The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-28

ing RI putlics, but Will strengthen and consoli
cate our influence over the whole Of the Ameri-
can continent.
The Religious RsvivaIs-wh.t IL True
Rsi-Stoag
The character of true religion ia best de-
veloped in Christ's Sermon on the Mount, but
the freaks, vagares, crimes and follies of man
kind, covered with the thin veil of piety, are
only tit subjects for the satirist aud the true re-
former. II is come benefit to society to expose
folly, even though, as il rarely happens, the
parties whose absurd conduct is held up to pub
lie view are themselves insensible to correction
The age we live in may, with some Justice, be
called the mechanical age, for almost everything
which can he effected by the labor of man is
done in our day by the skilful adaptation of
machinery. But a good thing may be carried
too far and this is the case with machinery
whenever it is called into requisition in matters
to which it can have no legitimate application.
We are ready to maintain that if machinery is
GOOD in constructing steam engines, or in spin
ming cotton, in damming rivers and in blasting
rocks, 1t is not equally good nor applicable in
saving souls. Yet it is fact Of which Our good
city Of New York and our great country out
side is at this moment a witness, that large
amount of machinery and OF mechanical power
is being set in motion to make men religious.
This is curious phenOmenon--a singular spec
tscle-whioh, as q phase of human folly and
madness, not new indeed, but very remarkable.
is well deserving the close observation of the
philosopher, the philanthropist and the real
Christian as understood in heaven. 1t is sort
Of neral disease which, having assumed the
shape and extension of an epidemic, requires its
causes, symptoms and effects to be inquired into
and ascertained
The character Of the patients who are affected
by the action of this epidemic, deserves specially
to be noticed. One great aud broad distinction
may be made with respect to these patients.
Generally, then, they do not consist of the poor,
the industrious, the hard working class of the
community, but of the more genteel and idle
classes those who are, or pretend to be, above
tho common working classes. If any curious
observer were to put his head into any one of
the great meetings where men are undergoing
the process ofreligious galvanizatior, and help
due pitch of frenzied feeling which is called
(absurdly enough conversion" and profaneiy
enough, the "outpouring of the spirit" he could
not but be struck with the fact that on all sides
he would see no other form or shape of human
attire except broadcloth and gentility. Hence
it is to be inferred that religion such as is now
in process Of manufacture, is a luxury which.
like canvas back ducks or early shad, only
belongs to special portion Of the human fami-
ly to enjoy. Poor people are required, OF
course, to be virtuous, to be honest, to be good,
upright, and go forth; but to be religious" to
be lone ofus," to be brother or a sister along
with respectable people Of great wealth and
high standing, requires at least some command
of silk and broadcloth some defalcation in q
Wall street bank, or some dividend from faro
bank. Should any one be in doubt upon this
matter, and call upon US for demonstration, we
would invite him to put his head next Sunday
into classic church or any other similar estab
lishment, 10 order to verify the fact that the re-
ligion which is now being manufactured at high
steam pressure in this and other cities il Pc
culiar, gentcel, snowy, dressy, Haunting, fash
ionable thing, wholly confined TO the Every re-
spectacle" portion Of society, who have plum
dered the public treasury and lost the proceeds,
or stolen from rome bank and spent the money,
or robbed the orphan and gambled away the
prize.
The facts il requires certain amount OF
means to become . respected member of the
religious fraternity in these days. II is like ad
- LII 81. II IT,
which no one can become member without
paying his bottle Of champagne or other fees.
II the inquirer should 60 little further in his
researches into the nature Of the religion of the
day he would find that IL differs in nothing from
the Paganism Of the ancicnts, on the contrary
IL il identical In many respects. II Is identical
in this; that IL only requires person diligently
TO attend the temples and the sac riHces, which
If he does, he In told that he will secure himself
place in Elysium. Virtue, truth and good con
duct have nothing to do with this religion; it
consists In fear, terror and sense of guilt; in
attending the temples regularly and being pre-
cent at the sacrifices. II these ob.eryances are
followed, any evil doing is admissible. There
Is aso,her strong resemblance between the two,
in this viz. : that The votsries OF the present
day are rs great worshippers and devotees Of
Venus, Bacchus, and especially OF Plutus, as the
aneients we're. 1t is true they repudiate the
name, but they love the substance, and are sin
cere in their worship. OF the worship OF Plutu.
they make no disguise, but bow down their heads
humb.y in alteration of wealth and money. Of
Bsecbus they pretend to be great enemies, but
arc found oftcntimcs paying their dcvotions to
him in secret. Az to Venus, we hear every now
and then Of the warm devotion and love they
feel for the goddess It would be an insult to
Christianity to call the religion which is now
being manufactured in this city by i,s honored
name. Sheridan has best described its true cha