Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1856-02-01

for their GLORIOUS principles and civil and
religious liberty" God save the country
from the rule Of the Romanists and their
allies.
A. Another source Of danger to the civil
and religious liberties Of the cou ntry is in
fidelity.
We may learn what would be our condi-
tion, from the condition of that country
where in6dels and atheists did possess the
supreme power and government, and at
temples As1 disposs pfahuman happiness no
cording to theis own doctrines and wishes.
''The name and profession Of Christianity
was renowned by the legislature. Death
was declared to be an eternal sleep. The
existence Of the Diety and the immortality
of the soul were formerly disayoved by the
national convention, and the doctrine Of
the resurrection from the dead was declared
to have been only preached by superstition
for the torment of the living. Correspon-
dent with these professions were the effects
actually produced. Public worship was
utterly abolished. The churches in France
were converted into temples Of reason,
in which atheistieal and licentious
hoinilies were delivered; and an absurd and
ludicrous imitation Of the pagan mythology
was exhibited under the title Of the religion
of reason. In the principal church of
every town tutelary goddess was installed
aud the females selected to personify this
new divinity were mostly prostitutes who
received the ad orations of the municipal
officers and multitudes OF people, constrain-
ed by fear, favor Or the motive of gaiu.--
All distinctions Of right and wrong were
confoundad; tragedy followed tragedy in
almost brethless succession on the theater
OF France; the waters IF the river we're
impede cd in their progress by the drowned
bodies of the ministers of religion; children
we're put to death as they clung about the
knees of their destroyers; the moral aud
social ties were all broken: women denoun-
ced their husbands, brothers, and fathers,
and sons as bad citizens and traitors -.
Three million Of human beings are sup
posed TO have perished in France through
the influence of in6delity. U, unhappy
France. Never. perhaps, will she altogether
recover from these dire effects. Should we.
as nation adopt such sentiments, wha,
crimes would we moi prepctrate, what agonies
would We not suffer! What mean
those gatherings in many parts of our
country for mirth and pleasure on the holy
Christian Sabbath, trampling it with con-
tempt in the dust! What mean those eff
forts put forth to have the Lords day abol-
isbed, as it was in France1 What mean
all the numberless and nameless in6dei as
sociations in the country, from .hormonisa
down through Spirituaiism to Free lore
societiest What mean those efforts oc-
casionally put forth by our rulers to have
the Bible. all ministers of the gospel, and
their services excluded from the Senate
chambers and congress balls of the Senate
chambers and congress halls OF the nation,
What means that great opposition to the
Bible, on which our civil and religious in-
institutions are mainly builtl o say not
there Is no danger when there are thousands
upon thousands, both native born and
foreign, as rank infidels in this country Us
there ever were in France; aud when thou
sands more of the same sort are landing on
our shores annually. And if We would
never have reason substituted for the Bible;
If we would have no foreign Potentate build
upon our ruins; il we would not see our
government sapped to its foundation, our
constitution trampled in the dust, our glori-
o1s union divided, and our beloved country
bleeding at every pore; if we would never
stooP to the dogmas of tho mystic Baby
Ion, nor bow the knee in yassalage to Ler
sainted bishop, we must faithfully obey the
injuctions of the text
May our grateful thanks go up to the
God of heaven this day for tue preparation
of oar civil and religious liberties; for the
peace and plenty we have enjoyed; for the
success which has attained the labors of all
classes OF our honest, industrious citizens,
and for all past favors and present bles-
sings. -.
May We continue to guard our liberties in
the fear Of God, feeling the power and life
OF religion in our souls, and reducing it,
divine precepts to practice in our daily in
tereourse with the world, May We ever keep
in mind that it is righteousness which ex-
aiseth q nation while sin is reproach to
any people, and will ultimately be the
ruin of any form of government
May We continue to offer Sssupplications
prayers, &C."
Then may We expect to sslead quiet and
peaceable life and Se. Then msv we con