Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-27
Vermont Bible Society.

Vermont Bible Society.
by the courtesy of the Free Press re-
porter we give the following report:
The 5Sth anniversary of the Oldest BIZ
BILE Society in the country was held at
Bethany church, Montpelier, on Wednes-
day evening, October 10.
J. G. Stimson, Esq, of Norwich, pre-
sided.
The report of the Treasurer was re-
ceived, from which it appeared that the
Society has received during the current
year sc. 1922 So. The disbursements have
been $6,2S2.77. Balance on hand $40 o..
An interesting report was then read by
the agent of the society-Rev. Mr.. Car
peuter-from which it appeared that lOo
towns have been visited during the year,
containing more than 10000 families.
Eighteen hundred families We're found
destitute of Bibles. The whole amount OF
donations in the State have been So, 753.43.
Rev. Mr.. Brastow of st. Johnsbury adj
dressed the society upon the question of
whether the Bible shau be used in public
schools
Three classes of citizens object to the
use of the Bible in common schools. LIST,
the Catholics. Their object is to break
up the public schools %, Sceptics of all
kinds Their object Is to discredit the
Bible. Sd, Prorestants, who believe
this the best way to compromise matters.
Some of them hold the religious view of
government, but yield to what they call
higher necessity. Others hold the view
that the government should be kept ell
tirely distinct from religion.
There are three manners of argument
lst, the prudential one; ID, political ne
cessity; 80, political right. The last l.
ment should have anything to do with re-
ligion. He believed political government
\ natural instinct OF religion. ALI gov
eminent must be based upon religion. An
atheIstical government is contradiction.
Law is force, is authority-and this i'm
plies will. Civil authority must some
way be based on moral authority. All
authority must be given by God. Every
authority which we can allow must have
come from on high.
Civil government has no right to take
mans life, unless the moral right is given
by God. All authority must be delegated
authority. Government Is an instrument
of God to discipline, educate and elevate
mankind. All nations have felt that in
some way power comes from God and the
Bible most clearly teaches it. This has
been grossly abused. but it does not Wit
ate the fact.
BUD, As government has religious
basic, so in some measure 1t must have
religious aim. Government only deals
with men because they are moral beings,
aud it is absurd to suppose that it is to
treat but one side of men. 1t must treat
man III the totality of his character. Ii
Is the duty of government to educate its
children. This is necessary for the safety
of the government, and it should educate
the whole character. 1t only leaves part
of this to the family and the church, be-
cause they can better do this work. This
is in fact theIstic government. No
theories can dispute that this is the fact.
II Is also christian government.
Again, if one objects conscientiously to
the religious education of his child, his
views should be respected. But the views
OF one, or few, should not overcome that
of the majority. This would allow the
conscience of minority to prevail against
the conscience of majority. We do not
allow minoritIes to rule us i'll other re-
spects.
Finally, the utter expulsion of every
thing religious and moral follows from
the denial of the foregoing the observ
ance of the sabbath-of the marriage re-
lation-of the oath in courts of Justice
of all sanctions of law and government
We cut ourselves aloof from the past and
put ourselves alone in the world as a
State, without God and religion.
kev. Mr.. Malcolm of st. Adams, was
introduced. He hoped the Bible would |
never be removed from the school-room |
while a piece of Plymouth rock large
enough for flint remains. He had no
fears but the Bible would remain forever |
ia the schools. He believed that men |
should be Interested with the Bible, be- |
cause 1t has benz fitted them in the past. |
AS a matter of fact the Bible has always
elevated man.
Professor Backham next made short
address. There is an impression prevail |
ent that the Bible has LOST much of It's in
huence. Ga the one side, this Is "A matter
OF Boosting on the other, of sorrow and |
dlsmay. He did not believe this to be
true. These assertions rest on the author
ity of two classes the first, those whose
interest it Is to have them believed. They |
contend that all learning Is on their side,
and their bravado aud blasphemy is won
derful. But God laughs at the presumption
Ut There little great men OF earth. L believe |
We mig bit laugh at them as we would laugh |
at Dame Darlington trying to keep out the
Atlantic ocean with mop. l believe WE
should be mortified could We ind out the |
exact number OF the very few shouting |
lutdels who have been frightening W.
1t would be wiser 10 let them severely |
alone, than to dignity them by attempting |
10 answer them. This impre s,lou rests
upon false idea of the condition OF
hIngs a few years since. Perhaps in
few localities, there Is now less reverence
han formerly; but these same I'M pressious
have always prevailed, and the same
lamentations and slghings have alwaye
been uttered. Why, sixty years ago thu
Bible Society was organized to meet the
condition of thIngs-a hun
bred years ago, Edwards deplored the
falling away from the faith. Earlier,
Cotton Mather makes the same com
plants.
There never was time when the Bible
had so strong hold upon the world a.
now. Scarcely man Can be found who
dares to defame the Bible in his own
name. Hostility must be disguised.
He contrasted the late French Revolu-
ton with that of '9S, when atheism
reigned supreme, as an illustration of his
theory that the Bible was never more su-
preme in the world than now.
Pure Intoxicating Liquors.