Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-29

under arms.
Methodism in the South was conquered and
subjugated, and henceforth has no claims on
anything used or belonging to its former self.
Even their Bibles. books and printing estab-
lishments became the property Of the victors,
and ought to be used. Did Spain allow Mex
leo to continue its religious exercises after
Cortez conquered it? Certainly not. Neither
did any nation or people ever concede such a
privilege to the one shey had to subjugate.
No more, then, ought the North to concede
such to the South. But you may say that the
Southern Melhodsts and the Northern Meth
odists are one and the same in religion. This
las have before said) is not the case, and
this will appear very clear from the very cor
rect definition of the word.
"Wcbster has, perhaps, done more harm in
his elaborate comments on the meaning OF
the word religion than any other author or
writer. But Webster even borrowed more
than be originated or even learned.
Religion, then, is simply ones conviction
of duty to him or herself, his fellows and his
Creator. 1t has nothing to do with rewards
and punishments in some other world, but
belongs entirely to ones sojourn on this earth.
1t must be evident, therefore, that the man
who can believe that-ais owning and selling,
aud buying. working, and not educating,
human being, is quite different from the be-
lief of another man who believes in his heart
that his duty is not to own, buy, or sell, nor
to work without educating his fellows. Also,
it is Obvious that the system of theology
which is recoucilable with the first, cannot
form any part Of. the religion of the second.
Nov, the Book, called the Bible, is often
quoted in support of either side of the qucs
ton; and, it is true it does give evidence on
both sides, Just as ones mind and ones heart
incline but one man forgets that progress
sive mind is, in fact, the life of any religion,
while the dead, inert letter killeth!n The Bi-
BILE of the Southern people we Of the North
want nothing to do with. We have our own
views and sentiments, which with us are the
Creators views and desires as to us. and, be-
ing the stronger, we announce our claim, by
Gods laws, to all those men and things which
come in our way. We, therefore, claim to
own, in fee simple, every person aud thing in
all the conquered South in any wise apper-
tanning to the Southern people, whether white
or black. The blacks belong to US just as
we'll as the whites; and if it were our rellg-
ion to buy, sell, and work them as slaves, then
it would be done, unless stronger religion
should interfere to prevent us.
"We therefore, hold that the Southern
people (not only Methodists, but ally have no
religion. and ought not to be allowed 10 as
se,nblc either in former churches, or else
where, and we have no dorbt the time is not
far distant when such prohibition will be ful.
ly carried out, and that, too, by our religion
growing up among you.
The period is very brief when any man,
much less al editor can be permitted 10 as
scrt that Northern Methodists steal proper
ty, &c. that belongs to Southern Me;hc-
dlsts.' The fact is, all the Southern people
sJm assJ ri dtssHt dlltsH 81 fE beAjpd tie arasress Of the
they are really ignorant of the p!ainest truths,
as we'll in the religion Of the present age, as
in the discoveries in science, and their daily
app,ication to the various arts OF life. Keig
ion being the essential clement Of ali political
nrogress it must Of necessity partake OF all
The notifications which the progressive and
educated minds discover to be in accordance
with the cicarcst lights Of the present age.
:OriLcdox' and, Helerodox' arc no longer ar
raycd against each other. Orthodox does not,
At tie present day, among the truly educated,
presume to denounce as heretlcal or hetero-
dcy, those who differ with the former on re.
li.lon or polics Three persons in one God
is no more nor less than figure Of illustra-
uon: so. q 'never-ending bell taught for
hundreds Of years by all Proicstants, is not
for moment believed by the educated of the
present day. 1t is true many ignorant people
nf the Methodist. as well as some other re
lirions. really do believe in endless torment
for the soul after death, but it is the work OF
every well-thiuking mind to be employed IN
removing such horrible notions. Doubtless,
the old Eaglish translalions OF the Bible had
much 10 do with creating this horrid, sad: and
dreadful notion. But even the Roman Cain,
olcs have always discarded itand substituted
a temporary punishment Ia purgatory from
which liberal payment OF money Will re-
lease the victim. But the whole masses o
the South are stceped in the grosseSt and
darkest ignorance and worse than heather
sunars,ition. The whole religion of the
Southern people may be c'assed as one ant
the same, and that Of tue worst possible ten
depcies. Nor is there much sign for hope il
the future. Better, indeed, if every house
sod scbool-house in all the Southern States
were burned to the ground, and every naive
horn there forever prohibited from teaching
or preaching, as you call it. In this event
teachers from the North would alone CIV
bent to the rising generation there, and Il
less than half century there would be re
iieion worth tie name.
Returning to Bishop Simpson, we, wh
know him, are OF the opinion that his oni
fault in dealing with you people South ha
been in recognizing any oil You at all as d9
serving to be classcd as religious body. .
far (ron considering o Southern Methods
and then q Northern Methodist rs existing
, the South, tie proper way would be to dlsr' d1lsr'
gard all classes there alike (bccauSe all al
, alike any way at hearth
"The only difference being the price "
: have to pay for a very poor 'ilort on the pa
of some to appear Northern in sentiment
; even YIN. G. Brownow, who, of late yea
S (since 1861, has prof'ssed to be Northern
;, reliuion. vet we WHO knew him best while |
s,umped the Western States in 1862 aud u
e are a. no loss to measure his reliability.
"Now, lave spoken plainly aud candid
u inst what all Northern NIethodists feel al
I believe, but very few Of them have the cou
. nrc to come out and speak their true sen
meuts. Likewise the Other minor denomln
II tions Of the North have the same opinions
}; }; the South. Tho religion of the North
u bound to rule this continent, and those W
;, . stand in the way las you all do in the SoutL
u \; must get out of the way. Religion, to be sue
, is progressive. 1t is no longer dull, hui u.
4 drum, dry reading of the Bible, and that ait
T. a peculiar Interpretation of past centurl
o. M5dern science, and better enlightenment
oi tba human miud have discovered new sourt
&c Of lrht and far wider field for the apple
?. t;nn Of R;blical truths. The Bible, like CT