The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-07-04

VI ihs DOttNi Huit Ethti'utns vi
somebody's ambitious prospects may be
hurt, and there may he still another de
parture.'
For The Mddebury Register
Christopher Columbus Answered.
Mr.. Editor.-"The King of terrors
loves shining mark" and so does your
correspondent christopher Columbus"
in your issue of June 81, And he could
not well have chosen one more shining
than the one he calls chimney" with all
the familiarity of school boy. Rev.
Charles G. Finney for so many years the
honored President of Oberlin College is
the author of q number of valuable works
which have gone through several editions
in the United States and in England, and
as late as 1859 the "New American
Cyclopadia" said Of him-"The author
holds high position among evangelical
CoDgregationalists, in both Countries, as
an eloquent, energetic, and effective re-
vival preacher" Only nine years from
that time he wrote a book in which he
tells what he knows personally about
Free Masonry, which Columbus" claims
records the fact that the learned d. d. is
sin his dotage."
We have the testimony of eminent
College Presidents, Professors, Editors,
Divines and many others that they con.
slider this work clear, logical, truthful,
irresistible in its discussion of the subject
in hand and yet columbus" says it is
a genuinUm trangere, a veritablc dentena
rodere in which he rcviles bitterly"
This is very strong language, for ''revile"
alone, signifies to vilify, dcfame, abuse
but if this is done bitterly" it must add
much to the intensity of the action.
Now Mr.. Editor, permit me to say |
don't believe columbus" ever read Mr..
Finney's book referred to. lie says he
has "seen" it but does not say he has
real it, and if he had read it from Pref.
ace to the end where the last words are
"Bc not offended with my telling you the
truth in love. We must all soon meet
at the solemn judgment Let us not be
angry but honest, The would have known
that the author does not "revile" any.
body. lie says at is not easy to assign
motives, and it is difficult to imagine
what has brought him out in such was.
pish melee" The preface to the book
gives a full and reasonable solution Of
this difficulty. Mr.. Finney says he has
no pecuniary interest in the sale of this
book has no controversy with any mem.
Der Of the order is not willing needlessly
to arouse the enmity of these men but
he writes from clear sense of duty tow.
ard the Church Of Christ the young
men of the land and the members of the
order, Why not let the author "assign
motives" for writing the book if "Colum.
bus" finds it so difficult He does it with
perfect ease. Again the article says
ale is an idle misanthrope, very Poly.
phemus in frog pond, wounding and
killing the reptiles Charges this d. D.
celebrated for his deep piety and eminent
success as minister of Christ with writ.
ing the book in "a temper and then
after so many hard, uncivil and low re.
marks about man whnm he owns he
"cannot expect to reach" he turns about
and wipes his mouth and says; awe
must not retort upon him such unfriendly
epithets as he has been pleased to hurl.
What exalted dignity he puts on as he
prodeeds. "The benignity of philosophy
has softened the infrmities of temper
and we would rather restore men to good.
ness by Iprecept and persuasion than by
force of abuse, or even ridicule. Every
word we utter on this subject therefore
shall be tempered with moderation"
o what refined amiability and sweet
ness Of disposition finds a home in this
wonderful columbus" We can but
wonder what his words were before they
were ''softened" and "tempered" with
philosophy" and moderation" We
don't want to see the original draft how.
ever Now, we most decidedly object to
these cruel terms, being employed upon
Mr.. Finney, simply because he has writ
ten this book. unless they have applied to
other men, who have written on this same
subject
DR.. Nathaniel Colver, of Chicago I'm
iversity, Jan. 1st, 1867, said in public
letter, among other things upon this SUBJ
ject, "the time was, when supposed the
obligations of Masonry binding upon me,
| felt that though silent, was indorsing
deception and lying, and yet my oaths
bound me from fraakness and truth. |
did not suffer more when under convic-
ton for sin than did in that terrible
state. | read one morning in the provi.
dence Of God, for our family worship,
concerning the forty Jews, who bound
Themselves under an oath not to eat till
they had killed Paul. 1t struck me and
uniettered my thoughts, | got out of the
snare with repentance and brokenness of
heart, but oh | thank God am out.
regard 1t as satan's masterpiece, terri
BILE snare to men. 1t sits at this moment
as nightmare on all the moral energies
of our government, and utterly parallyzes
the arm of justice"
DE-. Howard Crosby, Chancellor of the
University of New York, said in the
"Congregationalist,' April 90, ISL
ave have no hesitation in writing secret
societies among the quackeries of this
earth,a part Of the great system by which
the mud-begotten try to pass themselves
off as Jove-born. There can be no more
important instruction inculcated on our
young men than the necessity of truthful
openness as the very warp of all virtue
Everything that conflicts with this is a
poison and will leave its mark.
VIM. ii. Seward said some years since,
"ln Masonry there is secrecy, and tru-
ly secrecy is the badge of a tyranical
government; it is unsafe and dangerous
in republican government"
Edward Everett said "All' secret so.