Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-06-06
The Influence of Rellpion.


On the occasion of the LAYING of the cor
Pleasant, the Right Rev Bishop Davis de-
livered an address, which is characterized
by the usual vigor and originality Of that
Divnes writings. From report of the
Bishops remarks, which we find in the
Charleston Meycury, we make the extract
appended below. True, most certainly true
is it that cit is the religion of Jesus Christ
which can alone quench the power of ambi-
lion, check the rage of licentious opinion,
and conduct the genius of activity of this
great people into salutary and conservative
channels"
1t is needless, said he, to prove that our
country is great and peculiar one its
watchword is progress its great idea ma
terial success. Its impetuous spirit has al.
ready left the Atlantic, crossed the continent,
and possessed itself of the borders of The
Pacific. 1t has re acted and will sweep
back to meet with the old civilization, to
mingle with it the daring, the strength, the
Righteousness of great but young people.
The work of this people is an immense one,
commensurate with their genius. The prob
lens they will solve are as profound as the
interests Of humanity. The patriot. watch.
ing the unprecedented advance of this coun-
try, feels thrill of pride when he sees tho
results of Saxon energy and intellect. But
he pauses when he thinks of the end of the
rush, this ambition, this terrible energy. -
When and how shall these proud waves be
stayed? What assurance have we that
this country shall not meet the fate Of an
cient States?
n inf q Inlit g l.
not in the least significant Of their moral
power. Their material prosperity is at the
farhest remove from their true happiness.
What power is there which can preserve
this great people in the completeness of a
tue humanity, pure in morals, as we'll as
triumphant in the fields of mental and phys
ical enterprise? The true lover of his
country ponders this problem, and anxious
ly seeks its solution, as that truth upon
which the glory, the happiness, the very
existence of our people depends.
It is the religion Of Jesus Christ, said The
Bishop, which can alone quencb the power
of ambition, check the rage of licentious
opinion. and conduct the genius and activity
of this great people into salutary and. con-
servalive channels. The people must have
arcligion. This want the elder Napoleon
saw, and used as lever to steady the mass
es and to elevate himself into power
Without the moorngs of religion, the
people, however gifted and strong, will float
Mt random over the seas of huctuating opin.
ions, the prey of demagogues and the work
ers out of their own destruction. The want
Of the people is some great catholic, inform
ing principle, parallel With the moral in
slincts Of humanity, ennobling in its social
and spiritual tendencies. and vitalizing in
the power Of pure and brotherly energy.
What is this principle? Look around upon
Nature What subtle power is it that
clothes the earth with this new verdure :?
What mysterious principles is it that sends
the throb of spring through all the veins Of
regenerated nature? 1t is life. 1t is Ms
secret power which, changing the stcrili,y
of winter into the richness of spring. makes
up the totally Of being makes the world
conlinuum. and existence integral. So
with man. Of himself, he dries up and dies
dies from the fever of his mad licenlious-
ness. The new principle Of life from above,
speaking through the universal conscience,
terminating into oneness the disjointed ele-
ments of his nature, and conducting, by its
regenerating power the great circle of hui
manity---a circle of moral, mental and phys
ical elements "all compact"
To-day, in laying the cornerstone of this
ediGce, we are Going great work. We
are lending our MD to the upbuilding OF an
institution alone efficacious in withstanding
the aggressions of pnr,y spirit. radcalism
and inhumnnity. The patriot should rejoice
In such work. The philanthropist should
breathe a God speed TO so sacred an under
taking. The statesman should hold up the
hands which plant Churches and Chapels
throughout the hod Every steeple point.
ing TO Heaven is symbolic of prayer, of
par;ty, Of truth The erection Of every
Christian Church tends to make God fear
ing, stable and happy people. When we
reflect upon the work and genius of the
Anglo-Saxon race, the Importance of reli.
gious influence upon such spirits and
sbapers of the worlds destiny, cannot be
over estimated.
All good citizens, much more all Chris
tans. should cordially cooperate in the
work OF impartiog moral life and health To
the people at large. The distinctive means
of such great and holy end is 10 be found
ia the spirit which, to day lays this corner
stone in the name of the Father, the Son.
and the HOLY Ghost--shadowin forth the
Office of The Evangelical pulpit, Of the mis-.
sionary, and Of every Christian in the cath.
olic communion.
NATURE designed the heart to be always