Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-09-06
The Reviewer Reviewed.

I
and which you were obliging enough
to publish in the issue of the preced-
ing week; and this kind person has
also been considerate enough to pub
| lish some criticism on the same.
don't often pay much attention to
matters appearing over anonymous
signatures, but On this occasion, and
out of consideration for the party to
whom l refer and also the Importance
of such subjects as this to the young
and thoughtless who may be most at
fected and who are really most con-
cerned, will again ask little space
in which to recognize the existence
and courteousness of our mutual friend.
And, first, let me say to this gentle
man, whoever he may be. that under
no circumstances could l be induced,
by either act or word, knowingly to
do injustice, or even to show the least
unkindness to the distinguished per-
son to whom he refers in his brief
paper. l can, l think, say that l am
| as true friend of the Senator as the
most of other citizens of Missouri,
whom he now SO faithfully represents
in high station at the Capitol of the
Nation.
For years upon years now past and
gone, l have entertained the most ex-
allied admiration for his great talents
and surprising versatility of his learn
ing. Can your correspondent say tina,
much?
AS for the religious sentiments oil
the Hon. Mr.. Vest / have the best oil
reason to know what they are, and l
will feel thankful to God, if l shall be
able to realize that his Ironton cham
pion IS willing to adopt his fine senti-
ments and follow in his footsteps.
| But now recurring to the import Of
the term superstition, we all, | am in
clined to believe, are fully aware that
it has great variety of applications.
Even political and love affairs have
not been deemed outside of its domain
For says Mr.. Spencer, "of the politi-
ca! erstitutions-none is so uni
versally diffused as the notion that
majorities are omnipitent." Socia
Statistics, p. 232. If that view be cor
rect, and / entertain no doubt of it,
then our mutual friend, whom / sus
pect drops semi-occasionally into your
sanctum, must be, in high degree
superstitious, for l am told he Away:
feels biggest, tallest, and happiest
when defending the doctrine of ma
jorities in the Democratic party.
The term superstition very properly
applies to certain ceremonies and prac.
tees in many forms of religion still
existing in the world, but to the hon.
or of the Israelitish first, and next the
| Christian religion let it be told, super.
stition is in Its grossest forms fast dis
appearing from the earth. In the
meantime. let me repeat, that it is al
ways improper and unjust to apply
this term, in the sense and manner in
which it has been applied in the paper
| that l am now considering; and es-
pecially, when used derogatory to a
Christian people of high standing,
pure morals, and the grandest virtues.
Your IrOnton reviewer, is therefore
incorrect, in applying such terms to
any of our people whether Christian
of the present day, or Israelite OF
former ages, in any of their religious
| duties.
And still farther l may take the lib
erty to mention the questionable grace
| of such a course is the more conspicu-
Gus, if found emanating from a person
| protesting the Christian religion, and
for aught may know, holding mem
bership in a leading Christian church.
The institution and ceremonies per-
tanning thereto. and now under dis
cussion, in part. are set forth in the
10th chapter of Leviticus, and they
were to be observed with scrupulous
exactness year after year as a service
of expiation and atonement.
| That those sacrifices and services
were types of future nobler events,
which underlay the eternal and visi-
BILE observance, is true, but there is nc
evidence that any Israelite of those
days were so apprised. The thorough
observance of this solemn service was
alike obligatory upon all people OF
their nation, without respect to class
distinction, and for the time, at least,
successfully operated to the release
and removal of all their national sins.
And yet, of this very service with all
its minuteness, the Apostle declares,
"it could never make the conner there
unto perfect as pertaining to the con-
science"
Nevertheless, no Israelite of those
days nor any Christian of ours, so far
as am informed, ever admitted that
any faint of superstition vitiated this
sacrifcial service, when economically