The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-02-16
Sunday Colu m n.
A ScOfRer Rebuked.

A few winters ago, while travelling South,
halted late one evening at village inn, in
Northern Alabama, to spend the night Quite
a company of travellers and village-gossps
were seated around the glowing fire in the bar
room when ! made my entry. was soon sea-
the interval employed mine host in making
certain demands on his larder for my especial
benefit listened to their chit-chat. A Wanting,
self:important disciple Of Blackstone was hold
ing forth in an eloquent ~ TRADE against reli-
gion and Christianity in general. The cir
cumstance 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 a
few moments, when the attorney wound up
with the following: .1.f,y--
eyes, gentlemen the whole system Of re-
ligion is one grand humbug, and its votaries
are either monomaniacs, or, poor, illitcrate.
deludcd beings. It is the poor and unlearned
ciples. Why is it, ask, that the poor man is
more susceptible than the rich man to reli-
gious influences? One hundred poor men be-
come 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 2" said the attor-
ney. turning abruptly to an elderly, rather
MISUNDERSTANDING gentleman, who sat
quietly smoking his pipe in q far corner Of the
room, and who had arrived at the inn but an
hour or two before me.
"What is the reason, you ask Why it is
simply because the wealthy are too much oc-
cupied with the business, the cares and pleas
ures Of life, to give a thought to religion
They won't take time to give the subject a
serious thought. One said "He had yoke
Of oxen, and that he wished to prove them,
therefore he prayed to be excused; another a
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 price
less: True, God has chosen the weak and
foolish to confOund the strong and wise, in ma
ny instances; yet, believe me, 1t is not the
illiterate alone who are so blessed of God, as
to be the recipients Of His grace and mcrcics.
The wiscst men the world has ever seen have
acknowledged Lis supremacy and power with
willing knee. Where is an unbelieycr ow in
this enlightened country, where the majesty,
and goodness, and glory of God have been
manifested so often, and so clearly demonstra-
ted, but that he is weak, vain upstart? The
world, from superstition, ali from chaos, has
been changed by the same religion, which you,
amen. reviled. TO be almost paradise. The
dark places Of the earth have been lighted up,
the dominion Of the devil has been subvert.
ed. and civilization, by its instrumentality. now
blooms where ferocity once regned, and the
sound of the Gospel is now heard among men
where scenes were once enacted too dark and
revolving for gentle ears; and nations which
were once mantled with superstition, and
whose streams were ever tinged with human
gore, and stained, even, with the blood of
martyrs aud of innocence, now watt in peace
the glorious banner of the cross. Beware, young
man, how you sheer at that which, to secure
for US, Savior offered up his life willing
sacrifice. Did not know, young man, that it
was through Ignorance on your part that you
thus revile, would exclaim to you, in the Ian
gnage of Paul: "Oh, full of all subtlety, and
all mischief, thou child Of the DEVIL thou enc
my of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to
pervert the right ways Of the Lord?"
Ha, ha, ha !" interrupted the lawyer, chad
known that had walked up an old Methodist
preacher, ! would have taken time by the
forclock,' and run in time'
81 am not a Methodist preacher, sir; l
havnt that honor they are pous, u useful,
a reverend class OF people, whom love and
respect"
Who ore you them" iusolently demanded
the attorney.
~ Sam Houston, sir. of Texas"
Had thunCerbolt fallen in their midst
there would not have been more electric mo-
ton in the crowd. In a second the old hero
was surrounded, and twenty welcome hands
were extended. made my exit then to the
dining-room, and as l looked back over nv
shoulder, | saw a little crcst-tallen attorney
sneaking out Of the opposite corner.