Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-08-27
Pilgrims Progress by Steam.

A writer from Missouri paper thus al.
legorizes on the subject of religion in Cal
| ifornia.
"Do you see those plain-looking car:
yonder? That is the Methodist train The
little, noisy. strong looking locomotive you
see there. is the John Wesley" 1t always
| starts off with a tremendous load The
road runs meandesing up and down the
rivers, across the prairies, through the
woods, by all the towns, along all the settle.
ments past every hut, and to the very tops
of the mountains. and the train stops al
every place for passenger. The conductors
are plain practical and energetic men, The
passengers are Jealous and enthusiastic
When they start, they give a loud, long
shout, and you would think the kingdom of
heaven suffered violence, and the violent
were about to take it by storm. On their
banner is inscribed. "religion in earnest;
and as they pass through the woods they
make the welkln ring with the song:
"Bright Canaan, bright Canaan,
We're bound for the land Of Canaan"
"Yonder is the Baptist Depot. The,s
cars are stout the seats uncushioned, the
conductors exacting and circumspect, and
the passengers numerous and pious. The
train is draw by the "Baptizo:' it is sur
prising how so small locomotive can take
so heavy train over so rough road.
They have tunneled to the mountains of
sin," and brdged the hollows of " iniquity, !"
but water has no terrors for them, and hence
they go plumb through the river Jordan
aTo canaan's fair and happy land
Where my possessions le.'
aBut see there; do you notice that beau
tiful train of cars yonder, with handsome
md II. ,oI c4,1
Do you see the surplice, the silk gown and
the golden cross. That is the Episcopal
train. That gorgeously mounted and smooth
ly running locomotive is the Henry VIII
1t sweeps over the solid Terail as propelled
by Ericsson's new moter. There is large
sprinkling Of lawyers in that train; Il is the
most fashionable and genteel train that
runs out of California. They take towards
heaven vast amount Of wisdom, theologi.
cal learning and pious gentility. 1t is sup
posed that ST. Peter, who has the keys. is of
opinion that the passengers who come in
these cars, are his relatives and descendants;
albeit he does not like the name of the loco
motive; :: Henry the Eight" in his opinion,
having been great scamp.
The Psesbyterians, however are doing
the best business in California. They train
the mind, inculcate inflexible morals, have
skillfui engineers, intelligent conductors
and well arranged cars. They run through
a hostile country, they come in contact with
Sabbath breakers. gamblers and drunkards
and pounce on the Ghosts Of slnu every
where. They are skilful in a mannuvre
and display superior generalship in fight
Their road runs through all the towns; they
have missionaries in all important places;
they have colporteurs or runners ON the
steamboats,, beating up for passengers, and
Satan himself cannot gel up an enterprise
without danger of having a Presbyterian
after him to spy out his plans and borrow
his thunder.
But listen TO those chimes; the Catholic
train is about to start. Those old cars look
as if they were made thousand years ago;
dark, gloomy rusty bnt very
stout old cars. They run full; however.
See the crosses, and Latin Inscriptions; and
see those Sisters honnets The more one
looks around here the more ne sees TO In
terest him. The road from California con-
meets with that old line from Rome which
was started eighteen hundred years ago;
and it is supposed to be the most direct
ronte to Heaven. It enters at the front door,
rhile all the other lines climb some other
vayu So they say.
s:The Mahomedans have nc line from
California. The Mormons are binding q |
corduroy from Salt Lake City
he cars to be drawn by asses"