The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-11-21

Mr.. Editor IL allow myself but little
to notice the severe structures and un.
christian criticisms which occasionally
fall under my eye either as editorials,
or occasional correspondents, to the
press. | prefer that others shall correct
articles calculated to do mischief, by
building up feeling Of hatred and NAL.
ice and all unchartablcncss, whose pro.
fossion 1t is to watch over the people OF
professed christian community, that no
harm come TO disturbed the public veal.
| have noticed in the Middebury
REGISTER recently, several articles over
the signature of A. +. Bailey which were
so repugnant to my views of what be.
longs to the character Of christian, that
| could do but little more than to skim
over them, in the most rapid manner,
and, it was an effort to do even that,
hoping however that it was the last we
should see of him, probably, and pass on.
But still they come, worse and worse,
for the last is but tumble Of iucoherent
nonsense from beginning to end 1t the
church he represents has no better advo.
cate, no better representative than this
Bailey, it is a weaker organization than
| take it to be. This may excite his
frenzy, but no matter, it is time such
arrant nonsense were out ofprint.
So much for this Bailey, and now n
word upon the subject of his wrath.
have waited to see if some one Of those
people that he has been trying to abuse
would reply, and happily, sec that one
has done so, and lady too, has done it
pretty effectually, and handsomely as she
must, if at all. His astronomical exu-
viae, suppose she had not seen, as it
comes in the same paper where hers is
But that article is harmless enough, for
| am sure no one will read it. If he is
not candidate for Brattleboro, he soon
will be.
l am not professedly Spiritualist, nor
do [ write to defend them from such un-
gentlemanly attacks, for they can defend
themselves as the public now see, but
write in defense of all people from such
arrogance displayed by this man. If it
is not snuffed out, and he is to have the
use OF columns of the REGISTER to scatter
his brains broadcast over the community,
one Of many things may happen to relieve
people.
l recognize the Spiritualists as an or.
ganizaton, co.equal with any other relig.
ious organization, with all the inherent
rights claimed and held by any or all
others. Perhaps not so old as many,
nor do | care for that as lar as my
observation goes, see the people of that
order as highly respectable as any other
class of religionists can, or do show. And
they are not to be put down by such
champions as the one in question, nor by
the sneers Of vacant headed people, who
can offer nothing better.
Ridicule is said to be a severe weapon,
but those who resort to it ought to know
that they live in glass houses, and it is
game two or more can play at. Very
true, the most refined and truly christian
people will tolerate long such missiles be.
fore throwing them back. But those who
take the sword shall perish by the sword.
Sooner or later it is discovered that moth.
ing less than stones can affect their stu.
pid sensibilities, and stones 10 return they
get.
Arrogance assumed by any one upon
religious subject is not only unbecoming
christian, but sooner or later proves
fatal to such a person. He will find bis
level and come down from his stills
When will the world learn that 1.-THE
greatest of these is charity ~ If chris.
tians cannot forego burlesquing, ridiculiug
each other, how can they expect anything
but ridicule from the outside world !?
One thing is apparent enough, that clergy.
men as class are as ignorant of human
nature as that term is understood, as any
class of people to be found. Why it
should be so, is not so easily determined
If the nature of their profession makes
them so, it would seem to be at fault.
For there is no class of professional
men who ought to understand human
nature more thoroughly than clergymcn.
Hence, their want Of success. The
blindness and narrowness of their creeds
may have much to do with it. But |
apprehend their want Of charity is the
most fatal. Exceptions to the foregoing
there may be and doubtless are, but only
enough to prove the rule.
Clergymen, it usually is held, ought
to be better than other men. But the
world think they are not. Hence, their
want Of influence and success. Assump-
ton of greater moral excellence will not
do. 1t must be demonstrated and proved
before the world will acknowledge it.
Like any other assumption, the world
wait for proof before they buy. The
world is practical always, while christian
ity is speculative. This order Of things
is not to be changed, but must be accept.
ed as an existing fact. No coloring can
change this order, no matter who may
attempt it, the world understand it so,
and their logic is as severe as any.
| sometimes think if our clergymen
after they come out of the schools. could
have year or two experience in the
stock exchange of New York. they would
then be perfected 10 their calling. At
all events they would know some of the
phases of human nature. Some of the
New York Clergymen are preeninent in
tteir profession, simply because they nave
such education whether acquired at the
stock board, or Oh the street does not
matter. This sword has two edges, cuts
right and left, aud keen as scalpel.
w.