Smyrna times., 1854-11-22
s2ftiseeNancons,
From the Dubuque Miners Register.
Know nottingham, Letter fron a
Methodist Clergyman.

WILDs Cd CuEcAUQUE, Iowa,
Oct. Z, 1854.
Ny VERY DEAR FEiEaD:-Be f6re left Du-
buque, yourself and several other gentlemen Of
various Christian churches, requested the pub
lica ton Of my sermon delivered on the Attn inst.
a long habit Of speaking cXt2mporaneously has
made me careless of the preservation ot either
sermons or speeches which am called upon to
make from time TO time. Therefore, to give
you my language or to transfer to paper my al
Iusions to civil and religious liberty would be
impossible. But with every possible desire 10
be brief, shall give my opinions to yourself i'll
| regard to the right of every man worshipplng
God according to the dictates of his OWn con-
science, and Just as freely express my fears OF,
and opposition to, every organization, either
secret or open, which looks TO the infringement
of this great principles, which is essential to the
very existence of republican government and
the interrupted worship OF the living God.
You, SIR, are Catholic; am Methodist.
Your faith believe 10 be the result OF deli
berate Judgment formed after careful invcsti-
CATION. Your conv c,ions and devotions are
conscientious. Just such arc my faith and my
devotlons, and the faith and devotion of every
true Christian everywhere. | suppose you
could not iorsakc your religion and remain an
honest man; am equally clear that | could
not abandon my principle and retain for Il mo-
ment my sef-respect and enjoy the approving
smile of nv Holy Maker and Judge, who kindly
regard the intirmlties OF his creatures, and
scrupulously abhors pretenco or deceit. Then,
nv dear friend what are we to do? On the
details of our respective religious crceds we
l can never agree. Shall you, therefore, destroy
me or shall !, with "a superior charity and en-
ig hteaed faith, seek your humiliation, be-
cause we differ concerning matters which none
but the wise and eternal God can correctly de-
termine! Is it an injury to either OF us thai
: the other, standing upon his responsibility t.
the Supreme Judge of the universe, chooses tC
consult him alone, and disregard the opinions
: Of men, merely relating to things not OF thu
: world 1t would insult your good sense t.
tanlcly answer these inquiries IN the negative
G for YOU had anticipated them all. There Is onl
| one answer which has been conclusive to ever
! reasonable worshipper of God. Let ever
- man be fully pursuadcd IN his own mind.
D. The constitution OF the land, wisely provldIn
Ds tor the political agreement of multltarous re
t. ligieus sentiment, has guaranteed to every ma
, a right to worship God according to the diC
tates of his own conscience. And, tor the yer
!" first time in the history OF modern civilization
d, our rational government has not only PERM
", ted, but has encouraged, by her liberal egsli
no ton, the growth OF every sincerely devote
body OF Christians, irrespective OF their nan
~ or formulas. 1t is with regret that see 8
nd attempt made in various portions of the cou
er trv 10 create midnight ceasorships and ST
Nv chambers, for the avowed object of dstranch
he mo the Catholic population ofthe country, al
49, w9ginp a warfare OF all others the NEST lea
=" full and vindictve-a warfare against rellgio
as In the whole history of the world there new
ION has been time when such secret organlzato
no as the Know Nothings were LETT with 50 shall'
% n nretence for their combination as at the p
hc sant never a time when so little has be
nd, threatened by any organized form OF Chrlstla
thl ty as now -...
= In the first place, there is not majority
~, the United States in communion with q
- church. There is u very clear majority "
III are not members OF any religious body, and
om- rnaior,ty would resist to the death the lie
sonintinp at encroachment upon their ri
rms II opinion. In tie second place, the COVE
nent does not directly or indirectly support
" lifts or fees any one denomination of hrlsti'
ike and Of course can have no preference IN
alls, choice among them. Moreover, the numer
and strength of the COMMITMENTS of the sew
this denominations is very nearly the same and
,rl in awe by mutual watchlulness. mu
i"o forbearance, continued since the organlzatlc
that our government, has created Christian fra
over nifty of feelings among conflicting Opinions
,sath known before in the history Of Christianity
y The population of the United States wa
1850, %, i9l. 9Is, and ID, uowabout 26,00o,
; ana of this number about 100000 are Metho
, still Of every order, 100000 are Baptists.
rber- Who, then, that is not afflicted with 81
eeho. stitious tAononsania, can offer reasonable
-, tence for a formidable organization OF rei'l
' - power in the United States Indeed,
snlng there ever has been time when lnnqelltS
contempt for all religion had an asc 6; 0
far of that time Is now. al;
Of the bu. saOaia '''''' sVe' IN eV'V -. :.
,ns