PUBLISHED SEMI MONTHLY.
YOLIIIIIE Till.
SHIELD.”
HAL.Ivl«H, NORTH CAROLINA, FEBRUARY 1«, 1851.
$1 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE.
NUMBER «.
THE CHRISTIAN SUN
is Published Semi-Monthly by
HENRY B. HAYES, Publishing Aoent.
Edited by W. B. Wellons, J. R. Holt, H. B. H*yes.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
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E. F. Watson, J. B. Hinton,
Alsey B. Freeman.
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COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Christian Sun.
A NORTHERN TOUR.
> No. V.
The lime having arrived for us to leave the Ni
agara Falls ; we stepped on the cars at half past i
two o’clockrP. M. on the 8th of Oct. In about j
one hour and 15 minutes we were at Buffalo, a
distance of 22 miles. Buffalo is situated on Lake
Erie, and is one of the most thriving and stiiring
cities in Western New York. Its population at
present is about 30 thousand. 1 passed through
some of the most busy and thronged streets, and
did not *ee but one colored person in the place.
1 learned that a few days before about 300 fugi
tive slaves had left their for Canada. All through
the Northern States the fugitive slave bill recent
css is producing great excite
®le ; and many are
stopped at the
yas treated
i Pro
own the Hudson river. The scenery on this
v@r is grand beyond description. Passengers
Vui la giauu uiiv* — o
ave a view of .the Catskill mountains, thd 41 al
ades ” a,nd many splendid privnte mansions sit
ated all along the river. On this river you have
view of “West Point.” The river is in many
laces quite narrow, but very deep. No lover of
ature and natures works can fail to be delighted
rilh a passage up or down this river.
We arrived at New York City about twilight,
nd was conducted to Elder 0. Barr’s. He vfas
bsent attending a meeting of the " Sons of Tem
lerance,” but were welcomed by his kind Lady,
■nd early retired to rest.
The 11th, of Oct. was spent in the city. Elder
Jarr and Bro. Hamlin took much pains in con
lncting Elder Weston aud myself, to all the most
nteresting places in the City. We first visited
he ship yards were several large ocean steamers
ire in course of erection. s There was much to in
erest us here, which would not be interesting to
>ur readers. Next we visited Grace, and Trinity
ihurches ; ascending the steeple of Trinity chureji
Dme 300 feet, vVn had a splendid view of the
ity, and Brooklyn. Trinity Church has more
ealth than any other Church in the United Sta es;
ut I did not think it was as well finished, and
le interior as pretty as Grace Church. I need
ot say they are both Episcopalian Churches.
F the cost and beauty of a house adds to the de
otion and piety of those that worship in it; then
should conclude the worshipers in these houses
re very pious and holy people.
At another Church in the city fronting the street
r a marble statue intended to re present the Apos
le Paul with a Bible under one arm, and a sword
l the other hand ; ready X suppose to preach
he gospel of peace, and to fight with a sword if
lecessary.' 1 wondered in my mind if He, whose
;i»gdom is not of this world, would own a man
arrying a sword in one hand and a Bible in the
itlier, to be one of his Apostles. Again I won
lered if St. Paul should visit our earth if lie would
iver think that marble figure represented him.
We spent an hour pleasantly in the “ Arts Union,”
where some of the most beautiful paintings in the
"orld may be seen.
H tturnum’s Museum ” we spent an hour or
iany natural curiosities to'hiterest
other interesting places
not allow us to give a
'oik/street
nous
souls
Our cause
requires it.
ocean of time in the ship
j I^ia nnct anrl tVin nlrf chin
ill outride the waves,
ie port of endless rest.
