The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-11-07
The current religion so much of it,sstart.

And yet, know that we more fully ac-
cept and believe in the great moral les
sons that Jesus taught, and more earnest
ly labor to have them practically carried
out in every day life, than any church
which accepts vicarious atonement rs
its corner stone. We do not pretend to
take the Bible as IN "infallible rule Of
faith and practice, yet, taken as a whole
more Of it is believed in and appreciated
BY Spiritualists generally, than can be
appropriated by the believers in any mar
row creed. As for our being G cd haters,
we hate nothing but error We have no
faith 10 an "angry Cod" who could pun
ish in eternal torments the children of his
own creation. But our souls go out with
JOY unspeakable, toward that God of love,
the Trainer and fashioner of the universe,
Of whom we read, that "He is a spirit,
aud secketh such to worship him, as wor,
ship him in spirit and in truth"
Mr.. Bailey further states, that "ali
that is valuable in our civilization is the
product of Christianity" "That upon
its pure and holy principles reposo, aud
only repose safely, our popular political
institutions &c. Now what does he
mean ? Ifhc means that deep under cur
rent Of truth, which is seen to operate
moro or less forcibly through all nations
tongues aud peoples, which enables us to
distinguish between the bloody war cry
OF Moses, and the pure peace principles
Of Jesus, which shows us right from wrong
everywhere If this is what he terms
Christianity then do | agreo with him
But on the other hand, if he means any
church or creed which now exists or ever
has existed undor the name Of Christian,
then is his statement untrue. No move
for the uplifting and enlightenment of
the race, has ever been started, but in
its first advent, the dominant church has
set its heel upon it. We can prove this
through all history from the days Of Con-
stantine down even to this liberal nine
teenth century. 1t was the ruling Chris
tian church which prosecuted the terrible
prosecutions which chill our blood even
now as we read Of them. Everything
valuable to our civil and religious liberty
has been opposed by them. Every child
knows the significance Of the expression
"ths world moves nevertheless as hand.
ed down FROM Galileo. And the great
struggle which our fathers had for indc.
pendencc. was against Christian govern
nent. Those old revolutionary veterans
knew s"tier than 10 repeat the error o.
tho old world. hence our government j.
IL Al H. II
"Goie>- government. Our liberties
are guaranteed by q constitution which
knows no religious distinctions Neither
Christianity, Judaism, nor any other ism.
has any part or lot in it. 1t gives uni
versal liberty of conscience to Jew and
Gentle, China heathcn, and Irish Chris.
tian, Conservative Methodist, aud Radi.
cal Spiritualist, all alike.
As the sun shines and rain falls on all
without distinction, SO our foretather
patterning after the great All Father
gave us an equal heritage of religious
liberty, l know it is very CALLING for
many, who profess to be christians, to
feel that they have no power in the gov.
ernment, more than others, and are striv-
ing their utmost to incorporate into our
federal constitution, such terms as shall
give to their evangelical ideas a prefer.
ence. But that firm conviction which
obtains with so many, that religion is q
personal. and not governmental matter
will not be easily eradicated.
1t is fact, patent to the most bigoted,
that our last great struggle was oficered
and manned, mostly by noble patriots out
side the church, and so well did minister
understand this, that they dare not
claim anything but happiness hereafter
for our fallen martyrs and heroes, never
SO foreign from professed christianity,
they might have been. And when all
hearts were in grief for the immortal Lin.
coin, none dare breath that his spiritualism
could rob him of the just reward which
awaited him among the blest. In that
long and fearful struggle in which the
name of Garrison as the friend Of the
oppressed slave, was by word, and
reproach, where was the church ? Mr..
Bailey can remember very we'll doubtless,
where they were, either in bitter opposi-
ton or in coward silence, exceptions Of
course there were, but only enough to
prove the rule.
This thing which he calls "yeritable
Gorgon Of evils" has at least the merit Of
being shared by n noble company. Most
of the great state men, the finest scholars,
and most brilliant intellects Of to-day,
T are spiritualists. And if the meeting OF
these people in Middlebury docs not
compare favorably, in morality, order
and dccency, with any other meeting Of
whatever name or nature that may con.
vene there, or ever has done SO, then We
are willing to be shut out, but as long as
we behave ourselves with propriety, and
attend strictly to our business, 1 shall
protest against the right Of Mr.. B. or any
Of his sylnpathirers, to dictate to the
liberal minded and hospitable citizens Of
that place, (also treated US with universal
respect) what course they shall pursue,
have many gatherings of the order
to which he belongs, that might at
least with equal propriety, be frowned
down. but l would protest as decidedly
against the right Of any one to do so, as
l now do against him for counseling such
measures against us, Notwithstanding the
coarse ani villanous erhithets he applies
to us.
He attempts to throw a fling at Pro
fessor Denton, But when n man has, by
years of laborious research, SO mastered
any branch Of science, that his name Is
classed among the first best in the old
world and the new and even standard
school books quote him as authority,
think he has little need of defenders
against the attacks Of any back biting
country clergyman.
Mrs. III, A, SLocUN.