The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-01
THE WAKEMANITES.
TFrom the N. Y. Mirror.l

These miserable delusionists seem likel,
to be held accountable for all the suicide:
and murders committed through insanity, al
least in Connecticut, for some time to come
Their case is also made the occasion for fresh
alusion, by the eligious-so-caled-a O
portion of the secular press, to the deplorable
influence of variety Of isms that do not
happen to be Arminian or Calvanstic. To
our mind, as we have heretofore briefly ex.
pressed, the Wakemanites, in their murder
Gus, fanatical zeal, only initiated the exGesses
of the more fanatical portions and eras Of all
the popular devl-respecting sects-Protes.
tant as well as Catholic. New England, in
early times, and, indeed, all Christendom, has
witnessed the insane and murderous excesses
to which unenlightened relig gious zeal can lead
mankind.
1t has not been the contemplation Of be-
nign and loving God, that has brought these
stains upon the name of humanity and COM
mon sense, but paramount devil fear, and
devil worship. In the spirit of that bias
phemous hymn of Dr. Watts, which pic
lures sin as the cursed power that in one
hour
"spoiled six days labor of God,"
sectarians, of the Calvanistic school, have
foisted the devil above the Supreme Being,
boldly asserting that his chances are fair to
get nine tenths of all human souls. Hence,
the fear of the devil has been used by the
clergy as whip and spur, and it has been
sought to drive souls thereby into the king
dom of God.
Give to God the sovereignty which the
Universe, and the universal nature of things
assert for Him, and reduce the devil to what
he is-the outspringing evil of our MORTAL
natures, and all religious fanatcsm, insanity,
persecution, and murder will cease. These
manifestations are the legitimate fruit of false
ideas of the nature of the Supreme Being,
and of our relations towards Him. The dew
i is made the corner stone and rallying cry
of ChrsteEdom and not until he is dethron-
ed by more rational faith, shall we be
rid of his trumphs through terrorized IA
natics.
1t would be very difficult to find case of
insanity, or suicide, induced by the love or
fear of God. 1t is those who believe most
devoutly in the devil, a literal birthstone hell,
and infant damnation, who are in most danger
of lunacy and suicide. Indeed, absolute be-
lief in the gloomy dogmas of John Calvin,
with home application Of them, is enough
to drive one to despair. Those dogmas shut
out the love and glory fsG0a aa a,i&S i&Sithi JEall
9f 5blaekRess. aqab 81 our Lunatic Asylums,
will show that a preponderaEce Of the in
mates were made thus by such religious dog
mas. The Reports of our State Prisons,
will also show ninety out Of one hundred
per cent. of the convicts, to be believers
in the devil, hell, &C., as thoological!y
taught.
Shall this generation become no wiser
tnan tHe African ueNobceS VI Ou', anu VIC
eastern worshippers of Fetish! Must we
forever grope in terror, with our faces in the
dust, to fly the wiIes and power Of the master
demon, who, away from human imagination,
and corrupt human nature, has no existence?
Must the beautiful heavens shine by day and
sparkle by night over us, and the earth yearn
toward our wel-being with boundless bless
ings, all tokens of the love of God, and that
God is supreme in life and death-must all
this be in vain! Nay! rather let the fabed
devil perish, though our ages of false faith be
thereby abjured, and our prejudices,and sects
and school-propped dogmas cast to the owls
and bats.