Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-31

we have an abiding confidence in the capacity
of the people for self-government; and are salts
fed that mistakes and errors committed in
popular elections, where not caused by fraud,
result either from the want Of
that proper knowledge of public affairs, which
it is the study every voter to obtain, or the
careless, indifference with which many other.
wise good citizens, treat all matters relating to
the administration of the government under
which they live. This subject of the county
debt must however arouse them; it may serious
ly affect their pockets, end we know that moth
ing so surely excites the interest and attention
of the most lukewarm and Indifferent, MS the
levy Of a heavy tax. 1t has not only chang.
ed administrations, but reyolutionized govern.
ments.
TIE further DIR. Holmes progresses in his
professor at the Breakfast Table," the more he
displays his unconquerable penchant for Theol.
ogy. If we were to write criticism on this
last series of the Doctor we would say, that its
principal fault as mere literary performance
is-itis too full of theology But we have to
look at itin different light, and condemn not
only the superabundance of theological element,
but the theology ITSELF
The religious world has hardly yet recovered
from their astonshment at hearing, that new
church was to be established here in America,
upon the ruins of all existing churches The
Catholic Church, as well as the various demon.
nations ofthe Protestant Church, have perform
ed their missions; their work is done, and there
is no longer any need for them This new
church, withD Bellows and his compeers at
ITS head, is to come in and take their places and
it is to be the true church. It's to contain none
ofthe ancient dogmas and antiquated notions to
which our orthodox churches adhere, but it is to
be established upon principles suited to this
advanced age and to the spirit of the times
Such is the plan, and its originators are even
now, vigorously at work, pushing it forward.
We need not stop, in the pursuit of our main
subject, to discuss the merits of this new church
organization. Founding its basis alone upon the
wild notions of fanatical "retormers,' - it lacks
the true spirit Of Bible Christianity to support
it, and hence like all else that's false is destined
to perish. 1t is the peculiar notions of this
church which, it seems to US, Doctor Holmes
has, by the insidious means of the pert and wit
ty sayings of the Professor set himself to the
promotion of Much has been said recently
about his strange leanings toward the new fang
led religious errors that SO much prevail about
Boston, and we are only moro convinced of this
the more We read of him. 1t displays itself
clearly now, and his leaning toward the preten.
tious vagaries Of DIR. Bellows is too visible not
to be perceived Not only is the church ITSELF
but the religion of the present day is all wrong,
and upon the erroneous principle that religion
should be SO framed as to adapt itself to our
notions, and not we adapt ourselves to religion)
must be modernized to suit u.s. The time is at
hand, says the theologic NJ. D., when religion
must be "AMENoAN1zED!" ''Our religion he
says, "has been Judaized, it has been Roman
lied, has been Anglicizcd, and the time is at
hand when it must be Americanized!" Can we
then mistake his position upon the Now Church
question:
The Doctor has absurd faith enough to believe
in the eventual triumph of this tancirul nro;ect
for Aanericanising religion. Likening the prin.
ciples of his new church to an Ark that was
built two thousand years ago. and which has
ever since been sticking in the ''dock mud, % in.
capable of being launched, he promises us that
nos0 is the happy time when it is to be set afIoot
on tie broad ocean-the worlds hope and sal.
walton. At all events if now is not the time
when the launch of this great ark is to be fully
accomplished, they (for he puts the word in the
pluraD intend to keep working away at the grand
undertaking, and. he (the individual now speaks
for hinselD Gloves to hear the workmen knock.
ing at the old blocks of tradition and making the
way smooth with the oil of the Good Samari.
TAM" Yet his faith RECEIVERS again, and he verify.
thinks the mighty vessel already begins to stir.
Yes, 81 do believe she slides"-he rapturously
excIaims. So then, here We have the Doctors
undertaking new " american church. Here.
also, we have the assurance of his faith in his
success, and also his determination to labor on
and to the end in the undertaking.
Whether his faith is sincere, we are unable TO
say. We may justly dOubtit. But as to his
determination to perseyerc in his work lbe it
with sincerity or withifanatical selfishness) no
one can doubtthat He has approved himself.
to be jealous in the cause Protesting to write
a series of table conversations "a class of the
lightest kind ofliterature) for the mere amnse-
ment of tlle readers of ,ae,,oots H. tNT