My dear lay-brother, you nave a wort to do as
f*l 1 as your Minister. Ynu-ean pray for the suo
ss of the Church ; y*fu can counsel, encourage
d strengthen your weaker brethren, and so act
well your part in the work of the I-ord. r
Sisters a word to you. O let us have your in- j
luence in the good work. You have unconverted 1
iindred around you, try by your example and en- t
.reaties to lead them to the cross of Christ. 1
Mr. Editor you have a work to do. Much de- c
pends upon the manner in which the Organ of our r
Church is conducted. Should it still continue to j
idvocate the liberal principles of our denomina- 1
lion, it will exert a powerful influence in favor of 1
our beloved Zion. 1
But Mr. Editor, I have already exceeded my e
intended bounds. I hope I shall be pardoned for
thus doing. I long to see the church I love flour- t
ish and prosper. It is my daily prayer. And I
hope to see the time when her success and glory
shall be seen from land to land, from sea to sea ;
and millions yet unborn behold her rising glory.
1 ' M. B. BARRETT.
Littleton, Va., January 1851.
For the Christian Sun.
THE CASE OF THE RECHABITES,
Sustaining the legitimate principles of the Sons
of Temperance, or an appeal to all truly Chris
tian and liberal minded people.
’ Bko. Hayes : Under the above heading, I of
fer you a few thoughts on true temperance, sim
ply to advance correct view's on an absorbing sub
ject, without intending/to provoke controversy ;
mubh less angry controversy in the columns of
our periodical. Indeed tli'e plan you and I named
in conversation, and which, I rejoice to see has
prevailed dfjaie ift the “Sun,” is doubtless best
as to all differences of opinion-among brethren
writing for publication, viz: to give their own re
flections in temperate and not denunciatory terms,
without directly adverting td others views in con
flict with, theirs. This plan accords best with the
very fjrst/principles of human liberty,- as express
ed in th/ North Carolina Almanac, page-fourth,
“It is the very essence of freedom, that man
should do whatever he pleases without injury to
another.” And I vary .the expression as to the
essence of true liberty, by saying rt consists in
every man thinking, judging, and acting for him
jielf in all things lawful, without sinning against
others by violating Inland equity. And l add,
that the very essence of tyranny is that of sup
pressing by denunciation and violence individual,
Lawful, free thought, judgment and action. Hence,
iy the exercise of “ eternal vigilance as the price
)f liberty,” and in view of the one and the other
)f the foregoing first principles of freedom and
.yranny, were effected the most splendid achieve
snts recorded in history, i. e., the Reformation
“^’.merican Revolution.
imrmcr now attacuea oy inis popisu expius
inst the right of private judgment, that
n has a right to think for himself in Re
aud the latter by all fanatical, persons
more of themselves and their personal
otions " than they ought to think,” or
,ers think, except those of tljeir clique or
s the reverse of such thinking, each free
our country ought to think for himseli
temperance, politics, doctoring, and
wfully.
ticisru is now rife in our country under
aspects, we will here define it, to its
starting place.
then, is a human invented sin, in
emn the innocent as guilty in view
'he Bible definition of sin is that of
ah\ law of God as contained in. the
,lleVj man invented sin receive no
perN| Bible, they must be consid
orign, such as those of the
ats, and swallowing cam
others, even in the ex
e worthy actions. For
nee of holy regard for
ned Christ for heajjpg
etence ’of superior re
fling Christ a glutton
this subject, which I
rtray, as the most insidi
1 its doings. I will de
it mates obligatory what
; in the exercise of Chris
contrary of such grievous j
jiidage as rhe Apos tie Paul!
little upon this point, be-1
irectly. in conflict with our I
points' T>f fftith iMid'prac-f
plicated multitude instead of
les of faith for Christian so
organization : for through the
ian creeds, no man or set of men,
rpret the Bible for his fellows by
iis own interpretation as infallible
well as himself; not only the first
in virtues, charity, is trampled in
worse than infidel hatred engendCr
nd brings on horrid persecutions, in
roperty and life. To illustrate this
s fully, I take the instance of St, Paul
“ He thatgiveth her in marriage doeth
e thatgiveth her not id marriage doeth
evidently meaning that to marry, or not
depends on circumstances and choice,
marrying in itself is praiseworthy ora bless
but not to marry where duty and choice were
concerned was no crime, but oven better or pre
ferable. Here, the Bible leaves the matter for
aach individual to think and judge for himself, to
fithe* enjoy matrimony, or to decline it.
