The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-07-06
Communication.
Written for the JOURNAL.
THEOLOGY OF THE PRO-
FESSOR THE BREAK
FAST TABLE,.
Mr.. EDIToR:-
Dear Sir | am aware


Dear Sir | am awar
that it is n presumptive and sometimes ra
ther hazardous experiment, for person
to offer to confront an editor in his owl
paper, but as you seem to act upon the be
lief that every one should, rs far rs prac
ticable, have the opportunity to examine
oil sides of every important question, ant
also, having the impression that you be-
long to that good natured, Independent
class, who stand upon their own dignity
and can endure little scoIding, pleasant.
| ly, | have thought that I also Uould giye
mine opinion. | have generally been
pleased with tho tone of your paper, and
have thought that it would exert good
| influence wherever it circulates, and hayc
hailed it as useful agency in forming
the character of the North West. | did
take exceptions to some Of tho "Hodge
Podge Papers," and laid one of them
aside, thinking itpossible that might re-
view it at some future time. Not the one
however to which your Ohio correspon-
dent alludes. | have no distinct recollec-
ton respecting that, perhaps did not read
it-perhaps did not receive the paper
With regard to the ''social labors of chris
tian women" it is supposed, Of course,
that certain class of writers and speak
ers, with not n particle of refinement, and
not overcharged with good sense, will rid
icule every thing that acomen do, or say,
or wear; and if these writers are as desti-
tutc OF religion as they are of refinement
and common sense, they will attempt to
be pcculiarly witty over Sewing Societies,
Dorcas Societies, and the like, when per-
haps their OWN minister and his family,
possibly their own fathers family, is in
,lebted to some of these societies for cloth
lug to shield them from the inclcmency
Of the weather. Isupposed that this mat
ter was understood, so that no one was
any more burdened by this senseless ridi
Guile, than was the OK by the fly sitting on
his horn.
But there arc several sentiments nd
yancel in your paper of May 4th which l
would be glad to criticise, and especially
your endorsement of the sayings of tho
professor at tho Breakfast Table" in the
May No. Of the atlantic Monthiy. l had
read that article somewhat attentiyely and
had expressed my views somewhat freely
respecting it, and was surprised, and |
will say sad also, when saw your rec
commentator OF it. One word respect
ing the intellectual character of the Pro
fessor's contributions. From all that
had heard of the Professor, | had suppos-
ed that he was both qcitty and qUise, and
| have plodded through six numbers OF
his contributions to the aforesaid Period
ical, hoping that his aDit or qcisdom or
both would be apparent, but / have failed
to discover either, or to see any object,
end or aim that he can Lave in view ex-
cept to ridicule pious people, to shower
contempt upon goodness, and to subvert
christianity. If the poor relation and the
theological student could be permitted to
speak for themselves, instead Of his put
ting words into thoir mouths, perhaps
they would appear to better advantage.
], of course, cannot expect room in a
newspaper to review all of his assertions
and reasolings, and in my effort to con-
dense shall probably express myself blind
ly and perhaps, in some cases, convey a
false impression. | have already given
my views respecting the general tendency
of the Professors writings and the article
in question is the most Objectionable of
all, and the paragraphs that you have lo-
printed are the most Objectionable in the
article. As editors are supposed to know
everything and to be able to twist them
selves out of any dilemma, | should be
glad to see you reconcile your recommen-
dation of the Professor, with your asser-
ton III the sams paper, that You "bolieve
Christianity to be of Divine origin
What is the meaning Of the following
''The heart makes the theologian. Every
race, every civilization, either has new
revelation of its own or new interpreta-
ton of an Old one. The Bible was a
divining book to our ancestors and is SO
still in tho hands of some of the vulgar.
The Puritans went to the Old Testament
for their laws; t Q Mormons go it for their
patriarchal institution. Every generation
dissolves something new and precipitates
something once held in solution from that
great storo-house Of temporary and per-
mauent truths" In common language,
which we have all heard many times
s'T!le Bible is of no authority whatever
Every man shapes his belief according te
J bis own heart, desires or inclinations. Al