New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-02
Misguided RELIGION.

Misguided RELIGION.
The Popes Of Rome have accomplished some very
tough and apparently hopeless work In their day;
and this historical fact, we suppose, emboldened the
present Papal Chairman to lend his sanction
without due consideration as we must suppose-to
an enterprise, apparently Utopian, which has been
initiated at Naples. For there is in that charming
city certain Father Ludovico, monk, who Is
highly jealous, and particularly interested in the
conversion of Ethiopia-it never having been the
good luck of the weak minded Ludoyco TO peruse
those overwhelming ethnologcO-theological exer-
citations manufactured by our divine Southrons, IN
which it is distinctly proved that, although "
"nicger," whether be be or be not human being,
can get religion" yet that ii must be an INFERIOR
religion not founded upon the Intelligence Of the
professor, but something of the nltrous-o1yde de-
scription, inhaled by the sable convert and making
him feel good" he knows not how or why. This
process has, indeed, been found wonderfully effect,
i've: ard we are not, therefore, startled to find our
religious Contemporary, The North Carolina Presty
terrain asking the masters of that State why IN the
name Of common sense and the very cheapest Geo.
nomy, they do not stir up revival; because, as
The Presbytuian justly observes, "the market value
of pous slave is greater than that of an impious
- one, while lively faith improves his personal
appearance. '"-plero phory beng followed by
pioguiosity and solemnty by sickness. But the
species of religion admired and cultivated in North
Carolina, and especially in Rogersyille, Tenn,
kbo Col arh
negro that beautiful basting behind the church,
which, through these columns, has passed into his
tory, lie species which Father Ludovico does not
appear to fancy. He clearly has not embraced the
American notion, that black body who cannot
read bis Testament, and to whom the hymn book il
jumbo Of hieroglyphics-whoh has good opinion
Ct the Deity but much better one oil
his driyer-who works out his salvation
by spadiDg and digging faster and more
steadily than HE profane ftlIows-who grows
safely stupid as lie grows sweetly saint-like-is as
fit for Heaven as the circumstances will admit.
On the contrary, the good LudOvico begins with
the head, and SO iDgeDiously works bis way down
to the heart Nor does he shrink from solving the
problem under the most adverse circumstances.
He does not select negroes who have by contact
caught color of civilization, and who have been
morally, ifnot physically, bleached Padre Ludovico
sends for his negro neophytes directly to Africa,
and brings them, burned black by equatorial suns,
with skins of ebony, and blubber lips, and ffizzled
hsir. snd the Ebo shin go enlarged upon by Gov.
Wise-brngs them to Naples. He knows that the
heads are raher hard, but he feels perfectly salts
fed that if be can get anything into them, 1t VIII
have small chance Of getting out again. SO the
Father Ludovico goes cheerfuly to work with bis
black possibilities He teaches them Italian, Latin,
French and Arabic, adding to the polyglot pro-
cess instruction in geography, arithmetic, physics
chemistry and elementary geometry Having
thus trained these animals in secular accomplish
ments, he adds to their stock Of knowledge the
doctrines of the Catholic Church, and sends
them home to Christianize Africa. And very sue
cessful is the Father Ludoyico with bis animals IN
spite of their facial angles and hdebound or bone
bound brains At 8 recent exhibition OF the cuiti'
waited beasts, everybody was charmed-the Cardi-
nal Archbishop of Naples was delighted, the Prime
Minister was in raptures, and several other dis
ton, as the achievements Of Padre Ludovico quite
Oyershadowed Mr.. RaIey's equine triumphs, and
plunged all previous monkey trainers into oblivion
and human contempt. And what Father Ludovico
is doing for the negroes, the Able oliveri doing,
also at Nsples for the negresses, so that when
Africa 10 Christsnized i. seems highly probable
th., il Will be done rather after the fashion Of Rome
than the fa,hion Of Rosersyine, Tenn.
Weknow tha. it is exceedingly wrong, although
no, quite so unpopular it was two or three years
ago. TO say & word in praise Of the Roman Church
or in e1tenu,tion Of its alleged errors. But what
ever may be urged sgsinst it, nobody can dispute
boldnea and activity and iarreaehing ssgacity. Ii
the enterprise under consideration, we have another
added to innumerabe previous instances Of its faith
in human culture; faith transeending the mos
reconcile specuAtons Of the ethnclosiss, the da'n
ties, ,crptursl exegess Of our Doctors OF Dvirity
and the most stalvart preudices Of the white race
faith in the human soul and not faith In tai, o