Year: 1871

8 upon the sun, thinking thus to dispel itl
: light. -A ~ at


It is far safer for us to move through
!. this world knowing by what we are sur


rounded, than go blindly and unwiselJ
r ignoring such things as do not please US
t thus turning into dangerous elements
: what otherwise would prove the most
> valuable of blessings. We should "prove
8 all things and hold fast that which is
good
. Candor brings one charge against US,
! which, if it were true, would be more
} serious than all others. It is this, that
our religion tends to imhorality and sen.
sualism. I affirm this to be as false as
. the spirit of darkness himself. I do not
}, claim perfection among as, but do claim
a higher average of morality than among


any other equally large body of religion
lists. And I think it were well for ''pee-


pie who live in glass houses not to throw


stones Within the last five years de-


velopments have been made of the wicked


and licentious character of 80 many min


listers of the gospel within Vermont and


New York States alone, that it has cast


doubt and sadness over the minds of null


titudes of deserving christians and had


these things occurred among us, we never


could have peaceably lived in civilized


community, SO great would have been


mems rage against u.s. The shameful de-


velopments of the trial of a Rev. Doctor


in the Methodist Church, a few days


since, in neighboring town, had they


been brought out against Spiritualist,


might, indeed, have given Candor some


cause to call us the hard names he does.


He talks of my influence over the


young. L wonder what kind of an in


fuence the precept and example of such


men in high places will have, and has al


ready exercised upon the young, who are


taught to expect the truth, and nothing


else from men In such exalted places.


These wolves in sleeps clothing. 1 think


verify the saying of Timothy, that 'In


the last day perilous times shall come;


men shall be lovers of themselves, covet-


GUS, boasters," etc, "For of this sort are


they which creep into mems houses and


lead captive silly women, laden with sins,


led away with divers lusts." / think it


were we'll for Candor and such as are in
sympathy with him, to 'frst pluck the


beam out of their own eyes, before they
undertake to pluck the mote from the eye
of the Spiritualist.'


With as much justice might say, in
view of these revealments and others like
them, that the Methodist religion tends
to sensualism as can be assert that our re-
ligion does the same, and with far greater
consistency might say it, for investiga-
tion proves that in the prisons. houses of
correction and various other places where
the low and wicked flnd home,-sosrce-
ly ever is one found who holds our faith,
while no inoonsiderable proportion of
them have once been members of that So
oiety, not excepting the ministers. 1
would not lower myself to Candor's level,
however, to make the statement-that
they were wicked because of their religion.
God forbid And pity from my inmost
soul the innocent ones who must neces- |
sarily bear reproaoh for their sakes. 1
have no doubt many such men retain their
position and profession as long as possible,
but forbearanoe has ceased to be virtue.
When myself and others are basely ac-
oused of entertaining sentiments deroga-
tory to virtue and morality, will lay bare
the truth, though it be unwelcome to
some, and if "by their fruits ye shall
know them," Candor better look well to
the fruits of those he wishes so carefully
to defend before he falsifes us further.


We ask no more credit than we deserve,
but we do demand that the lives we live
and the influence we exert should be val
ued at what they are really worth.


Candor says, at may be that desire
to see the overthrow of Christianity" If
were to accept him, as fair representa-
tive of it, should deeire it above all
things, for nothing could be more perni-
cious than such bitter recriminations and
Misrepresentation. But the religion of
peace, truth and love. which Jesus taught
and exemplifed, would wish to see tri-
umphant i'll the world, and with that view
I labor, and could I exercise an influence
over the minds of young men, it would
be, that they live purely, honestly and
soberly, and could convince them that
there moved some guardian angel, once
the dear father, mother, sister or dearly
loved friend, whose form they have seen
laid in the cold ground, and could satisfy
them that this dear one could read every
thought, fathom every motive, and that,
with tireless feet, went down into the
haunts OF drunkness and crime by their
sides, ever hoping that they might turn
for moment and listen to the whispering
of the spirit to beware, ever striving to
guide to holier better life. Gould I con-
vince them of this fact, for surely fact it
be, can any one suppose for moment that
the influence of such conviction would
be to draw them down? No, indeed
When once mankind can be satisfied that
they are never alone, but that forever
come holy spirit moves near them to
shield them from evil, if they will but
listen to the voice. While on the other &
hand, darker and more undeveloped spirits t
go with them as they fall, grieving the I
angel friend whom they neglect. o, could i
the world come to full appreciation of I
this fact, then, indeed, might we hope for I
drunkenness and crime to fade away. 6
Then might we expect honor and truth '
fulness among men, no more selling each u
others interests for popularity, no more t
buying of place and power at the ballot q
box with glass of rum, no more of this e