The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-02-01
THE WAKEM ANITES.

[Prom the N. Y. Mrrorl
These miserable delusionists seem likely
to be held accountable for al the suicides
and murders committed through insanity, at
least in Connecticut, for some time to come.
Their case is also made the occasion for fresh
alusion, by the called-and q
portion of the secular press, to the deplorabe
influence Of n variety Of isms that do moi
happen to be Arminian or Calvanistic. To
our mind, as we have heretofore briefly ex.
pressed, the Wakemanites, in their murder
GUS, fanatical zeal, only initiated the exeesses
Of the more fanatical portions and eras of all
the popular devil-respecting sects--Protes.
tant us well as Catholic. New England, in
early times, and, indeed, all Christendom, has
witnessed the insane and murderous excesses
to which unenlightened religious zeal can lead
mankind.
1t has not been thD.son Compilation of n be.
nign aud loving Gad 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.. Waits, which pic.
lures sin rs the cursed power that in one
honr
"spoiled six days labor Of God"
seO Idnns, 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 MS 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
is-the outspringing evil of our MORTAL
Natures, and all religious fanaticsm, 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 dev-
il is made the corner stone and rallying cry
Of Christerdom and not until he is dethron-
ed by more rational faith, shall we be
rid of his triumphs through terrorized ia.
natics.
1t would be very difficult to find case Of
insanity, or suicide, induced by the love OIL
fear of God. 1t is those who believe mos
devoutly in the devil, a literal birthstone hell
and infant damnation, who are in most DANCE
Of lunacy and suicide. Indeed, absolute be
lief in the gloomy dogmas of John Calvin
with home application of them, is enougl
to drive one to despair. Those dogmas shu
out the love and glory of God as within pal
of blackness, and pitchy smoke and Aame.-
The Annual Reports of our Lunatic Asylums
will show that preponderuuce Of thsv;s
mates were made thus by such religious dog
mas. The Reports of our State Prison.
will also show ninety out Of one hundre
in the devil, hell, &c., as theological.
taught.
Shall this generation become no wise
than the African devOtees of Obi, and tn
eastern worshippers of Fetish! Must W
forever grope in terror, with our faces in tn
dust, to fly the wiles and power of the maste
demon, who, away from human Imagination
and corrupt human nature, has no existence
Must the beautiful heavens shine by day ant
sparkle by night over us, and the earth year,
toward our well-being with boundless bless
ngs, all tokens of the love Of God, and tina
God is supreme in life and deathAmust al
this be in vain! Nay! rather let the fable'
devil perish, though our ages of false faith b.
thereby abjured, and our prejudices,a and sect
and school-propped dogmas cast to the owl
and bats. .