New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-05

- are Informed that Msthers Essays, IN which alu-
~. 10 Slavery were omitted, was published from an
rsgl,sb edition not containing said illusions The
shsr.fion in Quincy wcs made a. the suggestion OF
80 committee, with the consent OF the author The
Sr,oir of Mary Lundie Duncan was intrusted TO the
%m;ttee by the author to be abridged at their dis
sfeticn.
We have sbstained from interrupting our ac-
,ou.t Of these two apologies by comments, wishing
the reader 10 understand fully and fairly the ground
a. which the Society rests its defense. 1t is now
time to examine both the logic and the truthful
urss of the defense.
The Society was formed, as intimated by its Con-
ssitution for the purpose Of promoting Christian
filth and Christian practice, BY the publication OF
religious tracts. But all Christians are no. Of the
ssme faith hence their division into distinct de-
popninations, defining in creeds and standards the
doctrines they severaly hold. On comparing these
creeds. certain important doctrines found to be
eon,aired IN many of them These doctrines thus
held in common by many Protestant denominations
are called evangelical, and those holding them are
designated as Evangelical Christians" The So
Getty was formed By persons claiming this sppella-
don. and il was sgreed that the doctrines TO be in
escated should be those only held in common by
tie denominations to which they severally belonged.
To secure fidelity to this agreement, each member
q the Publishing Committee wss given veto on
esery tract and no two members could belong to
the same denomination. The tracts we're to be
calculated to receive the appreciation of all evan
gelica Christians, that is, Of all who held the evan
selical doctrines. TIE denominations represented
u the Committee are understood to be the Presby-
terian, Episcopslisn. Baptist, Methodist, Dutch
Reformed, and Calvsnistic Congregational. o
course no tract can constitutionally conflict with
anything contained in the standards Of these sects
md this Is ell that can be nationally understood as
required by the provision respecting the approba-
Ton Of al evangelical Christians. Questions of
doctrine are settled by reference to creeds and
standards, but not questions Of morals. On such
questions there is no necessary agreement or oppo-
sitiOn between any two denominations rep
resented in the Society, and hence there is
20 possibility of ascertaining the assent Of all the
members of the six denominations q point Of
psactice-dancipg, for instance-as there is, on
point of doctrine Yet on one question Of morals,
and one only, it has been found convenient to put
o construction on what lie called "the fundamental
principle" which was never contem plated, which
10 both aJssrd and impraeicable, and which the
Publishing Committee has, from the organization
of the Society to the present day, in practice ut
terly repu6is,ed. The construction il, that tracts
intoxicating "sound morality" and Of course
rebuking antagonistic vices, must, like dOctrinal
trscts, be calculated 10 receive the appreciation
'of al evangelical Christians" In other words,
the Society may not condemn as immoral any
habit or practice in which one or more Methodists,
Baptists, Presbyterans and others, may indulge,
spd which they may Contend 10 good and lawful.
OF course the Society must cOnfne is rebukes to
ouch vices only as are peculiar to "outsde bar
bsrishs and sound morality" ia TO be urged on
Papists, Quakers and Unitarians, but not on
evsngelcals All erring Presbyterians, EpiscO-
palisns nod others are constItu'onaily shielded
from the Christian sdmonitions Of the Society.
The Circular intimates that only such tracts are
issued Oh articulsrinmOralities as are adapted
ste be approved by all evangelical Christians,
End Messrs. Hallock and Knox expressly avow
their ignorance Of any tract on temperance or
Other evils which many evangelical Christians dis
approve. 1t is surely extraordinary that these
gentlemen are unconscious that the opinions inoul-
dancing, works of fiction, &c, have been contro-
verted by vast mutitudes Of evangelical Christians,
including not few Of their clergy. Let us exam
inc some OF the tracts against particular immor-
alities" and judge for ourselves whether it is in
human nature that the thousands and tens of
thousands thus censured should approve of the
In each of the six denominations there
are very many who not only dance themselves,
but send their children to dancing school They
are thus addressed:
"Oh Christian parent pause and pray long and
earnestly, aud you Will never consent that child of
dance characteristic, not of Christian families but
of thoee asking What l. the Am Shty that should
serve bimr Brethren ore grieyed when you teach
your children that which grieyes them when done by
yourself-dancipg as q social Amusement"
We have tract against the "Thester, the Cir
Gus and the Horse Race, just as il Done but here
tics attended such places, another against Fash
.. ionable Amusements, not calcalated to receive
The APPRECIATION Of all evangelical young ladies aud
gentlemen. We have most pungent addresses to
a;stillers. vet we can scarcely believe the commit
Tee never beard of the famous evangelical distier
D.aoen Giles. nor IL bis exceeding wrath against
= reverend reprover of his business. The frater-
rtv If evangelical dstilers aud retailers is by no
means small and yet the Society has again and
amin severely scourged these men, without even
FIGURING whether they oil a2prors Of the casti-
cation.
Probably not one in FIVE MethOdists. Presbytsr-