But mark, what a benevolent and liberty giv
ng^Jod leaves optional, wicked and despotic men
nnkcs obligatory ; as in case of some anti-Christs,
is the Apostle predicted would rise up as a spe
ial mark of Christian apostncy, aud forbid to
narry. Eclesiastical bigotry making it a crime
o enjoy a blessing that might not only be dechn
d, but better perhaps if the choice led that way
o decline or enjoy it. Thousands of like instan
es might be given from the Bible, of duty deter
lined by individual choice. I am one that re- I
lices, that no trammels put upon any by an ar- ]
ritrary creed concern, as to modes of ^dminis- I
ering Baptism in the Christian Church; but all
sft to a free choice, and no regard as to Church i
rganization, that nothing indifferent to God as to i
lodes of baptism, or as to position of body in j
irayer; but that from diversity of usages by j
lible recdrd, and diversity of practices in all ages j
iy most excellent Christians now in Heaven, it j
i fairly presumable that God is pleased to see !
very one please himself as to nonesseutials.
Another instance of duty relative and not posi- j
ive, illustrative of our views, is that of the Apos- j
le’s teaching, that as to eating meat offered to j
iols right or wrong, according to the conscience
,nd choice of the Christians of his day; and his
leclaring he would not eat meat as long as the
vorld last, if it offended a brother, is a matter
if mere personal choice in him ; and if this say
ng wrested as in the case of ‘‘ better not to mar
y ” or remain single as he chose to be, make it
ibligatoty for all Christians to so trammel them- j
elves as to meats or drinks, as to consider them- j
elves obliged to refrain at all, much less literally ]
lot to eat meat if another professor is opposed
o it, appears to me not only totally perverting
.he Apostle’s doctrine of freedom of conscience,
n the very case to eat or let alone, but as wicked -
y absurd against' the highest Christian virtue,
diarity, as that of anti-Christ forbidding to marry,
nid often connected with such anti-christian infi
lelity, is the Jesuite principle of doing evil that
rood may come, the Apostle pronouncing the
lamnation of such just.
As strikingly illustrative ot the.foregoing ideas,
ind of what ought to be real freedom and charity
is to Christian temperance and other tnatters de
sending on individual liberty of choice, I select
,he case of the Rechabites, as set forth in the
}5th chapter of Jeremiah. In view of their pe-t
mliarities and free toleration therein among the
Jews, I might suppose the Rechabites of old so
.ihgrateful and tyrannical as to denounce and ath
irwise attempt to'force the rest of Isarel to stop
Irinking wine, living in houses, and being farmers.
On the other handvsuppose the rest of isarel had
lttempted to force'the Rechabites to drink . wine,
live in houses, and to be agriculturist; for all three j
of these abstinent (not properly temperance)
things put in the same category,llic one as much !
obligatory by choice or agreemenl'-as the other. |
But the one side in the supposed cases/making it
a human invented sin to enjoy certain blessings,j
and the other making it a sin to abstain therefrom.
Whereas intrinsically, or apart from agreement
or choice, neither the one or the oilier a sin or
transgression of any divine or human law,-but in
regard to a pious obedience to an ancestors in
junction, the Rechabites were praise worthy, and
their example in this respect a reproof to the
transgressors of divine laws in Isarel, and so used
by the Prophet. And certainly no censure named
or implied against others enjoying said blessings
or privileges ; but the reverse understood, if grant
ed that tineyard business of building houses, and
sowing and reaping were praiseworthy pursuits
of life among the people of God at that time,
and no Clirisiidn I suppose can fail to grant this.
