Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-06-10
AsC0FFER REBUKED.

DOhtus AdttcA tsat0 Uuo CfNhtAA9 al O VIZ
lage inn, in Northern Alabama, to spend
the night. Quite company of travel
ers and village gossips were seated around
the glowing fire in the bar-room when /
made my entry. / was soon seated in
the midst of the motley assembly, and,
during the interval employed by mine
host in making certain demands on his
larder for my especial benefit, listened
to their chit-chat. A vaunting, self-im-
portant disciple of Blackstone was hold
ing forth in an eloquent u TRADE against
religion and Christianity in general. The
circumstance was somewhat similar TO
one which happened to Judge Marshall,
of Virginia, while travelling through the
western portion of the "Old Dominion"
/ had been seated but few moments,
when the attorney wound up with the
following;
Yes, gentlemen, the whole system of
religion is one grand humbug, and its vo-
taries are either monomaniacs, or poor,
illiterate, deluded beings. It is the poor
and unlearned alone. who are the most
numerous of its disciples. Why is it,
ask, that the poor man is more suseepti-
BILE than the rich man to religious infu-
ences? T? One hundred poor men become
converts to the theory to ten wealthy !;
would you have proof? Look around
you. Why is it, ask What say you,
stranger,in answer to this interrogatory ?"
said the attorney, turning abruptly to an
elderly, rather distinguished looking gen
tleman, who sat quietly smoking bis pipe
in a far corner of the room, and who had
arrived at the inn but an hour or two be-
fore me.
What is the reason, you ask Why
ii is simply because the wealthy are too
much occupied with the business, the cares
and pleasures of life to give thought to
religion. They won't take time to give
the subject serious thought. One said,
he had yoke of oxen, and that he
wished to prove them therefore he prayed
to be excused; another piece of land,
etc. The minds of the poor are not thus
absorbed with the trash of the earth, to
the exclusion of that which is priceless.
True, God has chosen the weak and fool
ish TO confound the strong and wise, in
many instances; yet, believe me, it is
not the illiterate alone who are so bless
ed of God as to be the recipients Of his
grace and mercies. The wisest men the
world has ever seen have acknowledged
his supremacy, and power with a willing
knee. Where is an unbeliever now in
this enlightened country, where the mai
esty, and goodness, and glory of God have
been manifested so often, and SO clearly
demonstrated, but what he is a weak ,vair
upstart? The world, from superstition
ah from chaos, has been changed by the
same religion, (which you, anon, reviled, tc
be almost a paradise. The dark place.
of the earth have been lighted up, the do
minion of the devil has been subverted
and civilization, by its imstrumentality
now blooms where ferocity once reigned
and the sound of the gospel is now heart
among men where scenes were once en-
acted too dark and revolving for gentl,
ears and nations which were once man
tied with superstition, and whose stream
were ever tinged with human gore, an,
stained, even with the blood of martyr
and of innocence, now wait in peace tn
glorious banner of the cross. Beware
young man, how you sneer at that which
to secure for us, a Savior offered up hi
life willing sacrifice. Did I not know
\ young man, that it was through ignoranc
, on your part that you thus revile. woul
exclaim TO you, in the language of Paul
a Q, full of all subtlety, and all mischie
/ thou child of the devil, thou enemy of a
4 Righteousness, viii thou not cease to pei
vert the right ways Of the Lord ?"
n "Ha! ha! ha!' interrupted the Law
yer; had known that l had walked u
anold Methodist preacher, 1 would hay
n taken time by the forelock,' and run i
time"
] am not Methodist preacher, sir
e ! haven't that honor-they are a pious
is useful, revered class of people, whol
n / love and respect"
IS +" Who are you, then ?" insolently d,
I. manded the attorney.
le Sam Hoaston, sir, of Texas
,r Had thunderbolt fallen in their mid
b there would not have been q more eIe
trio motion in the crowd. In a secor
d the old hero was surrounded, and tweut
,e welcome hands were extended. / ma5
: my exit just then to the dining-room, an
le as / looked back over my shoulder, / sa
fa the little crest-falIen attorney suaat;,