Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-06-09
FANATICS.


who have inst been playing at conven-
ton in the State Of New York. These
folks are down on secret societies, and
say that they (the societies) are un-
christian. After these respectable mug
ginses had ridden this hobby for while,
they started in to capture another, and
accordingly they passed a resolution re-
quiring the recognition of God in the
constitution Of all classes OF zealots.
there are none whose misdirected en-
thusiasm is so mischievous or has caused
more misery than religious fanatics.
The people who met in this antisecret
society convention we're no doubt well
enough meaningi in their bigoted, narrow
minded way. but their fanatical and
superstitiOus zeal leads their reason
astray and urges them to commit all
sorts Of folly and wickedness by inter-
fering with and attempting to control the
reason of their neighbors. These bigots
are not content TO 90 TO Heaven their
own way, but they must insist on all
mankind following the same path. They
never seem for a moment to remember
that others besides themselves have con-
sciences that are entitled to considera-
ton, and reasoning faculties that are as
likely to be as clear and well-informed as
their own. These people have their own
notions Of doctrinal matters and set
down those of everyone else rs wrong,
and in doing SO show their ignorant zeal
much more than their sense and charity
for others. What are secret societies to
them that they feel called upon to con-
denim themf Ii they do not like them
they need not have anything to do with
them. These conyentionists have not to
answer for any sins but their own, and
if they think it sinful to become mem.
bers Of any of the secret orders, they
can abstain. No one will compel them
to join. Certainly, the society against
which they appear to be the most OPP.
posed, the Nasons, will not. 1t is one
of the strictest rules of that organiza-
ton that no one shall be solicited to be-
come member; and the same rule prob
ably obtains in most others. If others,
on the contrary, choose to associate
themselves with such societies, what
right have these conventionists to find
fault. None in the world. But they do
it, and 10y doing SO show the old, old
spirit Of religious intolerance which has
caused more misery and shed more
blood than all the other bad passions OF
mankind put together. From the faintest
gimmerings that history reveals of the
earliest times, down to the multiplied
records of current events, this same red
eyed, bloody-minied fend OF religious
persecution and intolerance is the same
Always brutal, treacherous and arrogant
always ready to sacrifice everything tina
stands in its path. 1t knows less pit
than the flash that heralds the storm
fierce and furious as volcano and des
tructive as the volumes OF burning lava
that flow in blazing streams down it
sides, sparing neither age or sex, beaut.
or utility. All, all is q prey; are victim
with which to glut its Unsuitable nav
This is the demon that these addlehead
ed zealots in convention assembled seel
to bring hither and ill the broad area o
the United States with the evils that in
variably follow its footsteps. All this
to be done in the name of the religio
whose sole inspiration may be embrace
in the words loving Kindness" and i
the awful name of the Almighty, a recol
milton of whose sacred Name they wis
to see in the Constitution of the Unite
States. What for? Will that take froI
or add to His majesty and glory? Is
any use writing that dread Name on
paltry scroll of parchment, without ca
rying, and honoring, and fearing it
the heart? And if that is done, is an
thing gained by the inscription of Il
Great Name in book made by hum,
hands. Look abroad, on the glorio
Heavens, on the mighty orbs that ri
the day and illuminate the night; on t
countless myriads of worlds that hang
space,
Forever singing as they shine,
The hand that made them is divine.
There is where the name OF God
written. There His finger is show
also in our beautiful world, where on t
face of nature the divinity of its max
is confessed as we'll in the giant mou
tain, the trackless ocean, as the til
flower that, star-eyed, ndorns the plei
ant plains. With these evidences
henefcent power constantly before ,
by which provision is made for the Low
as we'll as the great, the weak as also
mighty--is not the most obvious less
to be drawn; is federation, forbearaI
and consideration for others, and ,
persecution? II that is the case,
christianity of that christian convent
is we fear, in most unsatisfactory CT
dition, and they had better wash tn
own garments before they find fault VI