The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-10-25
FROM MICHi6AA.
WEST CAsco, Oct. ~, Is. =.

t. the Editor of the woEEISsSAS's ADvocArE
RELIGION AND REFoRNEks
We delight in frankness and sincerity /;
We hate hypocrisy, cant, and religious pre-
tense, and we are as great an enemy to
long prayers as Jesus himself Neverthe-
less We feel disagreeably, and are somewhat
shocked, now and then. at the manner in
which some reformers speak Of religion and
religious observances The fact is. We are
naturally religious we believe in God.
that he j., and that he is rewarder Of
those who diligently seek him" Napoleon
was right when he said lit is not every
man that can be an atheist" Some men
have 10 ear for music, and cannot detect a
discOrd but the most of men love the
concord Of sweet sounds, and can at once
perceive that which is not harmonious. We
repeat we sometimes feel disagreeaby,
mot much Mortified as when we read an
orthodox argument for the eternal dalnna-
ton Of infants) but we feel disagreeably
when We hear the existence Of God and the
,propriety Of religious observances called in
Question, and we take up the pen to vent
these feelings, and request our brother
md sister reformers 70 revise their opin-
pms, and repress sentiments and express
IONS calculated To disturb the eqanimity
persons havipg strong religious instincts.
e ourselves feel that We could not deny
existence Of God, and that he will re-
'rd virtue and punish vice, and the pro
Eety of religious observances, even though
whole case rested on internal impulse
vi no other proof TO be had OF course,
wblame not those who do not feel thus,
Moore than We blame those who are
4 wing IN the musical instinct but we
4 "a hat no man should say that either
/ nf or religion is all humbug. But fur
: th4we know 1t Is for the interest Of re-
! toI1rs to cherish the religious feeling
Irqellglon injuries no m an. and Is a great
asstnce to many. The nations Of the
! ear ttrom tie earliest ages, have had
A rellA and the rivers If blood that have
!. DeeAed, the enormous crimes that have
Deeilmmltted, IN Its name, only prove
the Der and strength of the motive. and
n the 4 with which It can be warped from
ITS trpbject. Every passion, every pro-
pens1f the human heart. has been sac
rihceq this feeling even the love Of life
ltself,k been conquered in every age, and
Perhalvery nation Oh the world, by the
religCbnstinct.
NoHl any sane man DENY that this
feeling strong. 80 universal. is instinc-
tive Is nature ever implsnt a feeling
Hlthouf object Does nature ever liz
y How Is Ut all communities formed with
K out thel and sanction Of religion, (the
Z owen \ Fourier communities for In
q stancel \ gone To ruin, though aided by
science aprains, while ignorant rustics
. Ike Joe ith, have founded lasting com
e huhities' netlmes II the most discordant
l. materlals+l under the most difficult cir
h cumst"nG'hided only by strong appeals
% the rellts instinct Indeed. if man
has no reilbs feeling. we do not &c how
ii these undSble facts can be resisted az
p proving ih9ength Of the motive, and the
N proprlety, pct necessity that reformsrs
should atal Amselves Of it, Again, how
can refrnf 10 otherwise than reverence |
D. such cAartr as Moses, a true man, q |
,e patriot, whofer received a cent of sal |
4 airy, and wiz chlldren were no better |
provided pr, In the meanest family Of /
the meanea 4 He forbade fees to the /
s. judges, ant Acquisition Of wealth BY
D. the kings, vt themselves up above
Al their Equality was the Essential
y. element IN hlAstitutions the pivotal
= idea on whlh Aepended for the happi-
of ness of his pei The adoption Of his
" law with regrdh land alone, would sink
: out Of sight 4 fourths If the evils
% which now aHice Door. How can re-
q former refus. tok, and honor the name
I, of Jesus n~eAf-seeking. never re-
e vengeful, his boz yearned for the OBJ
z pressed, the doEnA Men and the wretched.
/ His soul symptR with the lowest Of
IF his race. his TED owed while contem-
plating the mn very enemies were