The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-08-07

!. thing like that, which enables US tt
r Judge of people by examining their
literature. AS for instance, who
r could fail to know the taste and
, learning of the Athenians from read
ing tho orations Of Demosthenes, or
the history of Thucydides? Be
sides, when the production is sys-
tenn of religion, commanding obedi-
ence by the solemn sanctions of eter-
nal rewards and punishments, there is
, a very strong reflex influence back
upon those who are not only the
creators, but also the worshippers
who first create, aud then as follow
ers, kncel and conform by the high
est Of all motives-the zeal which
animates the devout believer! The
worshipper always assimilates to the
character of the thing worshipped.
Strange infatuation and absurdity of
idolatry, which has been rife in the
world since the days Of Bel, whom
Daniel exposed by sprlnkling ashes
on the floor. What a paradox that
men should deliberately set about
cheating themselves These Gods owe
their existence, form and attributes to
the framing hand of man, and of course
are formed according to his highest
conceptions; but these same awful
Gods, as soon rs made and installed,
are worshipped, and in turn bend the
nocks and mould the hearts Of their
creators. Some one has said let me
write the songs of a people and I
care not who makes their laws. 1t
could be said with more truth and
force, "show me the religion Of peo-
ple and 1 will tell you who they
are"
There is one test, which applied,
will generally show whether religion
is the production of the people who
profess it. When the religion con-
forms to the prevailing tastes, habits
and vices of people, we feel au-
thorized to say that that people are
the architects of their own religion.
1t may be that it has remote an
tiquity-that it originated time out of
mind. 1t may havo grown by grad
ual accretion from year to year and
from age to age, but it is none the
less certain that it is not Of divine
but human origin. In the cold-and
frozen regions Of Scandinavia the
people are illiterate, coarse and war
like, delighting in little else than the
stimulus Of strong drink and the de-
|lightful glow of battle and accord
ingly we see that same character
displayed in tbs happiness Of their
heaven. Their highest conception of
life was the happy state of their war
riors in spirit land, who hacked each
other to pieces all the day long in
fearful combat, and then spent the
long night with their companions
whom they had been hacking in
wassail-drinking strong drink or
blood from the skulls of their enemies
slain in battle, and in making the
walls Of blessed Walhalla ring with
the most disgusting revelry. Was
not that religion created by that pco-
| pie? No doubt Of it -..,.. .a.
In the warm climate Of Arabia Felix
the people are less inclined to strong
drink, but devoted to ease. luxury and
grandeur: and hence we see that
Mahomet prepared for his followers,
particularly those fortunate ones who
died in battle for the cause of the
prophet or his faith, the most volupt-
uous paradise, with robes Of silk,
palaces Of marble, rivers and shades,
groves and couches, wines and dain-
ties, and moro than all, and above all,
blacH-eyed houries of resplendent
beauty and eternal youth ! Is there
not as little doubt that that religion
was made for that people?
The MormoDism of our day, reeking
with foul, feculent corruption and i'm
morality, the principal doctrines of
which are community of goods and
polygamy, is but the development of
the dishonest greed for gain and IL
centiousncss which, in pre-ominent
degree, disgrace this age and country!
The community of goods is only a
bungling contrivance of the prophets
to eat the bread Of otEers and live
without work. Polygamy in this age
and Christian country is q crying
shame! One man and one woman
were created and placed in the gar
den of Eden, and statistics show that
the sexes are born in about equal
numbers. 1t is clear, without going
into other considerations, that on this
subject Christianity teaches the doc
Urine which is in unison with nature,
and is both expedient and right
notwithstanding the natural inclina-
ton towards polygamy as evinced by
the practice Of the patriarchs and
prophets of old-by the people of all
Mohammcdan countries, and lastly,
by the followers Of this miserable,
contemplate caricature of religion,
instituted by vulgar impostor and
horse thief, who found in a printing
Office Spauldings manuscript of
crazy novel, considered unworthy OF
publication, and made of it the Nor.
mon BiJle! Even this creature could
get followers, when under the guise
of religion he gratified their sensual
inclinations, and might with truth
in imitation of another impostor,
Molana. the yelled prophet of Ko.
rassan, when he lifted the silver veil
and ex posed his hideous deformity-
cxclaim with grinning mockery:
"Here We wise saints, behold your light,
your star;
Ye would be dupcs and victims, and ye
/ are ~
In all the religions of which we