The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
A Fact.

DIR. Brown,-It is we'll known that
during the terrible contest that ragged ir
our country a few years ago, there were
many books published by the voluntary
societies at the North, which were ex
tremely offensive to the South. I have
seen it stated, that a Southern gentleman
inquired in Philadelphia for Sabbath
School Library suitable to this climate,
and was candidly informed that it was
impossible to obtain one that would be
acceptable. Nevertheless, books from
the North, and those of the most unedi.
flying and even insulting character, are
found among us. The writer has recent
ly met with an entire library, purchased
in New England since the war, among
which there are some books calculated to
do vast amount Of injury to the cause
of religion, and particularly to the Pres.
byterian Church.
One of these works is small volume
entitled "New Stories from an Oh
Book, by Laurens." Published by the
Amsrican Tract Society. These stories
consist mainly of biographical sketches
of the Patriarchs Of the Old Testament,
although neither the holy book nor the
holy men are named. The phraseology
is modernized and adapted to the times,
and very well suited to infame the mind
of Northern persons against the South.
Indeed this latter seems to be the princi-
pal design of it, rather than to Undue
them with solemn Bible truth, and rever-
ence for the oracles of God. To give
some idea of the spirit of the work, Moses
is characterized as the great Liberator,
and his staying the Egyptian at least
seems to be used to justify the negro in
numbering his master, or any stakeholder.
Joshua is presented under the cognomen
of the Freedmen's General; and had we
no means of knowing otherwise, we would
be led to suppose that both the great
Leader of Israel's host, and his illustrious
successors, were woolly-headed negroes,
having been captured by slavers, (they
or their ancestors, and delivered from
bondage by the mighty hand of Cod
Abraham is styled the emigrant, but the
writer is careful not to mention the fact
that he was large slave owner, and no
Abolitionist. To the author of the book
and his publishers, belong the response
bility of CHASING John Brown with A.
Lincoln and the Czar of Russia
Strange that the keen perception Of one
who could find treason in the condect of
Achan, should class with the prophets of
God, one who was notorious as q traitor
and a murderer, captured by the soldiers
of his own government, and executed by
the laws Of the land. Achan suffered for
theft, and not for treason; and could we
indulge for moment, we might run a
parallel between him and some who have
held high pkees of trust ilt the Uaited
States, anu SHOW whssS s~4ser they
would have been exposed,.if they had
been at Jericho or All.
Instead of going or sending to Rich
mond, where our own Committee would
have been able to furnish books of suit
able kind, the money of the Southern
people goes to the Golfers of the North,
and is invested in books that are not only
Improbable, but positively insulting and
injurious to the character of the Church
to which they belong. That have not
over-rated the character of this book, l
ask your readers to procure it, and judge
for themselves. LAGOON.