weakness Of
our frames! Small pox, rs this conservative gem
tlcman coniectured amongst other purposes. is |
sent rs ascycre HemeRto of fmoralHy and close and
seasondbte check to that yde and orer)oRdess with
Mlcn beautiful face is too apt to inspire the gid
dy owner; and also to teach the boastcd sons Of sci
e"ce humility and reverence! Hence he held that
mnoculatlon was human science, in opposition 10
the wise dcsighs of Providence which all Chris I
avoid
This reads strangely in 1853, vet We dstinctlv
remember that whom chloroform was first intro
duced, "a few years since, as destroyer Of pain
certain wise thcologans objected to its use on the
ground that God had ordained that man should 1
suffer pain, and it was impous to alleviate il iii
Is evident there arc more lmaum Ali Hadcs' in the
world than have been unearthcdby Iayard'
The exclusive study of Biblical lore, by any class
OF men, has tendency thus To pcrvort their minds
deprivmg them of that expansion ofin,cllect which
can he obtained only from the study of the direct
manifestations of the Deity in Nature.
Biblical religion can cultivate only the moral ma
ture-the intellectual power OF man can be oxpan-
ded only by the direct influx from Deity through
ms creation lie who ncglects the latter dwarfs I
himself into dullard or bigot, however sincere
he may be in his picty.