Be it remembered however, that as instances
of their severity on others, John was said to have
9, devil because he chose to be abstinent, and “ the
Son of man who came eating and drinking ” was
called a glutton and w^ne bifabejj as an excess in
boLh irresistibly implied that Christ was slander
ed as intemperate, (or as a drunkard) as well as a
glutton. And again, they charged him with be
ing in league with Satan, and thus they were so
guilty as to incur the danger of unpardouable sin.
For such attacks, indicating tlieir deep toned hy
pociisy, they were called vipers, serpants, <tc.
According to theTprimary Protestant principle,
and for fearless ind magnanimous adherence to
which, thousands of martyrs have surrendered
all dear on earth, and even life itself; for one man
i has as good a right as another to interpret the
j Bible for himself, or to think for himself in reii
j gion, and all that pertains thereto, and of course
i temperance not excepted. The exercise of such j
| a privilege, is the greatest nohility on earth, ac
cording to-scripture, for by the free exercise of
this privilege the Bereans were more noble than
the Thessalonicans, because they examined daily
for themselves as to religion. How tyrannical j
then for any man or set of men to undertake to
think for others, and to condemn and persecute
others iu any way for. the clear exercise of a Bible, I
is well as a republican privilege? And I would
is lieve have the Pope or any man fo make me a'
3ible, as to have the exclusively authorative inteP \
iretation of that now made. The Eclesiaslic des
>ot does not say believe the Bible as you under
land it, but as I tell you it means, or as a Ro- j
nanist when asked how he believed? said as his j1
’riest ; and how the Priest believed ? lie answer- ■
d as the Pope ; and inquired of him how they :
11 believed ? he replied they all believed alike.
!ut all bigots surely do unite in one thing at least, j
nd that is in denouncing and persecuting in some
cay, so far as power possessed by all those not
f their faith, mistified as it often is. But not so
rith the Rechabites in their peculiarities, and
berefore the Rechabites were no denunciatory
iersecuting bigots. We read of not a word of |
ensure or denunciation they east upon others, to/
or«e them into their ranks ; nor a word of others '
\ Isarel against them or their peculiarities. But j1
lerfect liberty, and reciprocity, as to recognising 1
"itmil rights, appear to have prevailed at the 1
me, so far at least as we are informed, and so
ir were both temperate in sentiment as well as
i action. But suppose some drunkard of their ]
a}' had denounced them as making slaves of i
lemselves by signing a " pledge,” or having no i
ght to abstain from wine, living in houses, sow- i
ig and reaping? Whom would they have re- i
mi bled among us at this period of the world ? i
>oes it not enter into the essence of liberty for a i
tan to bind himself, or decline binding uimself i
o anything he pleases of a self denying nature,
>rovided no law is broken thereby ? Or suppose
he Rechabites had denounced and rilified—and
hus persecuted in character, if not by fire and
iword others for temperate drinking of wine, (as
hf'old Pharisees/ did Christ) and not living in
ente, and for sowing and reaping ? Whom among
is at this day would they have resembled ? If
t understand the legitimate principles of the Sons
of Temperance, they are similar to those of the
dechabites of old, simply abstinent as legitimate
or genuine sons, without denunciation or persecu
tion in any way of others, not choosing entire
abstinence as to all liquors capable of intoxicating
when intemperately used. If any principle not
avowed behind the eurtain does exist, I should
for one, like to ire informed. But I trust this is
not the case. Respectfully vours <fec.,
SIDNEY WELLER.
P. S. Having alluded to the fact that our Chris
tian order have three cardinal principles, setting
forth their views in religion, and thus eschew non
essentials** which differences of opinion encroach
not upon the grand Christian virtue, charity, as
complicated human creeds often do. I will here
lefine the three as I understand them :
1st—The Bible is our only rule of Christian
faith and practice. 2d—Christ our only Saviour,
wd 3d—a good life the only evidence of good re
ligion. I add, as briefly explanatory, that each
one of our members is to believe the Bible (or
iiimself by his own, and not another’s interpreta
tion; and to exercise the great Protestant princi
ple, “ to think and act for himself in religion.”
