Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-17

ioHi tue peSluulnS OF mans eX-
istence there have been periods of
especial interest to the human race.
In accordance with the mental con-
dition of humanity, mankind have
received much in every age that
should elevate them. At times they
have profited by it, and then, again,
the seed has fallen upon barren soil.
Mankind possess the necessary quail
iiications to judge of right and
wrong, if allowed the free use of
their faculties but if this right is
denied them, ignorance must remain
a power to hold the world in her
calling fetters, until reason is al
lowed to enter the darkened condi-
ton of mortality and light the path
way to happiness and a bright future.
There must be spiritual growth to
bring the race to the highest stand
ard of moral excellence, and to bind
the children of earth in the sweet
bonds of brotherly love and atrec-
ton.
On recent visit to the old rock
church | found that self-aggrandize-
nient is ruling power with you as
with the political elements of the
day. If the light of liberty and
reason points out another path to a
brother, he is at once banished from
the social circle, and not allowed to
speak of our blessed Saviour within
the holy walls of your church that
he helped to build and sustain, until
we hired Hamilton to preach - a
man who does not know Christ to-
day more than those who nailed him
to the cross--and that is the reason
! am kicked out of church to-day.
There is among you a very general
disregard OF personal rights and
fraternal feeling. You are deficient
in the true principles of brotherly
love as taught by our Elder Brother,
he whom you profess to reverence.
But how different are his savings,
and how full of sweet melody are
his instructions when compared with
the idle, high sounding words which
are given to you from the desk
you call sacred. The unfolding of
intelligence was designed to elevate
mankind from their darkened meH4
tai condition, but in some instances
it has failed to accomplish the de-
sired result.
Now, concerning the investigation
you and your honorable preacher
were going to give my case, let me
say to you, the only way Of arriving
at a just conclusion concerning any
person, or upon any subject, is
through evidence. This is true of
the laws of the land, and is applica-
Die also TO a church. When any
person offers you subject for in
vestigation, give it a thorough anal
ysis, and seek for the evidence that
viii enable you to decide intelligent
". The jury system is the nations
safety. The decision of an intelli-
gent jury has more weight than the
conflicting opinions Of learned coun-
sci, for it is often the case that edu-
cation in certain channels leads to
gross errors in Judgment; hence the
justness Of the jury system. All
forms OF religious belief should be
tried by that system, requiring suf-
ficient evidence to sustain its claims.
/ advocate and seek that form Of
trial, feeling and knowing that
Just decision will be rendered upon
the evidence given. But in this, as
in other trials, Unfair means are Of
ten resorted to, evea 20 bribery, but
so confident are we III our position,
having for witnesses those who have
passed beyond the earth's corrupt
ing influence, tha. we feel assured
~ :. -. - - III IL