Owyhee bullion. [volume] (Silver City, I.T. [Idaho]) 1866-1867, 1867-05-09
Religious Insanity.

lnlS grows out OF the 1rallty OF human
nature and the necessity arising from
that frailty for certain moral restraints
Christianity in its design, is adapted
certainly to the wants of mankind, and
when the purity of its precepts and i'm
portance of its teachings are consulted in
the proper spirit, we can have no doubt
of the elevating influence of a system,
conceived in love, and propagated in
compassion Its design is to make men
and women better, and as a consequence
build up and ennoble society. We there.
fore realize the truth ofan inspired writer
when he asserted as governing princi-
pie "let everythingbe done decently and
in order" Then we conclude that discord
and disorder are foreign elements in the
system, claiming divinity of origin. These
where they occur are attributable not to
the imperfection of the system, but to a
certain weakness, or species of insanity
in the devotee or follower. The large
majority of men are more easily govern
ed and controlled through fear than
through, and by any other means. Love
of right, regard for integrity of character,
aud the moral aspect of questions have
less influence as our experience goes over
the actions of mankind, than the incen-
tive produced by certainty of condemna-
ton and punishment. This was certain
ly no part of the original design, and we
cannot believe that it is so now. There
are those however in the world who pro-
fess to be propogandists Of religious in
struction of sufficient knowledge Of hu-
man nature coupled with no small share
of pride and selfshness, that are dispos-
ed to WELD their power through this
channel, however unwarranted it may be.
The result is felt and deplored by the
goodand true throughout christendom.-
1t is bye-word and a disgrace that the
church harbors many not as good in
moral point of view as some who have no
connection with its sacred precincts. The
tendency must inevitably be toward a
politico-religious conglomeration. Itmay
be asked why this is so? The answer is
simple, because there is nothing rational
as basis, no love Of right, no conviction
of wrong for the solid foundation. The
fears are aroused while the reason is un-
convinced. The system thus propagated
is positive evil to society, and to that
extent are we concerned. Society is
based upon law enacted by political as.
semblages and in no way conflicts with
the establishment of religious bodies and
the free exercise of its peculiar tenets.-
But where the latter is formed of the
class of which we speak serious, inroads
are made upon the former. Possessed
of a species of insanity growing out of the
character of influences under which they
act, many rnhappily in promiscuous as
semblages are induced to make confess
ion directly affecting domestic felicity
andpublic tranquility. This is violative
of the principle above named and is no
part of system intended to elevate,
build up and ennoble, but shamefully
abusive OF that system. We are induced
to make these remarks from the fact that
the evil of which we speak, stalks abroad
in the land, and particularly upon the
the pacific coast, under the religious
guidance of the Rev. Mr.. Earle. As q
member of society, we must necessarily
feel and deplore its effects, because sub
versive of public order, and calculated to
introduce a moral chaos. As such we