Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-02-20
From Lis Illustrated.
NE RELIGIOUS sENTIMENT.

However absurd or revolving may Be
the religious rites Of those worshipcrs
whom we term pagans and barbarians--
however dark the supers,itions which
weigh them down in ignorance and de-
graduation, the candid student Of the hu-
man mind discovers in all these rites but
the erroneous and misdirected expression
Of the religious sentiment, which, how.
ever varied in its Development is yet
homogeneous and common TO all climates
and countries.
The narrow bigot, whoviews all things
from single standpoint, win indeed de-
ny that the devotion OF the heathen ha.
an origin common with that Of his own.
While he exalts bis own, whether Justly
or otherwise matters not, as the offspring
Of an enlightened conscience and re-
generated heart, he regards the orison5
Of the benighted as only the manilesta-
tons OF obdurate hearts, blind to the
truth and tenacious of error. In all the
long array oftheir superstitious rites he
discovers only a loathsome mass Of folly,
error, and crime. But if he would be-
rid himself of little Of his own self
righteousness, and his dogged idolatry of
the opinions of his fathers, aud learn to
look upon all the nations Of the earth as
the common children of a common Faith
er, inspired With like feelings and hopes,
he could look with more complaecncy up
on the errors of the superstiiions, and
find in them the evidence of universal
aspiring 10 something high aud infinite.
The Christian religion, in the sim
plicityof its forms, in the enlightenment
of its adherents, and more especially in
the great law Of universal love upon
which it rests, is infinitely superior 10 ali
Others. Yet however deplorable may be
the errors which are 50 thickly inwoven
with all other systems, we are inclined
to believe that the homes, devotion of
every heart, however supcrstitious the
faith TO which il bows, has common
origin, and is everywhere tue inspiration
of the common God. Canthere be de-
voiion more fervent, more earnest, more
unselfsh, or yet more sadly misguided,
than that of the heatnen mother, who
plunges her infant beneath the blue wa
ters Of The Ganges-a sacrifice to her
false god ? How deluded is she by that
false system which she believes divine
. and how earnest and deep that degotion
I, which nerves her arm 10 spnder the ties
of hottest consanguinty and tenderest
love Had She the faintest conception Of
the true God and the true spiritual wor-
ship, her act would be a revolting and
. horrid crime. But with her mind so
completely deluded, is it not an act of
heroic devotion and self-sacrifce Can
we not in charity believe that ii exhibits
e a spirit akin 10 that required ale that
= loyeth father or mother more than me,
is not worthy Of me and he that lovetl
wife or daughter more than me, is not
worthy Of me-" + il not the spirit Of
:, matrydom and unqualified deyotionY
a But" we fancy the reader inquiring,
: "do you believe these horrible things are
. right - No, we answer, most decidedly.
At They are wrong and deplorabe; yet they
n are not committed in the spirit Of wrong
d or Of malice they are, on the contrary,
c, prompted by motives just described. And
a the spirit thus exhibited eTer has been,
:, and ever viii be, the spirit Of true wor-
- ship--the spirit which defes all dangers
as aud shrinks not at any sacrifice in deso-
z, tyotion TO what appears true and divine.
lg Il is the spirit which sustained Luther,
y and all the martyrs Of justice and truth
- in every age Of the world. The fact that
j. in this case, il is ignoran;, misgaided, and
a blind does not alter the divinity Of 4s
o. origin or the beauty Of its real signif-
> canee. The precious ore which lies lid
o. den IN the mountain is no ICES gold than
Of after it IS refined and stamped; and SO
a this sentiments the sentiment Of uniyer-
y sal alteration 10 the Supreme Father,
i though often irregular, absurd, erroneous
w and even frightfni aud mischieyous in its
m manifestations. Ia al Of them We per-
lss eeive the happy evidence Of q universal
- - feeling Of dependence upon higher
4 Power--an acknowledgment Of higher
ye sovereign dian man. In the view Of the
er ease, too, we may learn 70 iook with
Z. z. charity upon The opinions at variance
u y with our own, and lnd tia, no system 81
o. creed is utterly devoid Of good.
" The practical results Of such belief
y would Be most happy. We should learn
- that error Is rather misfortune than a
cb crime--that i should be instructed rather