The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-11-07


so we do when dogmatic, uncE,4stian
men attack, for sordid purpose, our
God'g'ven right to express ourself ac-
cording to the reason and free will God
gave US. And it does seem to us, as it
Will seem to all sensible, good-hearted
people, that no one is fit instructor in
morals and religion who seeks to injure
a man because of his honest belief rather
than try to persuade him by sense,
reason, charity and brotherly love.
But, now. to quit the burlesque in
words, we wish to request all cores
pondents of the Home Journal to re-
frain from any disrespectful mention OF
or allusion to the News. Leave to Us
all that demands, in our opinion, any
notice.
The News reminds us ola clever, but
ignorant old lady who, during the days
of slavery, had inherited suddenly n ne.
gro girl. :" Miss Betsy"-(that was
what the negro girl called her new mis-.
tress) was proud Of her servant. One
day the servant was down ut the spring,
washing Miss Betsys clothes, just as we
propose to occasionally wash the News
of its selfconceit and meddIesomencss.
The negro girl heard her mistress calling
her. " hat do you want, Mss Bet
yP "Oh. nothing-only | wanted to
hear you call me Miss Betsy from the
spring" The News is new in journal.
ism 1t is very vain. 1t wants to get
some attention, like a b dtcked young
lady just setting out. 1t seems to think
it has bill of sale to our social and re.
ligious views-secms to think it owns
us, and just wants to hear us call ii
" Miss Betsy" now and then. 1t runs
away with All idea because it can't help
it, like the old master who used to run
away with his slave during the full of
the moon, and when the slave died his
master ran away by himself, from sheer
force Of habit. If you will let the News
alone it will soon run away-the WAY
that Wards ducks went, or the hogs
that had the evil spirit in them. Let
the News alone.
We heard of preacher once who
commenced his sermon by saying that
there was certain wife in the congre.
CATION who had quarrelled with her hus-
band that morning and he intended to
throw his hymn book at her, and when
he made the motion every wife in the
congregation lodged So, when We
have spoken in Sunday Thoughts OF
hypocrisy in many who profess to be
Christians, the News editor lodges and
gets mad, aud accuses us as worse than
the bat spoken Of in that old fable we
read when a very little boy. And, it
appears rs if the News feels its incompe-
tency to help on the "strifc between the
opposing forces of good and evil" and
needs the aid of the Home journal. 1t
must surely feel its weakness and the
greater power of the journal.
Now, we say to the News that re.
ligion is greatly the result Of education,
and if the editor of the News had been
born in a Mohammedan country Gas
Buckle says he would have been firm
believer in Mohammedanism. The
Home Journal editor believes in tie
Christian religion, but would "rse
above the pretenslons of hostile sccts,
and, without being terrified by the fear
of future Dunisel"ent, or allured by the
hope of future happiness, be content
with such practical religion as consists
in performing the duties Of life; and
uncontrolled by the dogmas of any par
ticular creed, strive to make the soul
retire inward upon itself, and by the eff.
forts of its own contemplation admire
the inefable grandeur of the Being OF
beings, the supreme cause Of all things
We honor and reverence all scots, yet
skeptical, which is well, because they
advocate contradictory hypothesis, and
all cannot, of course, be right. In the
name of reason and peace, then, cannot
the News cease to try to irrltate us, and
manufacture prejudice against us. by
invading the ''I.ares and Penates' OF
heart and home, over which the Ro.
mans supposed them to preside? Aye,
Christianity will never prosper by as
sailing instead of trying by mild means
to convert. We would rather he what
we are, before the bar of Jesus, with all
our errors and virtues, than a misguided
bigot who talks of creeds when Il soul is
to be saved. We want Christianity
of the heart, which cheers us in toll,
lights our home with a CLEAN from
Gods Heaven, smoothes our pillow in
sickness, and, in the sad, stern hour of
death leads it gently home to Immortal
ity. Can such n religion of the Heart
die2 Please, Mr.. News, do not be so
much concerned about our religion. If
we did not feel we are q better man
than many who for sordid purposes
would condemn us, We would count our
self a most miserable sinner, nor sleep
of nights us peaceful rs We do. News,