Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-12
MIR. WINTHROP IN VIRGINIA.

We are told that Mr.. Winthrop recently ad-
dressed the Young Mems Christian Associa-
citation in the African Church at Richmond,
Virginia The Boston Courier regards it i'll
the light of particular merit that he spoke in
the African Church. There is church in
this city called the Old South; but if VIM. c.
Riyes were to preach in it, we doubt II the
Richmond Enquirer would attempt to find
satisfaction in the name. Names have no
fixed meaning. The best of them are often
stolen as decoy ducks for the unwary and
the worst of them are sometime made respect
able by proper associations. We do not ap-
preciate the subtle inference which the Courier
draws from that word-African. 1t either
means that the slaves have the most commo
dious and fashionable place of worship in
the elegant city of Richmond" or 1t
means nothing. 1t is sufficient for common
sense to know that our accomplished recluse
addressed an audience Of white men on sub
jects which pertained to the dangers and du-
ties of white citizens
1t was announced as his purpose to speak
upon the usefulness of Christian Associations
as a corrective of the perils and temptations OF
city life Fortunate in the choice of his
theme with excellent morality and unim-
peachable rhetoric, he could not fail to win the
applause of the young men whom he was call
ed to instruct There is not city in the land
where the institutions of virtue and religion do
not stand in need of perpetual encouragement.
II ia IN fha ahod
of which the fallen, the degraded, and even
the criminal could sometimes find shelter
and rest. But Mr.. Winthrop was not con-
tented with performing the obvious duty for
which he was called. Far from home and I'M
der benignant skies, smiled upon with that
grace which Northern man with Southern
principles is sure to meet he could not resist
the temptation to express his disapprobation OF
pulpit politics. which, with plainness and
candor that does him great credit, he defined
as introducing the slavery question into the
contemplation of Christians. Mr.. Choate had
suggested the same thing in Boston, in his
apotheosis of Dr. Adams. Why should not
Mr. Winthrop call it by name in Richmond,
and have the glory of it
1t is undoubtedly pleasant thing for gentle
men of conservative endencies-conservativ
both of good and evil-to be relieved of the
expressions of care and the suggestions of con-
science on account of anything wrong there is
in the world The false prophets, who have
from time to time anticipated and defined the
heavens to which they expected to go, have
given them the least possible relation to the
''world they had left" In the multitude OF en-
joyments which the mind is capable of attain
ing, there is vast temptation to appropriate
the most available, and conceal them so close
that not a glimmer of their light may fall
upon the great waste Of humanity which
lies undeyeloped and unimproved. This
delightful abnegation, not from ones sell
alone, but from the needs and the wants o.
of them are safe foundations for very enduring
hopes. The distinguished laymen who have
lately assumed super-clerical office for the
sake of reyiving kind of attractive and plaus-
IDLE heathenism, will find that the world is too
far advanced to go with them.