The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-12-23

and Mrs. Ia. MARIA CDiluS whose letter StyiIng
Brown eshero" was published SO much ''to the
point" by the Abolition organ, short time
agol We commend il TO the perusal Of our
readers.
From the Presbyterian.
Christianity LibeIled.
As religious journalists, We are constrained
10 protest against the miserable inlatuation
which seems to have taken possession OF a GER
tain class OF people 10 references to the late eX
ecution Of John Brown. The true conservative
sPiril ofthe North, as we have ntimated else
where, is not in harmony with those who could
canonlz- a murderer, or convert a Justly con-
demed ielon into martyr bu. there is what
may BE- called a religious aspect TO the Ques-
tlon, whlchls worthy of consideration. In the
various assemblages which have been gathered
TO express sympathy for John Brown, many
things have occurred OF truly painful charac-
ter. The principal leaders have been Untari-
IN and Uniyersalist ministers, nfdelS, and
| ianatlCal ag!latorS. and the burden Of the adj
dresses have been iulsome euogy OF a remaTka-
bic sinner, the burden OF pretended prayers,
remuneration OF the living, and the whole spirit
anything else than the meekness of jesus
John Brown has been held Up as a SAINT, a hero,
and martyr; the galiows has been presented as
more noble than the cross; and The act OF Pom
thus Plate IN ccEdemmIug our Lord as less
wicl.ed than The acl OF adudging Brown 70 death.
/ Those OF The speakers who might be presumed
TO believe there was heaven, have confident
/ iy expressed their convictIon that The soul OF
/ Brown was here crowned with gIory.-Such
/ hoe k.,, - al a.. -
ology utterly revolving. To guard the unsus-
Plcious against sympathy with it IS our object,
and 10 do this We would direct attention TO the
antrcedents Of Brown.
In Kansas, according to the sworn Aida
wits OF befeaved wives and children, this man.
in cold blood and in the silence OF midnight.
seized upou husbands and sons while unsusDi-
cious Of danger in the midst OF their families,
and brutaiiy murdeged and mulalpd them for
no other cause than that they disagreed with
him in oPialoa. This he did rot deny, bot
/ justified. To create insurrection among the
slaves nf the South was his deliberate pulpos4
/ Tor many years. For this he provided deadly
weapons which were placed in the hands Of the
slaves, 10 murder their masters with their fam
lies. In bis interview with Mr.. lowry he
declared that in A0oitioni5ls lie had 10 conf
dence, for they spent their time in talking, when
the object they had in view could only BE- ac-
comEiisEed by the sword His purpose was cold
blooled and murderous. IN his iHcursioa up-
Oh HarpeT's Ferry several innocent men were
murdered, and had his course not been speedily
arrested, many more would have suffered the
same fate. He manifested his utter disregard
loT the Sabbath, and in his diving hours be man
Isested no SigDs of repentance. j Il religious
services az that solemn moment he abjurad, and
one OF his last acts was 10 revils fellow priso-
aer, who was under sentence of death through
his straiagems. He had nerve, It's true: il
was manifested in his hearlless demeanar in the
last interview with his wife, and IN his appa-
rent unConcern on the very verge OF eternity.
Such hefoIsm as this has been displayed thu
sand times by pirates and murderers under the
ga'Iows.
7 This, then, is the man who IS held up before
the public as 4 pattern Christian, i3r whose en-
trance the gates Of heaven stood open. This is
the man who could glibIy quote Scripture, but
denied that it bad any promises for those who
were not of his way OF thinking. With a
mind foil Of dark and bloody tragedies: ac,nated
by hatred tow ards large portion of bis fellow
men; without one genial Christian feeling. self
wiiIed and obdurale even 10 The last, be went
through lie and death, and yet IS lauded as a
hero, as an example 10 Others, ana as pattern
oflr0e Christianity. What 4 libel on lhe reli-
gioH Of the meek and lowly Jesus, who blessed
them that cursed him, and who never inculca-
ted upon MS disciples the accomplishment Of e.
ven the most legitimate work By sword and
blood! The wickedness Of those who almost de-
tity John Brown should excite the disgust and
loathing Of ali good men.