Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-20
NEW ENGLAND HEATHEN

could not we'll curtal them.
-&
NEW ENGLAND HEATHEN.
In recent number of the vermont Chronicle" we
find the following statement purporting to be from
the report of the Massachusetts General Association
"From reliable statstics 1t appears that In maine
New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts not
more than ons quarter Of the whole population are 10
rhe habit of attending church. There are one million
three hundred thousand people in New England. VINO
far attending church is concerned, are practcay
like the heatben. There are twenty six towns in this
state which have not evangelical preaching"
The Congregational Journal, Concord, New Hamp.
shire, of later date says:
ut has repeatedly been stated in the public prints
upon the authority of investigating committees anO
OF others qualified to judge, that not more than one
third Of the population Of the Northern New England
States including those necessarily detained at home
are a churoh.going people, and that prooaoiy one
half of the population under direct evangelical
religious influence"
Upon the publication Of the fret of the extracts,
the New York Observer of July 9th, said it thought
it to be Incredible yet at the same time presumng
TO be correct drew the inference that there must be
greater destuton in the State of New York. In its
remarks on the second extract as above, which il
publishes on the 10Th nst the New York Observer"
says:
This is the most astounding statement which has
yet been made on this subject. When the "Vermont
Chronicle stated that II was reported OF twenty's1
towns in Massachusetts, that they were destitute Of
evangelical preaching we remarked that II was al
most Incredible. But in the massage above, we are
assured, by those qualified to judge THAI .probshy
one half of Northern New Engsnd are under no -
rect evangelical religious influence"
The New York Observer is good authority to
FL. = oaI,,
ne believe it to be especially careful to admit no.
thing into them, but what i. has good reason to be-
ieve. In its own statements of facts it speaks the
truth always. And with US its opinions have the
greater authority because Of their conservatism and
especially because of their soundness on slavery and
the American Tract Society. 1t goes on 10 say
that "Such state Of things Is areproach to our COM
mon Christianity. tbs ain and shame to our Chris
tan Churches" and exhorts to prompt and united
effort to reach these destitute families with the BIZ
BILE and other good books and induce them, If posi-
BILE, to attend the preaching of the word"
We call the attention of readers to these start.
ling facts about the religious desttution of Masachu.
sets and New England generally; while the State OF
New York is In no better condition. And We Wish
them to not:e especially that these statements are
not made by travelling paragraph makers, or oy
Southern religious seotarists travelling at the North,
falling upon an occasional isolated locality where,
though there may be churches, yet as there may
happen to % none of bis particular sect, be therefore
sets the whole place down as heathen but these are
statements made by their own papers, and endorsed
by the "New York Observer"
One. half of New England and New York "are
under no direct evangelical influence" What room
for and justly might werstort upon them for their
vile sanderings Of Virginia and the South but We
prefer TO ask readers TO pray for these heathen
and to hold themselves in readiness to render any
other assistance, schen called upon.
According to the Census Of 1850 the population o
the State Of the New York and the New England
States amounted to 5825 599; ons.half of this mum
ber, or 29l2 800, are without evangelical religious
instruction. Since 1850 the increase OF population
in these States has been quite one-fftb making ii
seven Millions or three and half millions heather.
In usng the term heather we follow the "New York
Observer"
There are agencies at work, not only to perpetuate
but greatly to Increase the condition Of evangelical
dss,tution, which nothing can couptersot but the
blessing of God upon persistent faithful Christian ef
forts. The people of New England have long been
Boosting Of their superiority over all Others and espe
cisly the South-their Ingenuity, enterprise INTEL
ectua culture, and especially Of their religious su-
periorfy.
II would seem that God has for time abandoned
them to their bosstiDgs, aud, "led captive by the
Devil at his will" they have become willing dlscpes
of every teacher Of infdey from the most inteleotu
ally metaphysical down to the revolving form OF Free
Love associations. Wsrejoce to know, however, that
thsre are still enough righteous men among them
TO aver, the vengeance that fell upon the "Citss Of
the Pains that in answer their prayers the hearts
of thousands have been turned to the Lord and tie
"Great Awakening which commenced in the Fulton
Street Church. in New York, about one yesr ago. 10
still spreading. There yet Is hope.
We would not boast of Virginia, but it 10 due 70
ourselves to ssy that We are Church going religious
people, We do not boast Of superior ssnctty' nor 90
We claim that all our people personally p'ous nor
vet that there are not among msuy who do not 40
knowledge the claims of the religion OF the bioe' ano
that thsre il not dsplorsble amount OF Wiokeohes'
preyalsnt vet we do claim universal ana so'onR
ortbodox religious sentiment, exhibiting 'tseii ID
h.,,sr accommodation in the number OF church build
;r.. than In any of the Northern or Western States
better, perhaps, than iu any other State in The
Unon-and The respect and reverence for al the or
dinances and institutions of religion, and also in the
personal pety Of housands among MS, and seen negs
lively in the absence Of every form of organized
hsterodo1y and in6delity.
Upon reference to the census Of 1850, We End oui
white population Eve years Of age 10 be in rounc
numbers 59,OOO, and our Church sittings to BE-
S56 UOu SO that. if every white man. woman and
child, over FIVE years Of age was seated at the same
hour of the same day, in our Churches, we would
have nearly lU0, 200 vacant sests. But where are
our bscksi There are AZ 900 over Eve years OF age
Of these We can seat, a. above, nearly one4oursh