Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-08-13
From the olive Branch.
SHALL WE TOLERATE IDOL WORKSHOPS

The Golden Era of San Francisco in an article
called "A Cheering Prospect for vishnu," is ANA
zed and shocked a, a recent decision Of one of the
Superior Magistrates of that city by which he de-
clares that idol worship constitutes no offence
against the laws of the Republic" The Era
thinks this is carrying liberty a little too far, and
pushing it into the very boundaries of licen,ious-
ness. He cannot understand by what right an Idol
worshipper can claim the protection Of the State, or
why his religion is 10 be tolerated at all in a land
Of protesting Christians. And although under
our constitution ali men are permitted the free ex-
ercise OF their religious opinions pr, vi1ed it does
not involve the commission of a public offence"
there is no religion according to the Era, in idol
worship" and he holds that the Setting Up of
images, and the insignia of paganism whose rites
deprave the minds and corrupt the hearts of its
fanatic s%otaries," is a public offence, and comes
under the ban of the law. He would put down
Idol worship therefore,, along with other nuisan-
ces, such as the "Passional Attraction Of sthe
Free Lovers. Mormonism, Spiritualism. and what.
soever other ism there may be in tie category
which does not accord with his notions of religious
truth. "fi TO- 800
Our contempory does not see. however. to what
q fatal despo:ism his theory of legal interference
in these matters, you'd logically conduct US. For
t you once admit the right Of the law to interfere
in the concerns of conscience, there is an end of
all liberty, and We must either fall back upon the
Pope Of Rome or establish o new spiritual auto
ctat and accept our religious belief at his hands.
The right of Interference, implies inGnRibiliy
somewhere, and despotism everywhere. And sup
pose the "infallib.e" authority took it into It's head
that not idol worship alone. but the whole Prot
estant development of Christianity was O public
ofence-and so command the same to vanish from
} this planet at its earliest convenience-would that
De very agreeable to Protestant Christianity =? We
venture to think it would not. And yet this mon
strous usurpation of individual freedom would be
but carrying out on a large and exclusiue scale,
what our contem porary proposes should be done
on a small and exclusive one. If the Independent
differs from the Baptis, Jet him agree to differ by
all means; and 20 on, throughout the entire
realms of sectarianism. Let them try to convince
; and convert one another each to his own views Of
Bible Interpretation and Church government, but
OF your peril, brethren, invoke not Inc aid of the
civil power to help you, and do not degrade your
selves by becoming Roman prosecutors. Remem-
Der that Protestantism means liberiy-liberty of
the widest and most comprehensive sort-for the
%intellec; AND the conscience of man; and that idol
worship, whether of Rome or Vishnu, has as
t much right to establish itself in these States if it
can, as any other form of worship. Nature grows
mushrooms as we'll as oaks, and so does society.
Have faith therefore. in the power and persever-
ance of truth, to v~anquish error, and leave the is.
q sues to God.