The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-05-21
THE RELIGIOUS ANNIVERSARIES.

In The early ages of the Romish church we
read of convocatiohs and councils of the
| fathers for the discussion of eontroverted
points of faith and discipline. Through the
streets OF Trent ard Nice aowed gorgeous
professions OF cardinals, bishops, priests and
prebendaries, glittering in golden sheen,
blushing with royal purple. Knights and la
dies fair knelt for the blessings Of the church,
and gladly contributed to IFS Golfers, in the
hopes of indulgence for their little peccadil.
loes The carefully kept records Of these
conyocatiOns are now of no value, except to
the eve of the book worm or the specuations
of the bibiopole. At a later period we find
the disciples Of Luther and Calvin holding
their grand conventions in the German cities,
sending forth denunciations against the pope,
the nti-Christ, the Scarlet Woman of Baby.
Ion. Stern puritan simplicity, and, we be-
lieve, entire sincerity, marked the proceedings
of these enthusiasts, whose mark upon their
age was of the deepest ard most enduring
character.
The religious anniversaries which have
been held during this week in this ungody
city partake in some degree of the character
istics of the old Romish councils and the
German convocations. True, the Roman
Catholics do not join in the anniversary
movement. 1t is confined to the Protestant
secls, and chiefly to those in the Northern
and Western States. Their square cut puri-
tanical attire, well scrnped faces, lank coun-
tenances, stiff white cravats and general "get
thee behind me, for am holier than thou"
appearance, adds new feature to the ever
changing panorama of our streets, and gives
a picturesque appearance to our own princi-
pal thoroughfares, where is represented al
most every nation and phase of character on
the face of the earth. Our ultra pious visi-
tors attract, of course, universal attention, and
provoke much speculation. They likewise
are not a little shocked by what they see, and
the freedom Of metropolitan manners quite
satisfies them that we are all on the broad
road which leads downward to the gates of
hell; while they only walk in the strait and
narrow path which leads to eternal life; n
most cheering and comforting conclusion
They have all the cupidity of the old Romish
priests, with all the fanaticsm of the German
reformers.
Under all these circumstances il is natural
that people should inquire why do these
spring lambs trust their tender carcases within
the den of the wolves! Why do the doves
approach the nests of the serpents? 1t is
chiefly to obtain supplies with which TO carry
on the Lords work. The Lords treasury is
always empty. His amoners are ever at work,
and it costs money to send his word into all
the lands of the earth. In the old times the
fathers met to discuss matters of belief; now
they come together TO talk about money
That is the principal thing. They come to
us who live in the depths of sin and wicked
ness-us, who are sunk lower in iniquity, sin,
degradation, corruption, and all manner of
unrighteousness, than were the men and wo-
men of Sodom and Gomorrah, and ask us for
the money wherewith TO convert the poor
heather beyond the seas. Here we have
Wall street, with all its sharpcrs and cheats,
given up to the worship of Mammon, grind
ing the poor, robbing the widow and the or.
phan, hopeIessy damned to all eternity; here
we have dozen theatres, running the souls Of
the young, poisoning the morals of the COM
munity, doing the work of Satan-who never
rests-whiie the preachers in our three hun
dred churches o ften slumber at their posts;
yet to this scene of wickedness COME up the
almoners of the Lord for the funds where.
with to carry on his work. They cannot get
the money anywhere else, and must raise
their cool half million or so from Wall street,
or go without it. They take Satan's money,
wherewith to replenish the Lcrd's treasury.
Very likely the original proprietor gets some
of it back, with interest added.
But the anniversaries, like the politicians,
have their little troubles. Lately they have
been seriously exercised on the slavery ques-
ton. The Tract Society-a very respectable
body, which has been going on in n very re-
spectacle way for thirty years or more-s
suddenly disturbed by some scurvy fellows
with little niggors under their arms. These
indictments insist that the Southern brethren
shall have some good sound abolition doc
trine in the tracts; and grand row is the
consequence. The negro party is beaten for
this year; but they will be more rampant at
the next anniversary, and in the end all the
societies and churches will be divided on the
slavery question. But we need not be afraid
AS long as New York is rich, so long we
shall have the anniversaries with us. The
great revusion of last year may diminish
their receipts at present, but they will only
redouble their exertions for grand levy dur.
ing the next expansion. Let Wall street be
prepared fo: the worst.
DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION IN SPAIN.-Ac-
cording to a Madrid correspondent of the
New York Tribune, Democratic revolution
is at hand in Spain, the success Of which is
to establish republican government.
RIcH.-The London Times says of the
n