V 8. W.
Prom the Spirit of the Age.
DEATH OF THE INEBRIATE.
BY ISAAC N. WALTER.
I once knew a young gentleman whose pros
pects were fair and blooming as the flourishing
laurel. As for opulence, the stream trf wealth
unbidden lifted him ; as for honors, they were
heaped upon him as a being superior ; and for ac
complishments and sense, the world was proud of
hirn.boib as a gentleman and scholar. But alas!
for youthful glory and honors proud ! That gen
tleman, the idol of society, the source and
centre of all attraction, and the being where spir
its bowed before him in adoration to his majesty,
was doomed to exchange the sunshine of gladness
and buoyancy, for the gloom of a miserable and
declining pilgrimage.
From his boyhood to the age of twenty-one, he
evinced nothing beyond what votaries exhibit who
mingd&Jn the festive scenes of hilarty among the
gay throng. From twenty-one to twenty-five it
was evident from bis associates that his respecta
bility was on the wane, and that the individuals
who_once claimed "his attention and presence,
were now loathsome to his sight, as his sensibil
ity was benumbed by the withering influence of
his new associates, abandoned and corrupt. His
best friends discovering the sad change in his con
dition, eloquently exhorted him to reform, and re
trieve that reputation which once dignified his na
ture and his name. But in vain did they plead
for the salvation of such a man. His mind had
insensibly taken the hue of those around him :
he persisted in the course preposterous and strange
as it was, until the grovelling propensities and de
sires of his associates werein unison with his; and he
like them, a prey to foul corruption and base sen:
suahty. The scene of horror now commences, a
dreadful trembling seizes him, a mournful sh'ud
dering deepens the anguish of self prostitution and
abasement. Thrown into confusion, raptured and
alarmed, frantic,Twild, and horrible to behold, he
rolls and tosses upon bis bed, he groans and mut
ters in agonizing shouts and bursting- wails, eall
, ipg upon the vague and chimercial forms of his
! ph-renzied brain unutterable despair and lamenta
i tion. But at length, during an interval of ration
ality, he thinks of a friend of his bosom. He sent
I for him, and it was his wish to receive counsel at
his hands.
His friend enters the room with contending
emotions, all struggling in his bosom. A scene
of horror and dismay ! “ O, generation of vipers,
how can you escape the damnation of hell!” Up
pon the bed is stretched a form once of youthful
mould and beauty, divested now of all grace and
symmetry, with the mildew of ruinious dissipation
ind loathsome corruption all settled around him,
ips languid and fervid; limbs aching and
lying, from physical and intelllectual decline:
he cheek once flushed with roses, crimson-dyed
tnd fair, now pallid and wrinkled with'the marks
)f the spoiler : and all the expression of the man
>ne presentation of dissolution. Behold him lay
lpon his dying bed ! Delirium tremens has
ieized, and gapes the jaws of barbaric death, to
Irown his sin stricken soul. View him as he
vrithes with insufferable anguish, his soul now
summoned to the awful tribunal of God, ns he
ies trembling upon the last promontory of exis
,enee, with eternity in view—big with the incon
teivable terrors of tophet, while he only says in
anguage faint and low, before his spirit’s last
iutter. What shall I do to be saved ?
The curtain of eternity lift, and look down the
Ireadful steep below, the thick palpable outer
darkness, rolls up before my startled eyes, white
ten thousand hissing fires and deathless groans of
mguisli—desperate, unassuaged, arrest ray ven
urous, and appal my trembling soul, and the
twful sound salutes my year—Lost! lost! forever
ost!
The Publishers of the New York Sun, Messrs,
leach, have recently put in operation a printing
aaehiue of extraordinary capacity and perform
,nee. It has eight printing cylinders, and prints
ibout eighteen thousand sheets per hour—the ma
rine itself disposing of the printed sheets. It is
he latest improvement of Col. Hoe. of New York,
ind is a wonderful achievement of inventive ge
nus. ,