, 1859-05-28
cfccd OF the - AUI0crat8 Of theBfcak-
fast Tables

E!2.Du. oL1yEE WENDELL HoLuEs--the atlantic
Autocrat of the Breakfast Tublc"-has lately
been violently assailcd by many 2rolessedly re-
ligious and few secular journals, for the uuor-
thodox tendency Of su1ue Of the capital papers
which has given him SO wide reputation. At
IN Unitarian Festival, in Boston, on Tuesday
evening last, DR.. Holmes WIS made Chairman
aud in his speech, thanking his hearers for the
honor conferred upon him, took occasion, VIC
think, to reply to the structures Of those by
whom he and his writings. have been assaied.
Toward the close Of lis remarks be defined his
position thus, speaking not for himself only but
for Uni.arians generally:
We are, in the first place, the Protcstants Of
irotcstantisn'. We protest against theory Of
human nuture which lovers man to a wnrn, in
every capacity but TINT Of sinner, aud for that
endows him with the powers aud tho rcsponsi-
blltles OF an archungci.
We protest agait4st theory Of the Divine
government 80 munstrous that to reconcile it
with tug principles Of honor and right, and to
justify the ways Of God to man, it drives its ad-
socates 10 the supposition that men are rcsus-
cstated demons, and so falls back upon the IT,
Srnds ot heathens aud barbarism.
trust, also, that there is general agreement
a1nnng US IN the following points:
w believe iii ri'at religi"nfor the religion Of
tJt, Us contraeted with that st in h;erarch.
ics establishments and traditions f,rn,ulae set.
ticu by the votes Of wavcriny n4ajoritirs in old
councils and colyucatioEs.
we belicve ln .Fahyefieut religion, or the reli-
glon of yla1 t,dinys, in distinction frun, the
scemes that make our planet the ante-chambrr
n1 1he MANSIONS OF eternal 30 10 the vast lnajo~-
its o. ati the men, women and children that hare
ised and suffered unon its surfacc.
Nc believe that every .,.rp r,usf ir,drc f},
Scriptures by it, own light, aud we mean, tv
tiou $ GrAcc, to exercise that privilege without
asking permission Of Pope or bishop Or any 9th
er human tribunal
We bel:eye that stu is the much abused step
daughter of ignorance, and this nut ony from
our owl observation, but On the authority uj
tll'n whose last prayer Oh earth, as recorded l.,
the t'ood Physician, was tina. the perpetrators
OF }hc EreateSt crime OIL record might be for
given, -Jor thy k"ew not scAat fhty tstrf doug.
Ne believe beyond I'LL other beliefs in the fa-
thcr'y relations Of the Deity TO all Ills creatures,
Or theological doctrines. We hold this to be tc
article Vi faitl, that stands supreme above I'LL
others.
And lastly VIC knoso that whether we agree
precisely in these any other articles Of belief,
We can meet in Christian charity and fellow
ship, and that wc I'LL agree in the lore Of our
race. and the worship Of d common Fnther, us
taught us by the master whom We profess to
follow.
Ours is not theological journal, hence we
propose to enter into examination no Of tue
questions involved in the Doctor's eight points Of
doctrine; but we may he permitted to say, us
impartial critics, that be uho sincerely believes
Whit the Auocra profcsscs, can by no means
bc IN immoral instructor: and that tue carping
at linn for form Of faith which is never OBJ
truslea upon the public in the pages Of the. Ar
ldnfit, comes from those who will never be
distinguished for thcr exemption from bigotry
and intolerance.