Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-01-23

we're smitten with remorse, who abhorre
The pleasures and dignities which the
mad purchased by guilt, who abdicate
their crowns and sought to atone 70
their offences by cruel penanccs and in
cessant prayers. These stories hay
drawn forth bitter expressions Of co n
tempt from some writer's who, while the
boosted Of liberality. were, in truth. a
narrow minded as any monk of tn
Dark Ages, and whose habit was TO ap
ply to all the events in the history q
the world the standard received in tn
Partisan society Of the eighteenth cen
tury. Yet surely system which, how
ever defomed by superstition, introduce,
strong moral restraints into comn,uni
ties previously governed only by uiso
OF muscle and by audacity Of spirit,
system Dhich taught the FIERcEsr ant
MIGnrIEsr RULER that he was, like hi
MEANEsr BoNDMAN, a RESPONSIBLE
BEING, might have seemed 10 deserv
more respectful mention from philos
ophers and philanlhropists.
The same observations will apply tc
lhe contempt with which, in the las
century, it was fashionable 10 speak o
the pilsrimages, the sanctuaries, the
crusades, and the monastic institutions
OF the Middle Ages. In times when m IA
were scarcely ever induced to travel by
liberal curiosity or the pursuit Of gain
it was better that the rule inhabitant O
the North should visit Italy or the Eas,
as pilgrim, than that he should never
see anything but those squald cabins,
and uncleared woods amid which he was
born. In times when life and when fe.
male honor were exposed to daily risk
from tyrants and marauders, it was bet
ter that the precinct of shrine shoul d
be regarded with irrational awe, than
that there should be no refuge inac ce IS.
iblc to cruelty and licentiousness. In
tines when statesmen were incapable OF
forming extensive political combination ms
it was better that Christian nations
should be roused and united for the re-.
covery of the Holy Sepulchre. than that
they should, one by one, be overwhelm.
ed by the Mohammodan power. What.
ever IeproaGh may, at later period,
have been justly thrown on the indo.
lence and luxury of religious orders, it
was surely good that in age Of ignorance
and violence, there SHOULD be quiet lois.
ters and gardens, in which the arts of
peace could be safely cultivated, in
which gentle and contemplative natures
could find al asylum, in which one bro.
thcr could employ himself in transcri.
the Eneid Of Virgil, and another in
mcditating upon the Analytics of Aris.
tolle, in which he who had taste for
art might carve a cruci6x, or illuminate
a marlyrology, in which he who had a
turn for natural philosophy mil ght make
experiments on the properties Of plants
and minerals. Had not such retreats
been scattered here and there among the
huts of miserable peasantry and the
castles Of a lerocious aristocracy, Euro.
pean society would have consisted mere.
Iy Of beasts Of burden and beasts OF
prey. The Church has many times been
compared ly diDines TO that ARK ofichich
ace read IN the Book Of Genesis, but mep
er acaS the resemblance more perfect than
during that EVIL TIME, WHEN SHE ALONE
RODE, AMID DARKNESS AND TEMPEST, ON
THE DELUGE BENEATH which ALL THE
GREAT WORKS OF ANCIENT POWER AND
CIVILIZATION LAY ENToMBED, BEARING
WITHIN HER THAT FEEBLE GERM, FROM
WHICH A SECOND AND MORE GLORIOUS
CIVILIZATION WAS TO SPRING
Even the spiritual ascondency arrogaled
by the Pope was, in the Dark Ages, pro.
ductlve of far more good than evil. Its
effect YVES TO unite the nations Of Em ope
in one great Commonwealth. What the
Olympian chariot course; and the Pylh.
ian oracle were to all the Greek cities
from TrebizonJ to Marselles, Rome and
her bishop were TO all Christians Of the
Latin communion. from Calabria to the
Hebrides. Thus grew up sentiments o
enlarged benevolence. Races separated
from each other by seas and mountains
acknowledged rraternal tie and com
mon code Of public law. Even in wa
the cruelty of the conqueror was no
seldom mitigated by the recollection tha
he and his vanquished enemy were al
members of one great confederation.
|