The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-01-08

0uIs wero more, oi tlPsA angels OF earth
who lear no con rniua,ion or disgrace in
alleviating the stings OF poverty.
d.. Oids' Biblical Grievance.
10 reading DR.. Edison B. Olds' uarra-
tive Of his experience in Fort Lafayette.
oOe cannot fail to be impressed that the
refusal of the G ,mmandsn. to supply him
with Bible, is tho grievance which sits
bsaviest upon the soul Of the outraged
Doctor. "Why. he asks. "was denied
the use Of a Biblr?" Then, having euIo
gized the Bible. having been, in fact, tx
ceedugly complimentary 10 the Bible,
having expressed deal of devotion 10
aud esteem for, the Bible, having repeat.
cd such passages as falling memory Of
adoIeseeut Sundays in the Sabbath school
could command as applicable to biz soli-
tary condition. aud having made sufii
cient exhibition of familiarity with the
Bible 10 convince his Lssrers that he has
su occasional pious turn OF mind, the
Doctor returns 10 The inexplicaIle quest.
ion: Again and again asked myself
The gu sliou. why am not permitted to
have a Blble?"
We are as much puzzled for reason.
able. answer as the Doctor. We know
that the Governmenl-or, accepting his
distinction, the Administraliou-has ex-
hibiled disposition TO promote the CTR.
culation Of Ihs Bible and publications OF
tfe American Tract Society. lfit could
not hsvs supplied the Doctor with Bi.
ble, il might, al least, have permit d an
humble coIporlcur to leave small tract
at bis cell door, or a copy OF Baxter's
"CalI to the Unconverted.' We know
that the Governments or tbe. Adninistra
ton, which IS a factor, has provided chap
laiu, ior the army, aud nyver shut tn
military door 10 the applications of ben :
volrnt and w-ll-intsnIioncd people, who
rushed to the seat OF war laden with Ie
iigiOuS tracts snd other light moral litera-
ture for distribution among the solditrs
Aud Gow, if We may credit cOrrespon'
deuts, il is about to establish a newspa
.per. the size Of the New York Tribune, al
Hit Head that anti savery principles,
seas ned with suitable infusion Of NOR.
al Instruction. may be more speedily diff.
fused among the pol y Loorpd and bsnight
ed contrsbands lh re, who are supposed
10 be in highly furnishing mental anC
moral condition, and susceptible of ab
sorbins, disestiug and assmilating Il;
much Of lhs ruth, religious and political
AS can be purveyed to them dIurnally
through pap.r the size OF the NcwYori
Tribune. u' f".
9 In view of these facts, which go {,
show an encouraging tendency on th
pare of the Administration to turn moi;
retormer, We are pain ully al loss to un
dersand why DR.. Olds should have beer
made au exception, and served by III,
Administration prrcise y as a plantation
overseer serves his happy. but Biblicall'
ignorant, family. The grievance is diff
cult TO bear, and is SO excessive in its ma
; ture, when the necessities Of the case ar
: fully Comprehended, as to excite our pro
toundest com IN lserallon LII fact, We shar
in the indls Bati.n which the Doctor s
iorcibly expressess for it is not ssriou
hardship where an individual. havin
other nutrition, is deprived Of loaf o
bread, more or less; but TO deDy'a ina
= famishiDg for lax of it, and dying {
y starvation, is an act Of iuhumanity tina
can not b. TOO severely reprobated an
= condemned. If ever there was poo
sinner, or an old sinner, or hardene
: sinner, who needed moral instruction an
= Biblical cultivation. !hr Doctor presen It
case for Instant consideration. And i
o Eis solitary abode, with The damp mo!
y gathering on the floor, the sweat of col
7 and hospiIabla stone walls dripping an
g trickling like peutonl's tears, bats fl
d ting on frowsy wings through daiknes
visible, aud nioe and Norway rats nibt
: ling at the soapy cheese and invulner4b
:, hsrdra K for which his fainling stomac
u refused rrpose, there was rare chsnc
,, 10 produce Sn awakening that might lea
'' to substantial ana salu'ary reform. I'll
B. Doctor had lived some ffty odd years
Il q land OF Bibss aud sanctuary privilege
q insenSlble to his awful condition, whirle
a along the dusty road Of po itica stIifs au
d ambition, alternating from Wbigism
J Democracy, and from AboliiOnism to S
Ii cessiouism, as the chances ofsuccess pr
r sented themselves, " probably NOT ava
! the inestimable value Of Bible, on
'e as church days and the homilies of Il
s. village pastor enforced it upon his ate
30 ton 1t is possible that he may have Gu
$ tivaled it's occasional acquaintance. h
v h;s political tsrgiversstious, and the ia
Ia that he was Geuominated liI by pap
ID that now pats him on the head, is reaso
I'd able evidence that in his ut,goings al
ID comings, aud in his daily walk al
he conversation, he did not appear 10 t
er world as living testimony oI the fru
as OF lis teachings, or rs one pursuing wi
es irrepressible aidor that narrow and diff
hg rult way which leads to the perfection
IT the Saints Hs seams, however. in t
n solitude Of his cell, to have been fully il
pressed with his spiritual bsrrenpess. I
b. brevity of life, aud the utter vanity
81. its pleasures and pursuits. AS he b
x possibly studied the character of Solom
run in his glory and the fullness Of bis Song
ID. so hs reached IN adversely that men
ng condition which produced lheEccle esiast
mis- TO think lha, while in this stale Of ph
M sicAl exhsusta,iOn and fAvoring extern
ew surroundings, when the flesh was we
and the spirit dominant, h. should ha
ur bseu denied the privilege Ofsearohing
Scriplures, will shock the moral sensit