And their practice fully agreed with Testament, and makes any pretence their principle during the whole war. of obeying the precepts, and followThough their tracks were often seen ing the example of Jesus Christ, can round the Shakers' houses, they never be so blind as not to see its entire offered to hurt their persons or pro- repugnance to the spirit of Chrisperty, in the least. tianity, and the example of its Very different was the conduct of Founder. But the time will certhe American army—although they tainly come, when men will either did not go so far as some of them renounce any pretence to Christianity, had sworn they would — namely, to or renounce the practice of war, as kill the Shakers,—yet their conduct being utterly inconsistent and contrawas such (although they were treated dictory one to the other. with the utmost kindness by the We have in the above relation, Shakers, as the officers publicly ac- a fair opportunity of observing the knowledged,) as to make it necessary different effects of the spirit of war, for the whole society to remove to and the spirit of peace, upon the Kentucky and Ohio, as stated in the morals, the conduct, and the pro“ Declaration." tection of those who are exercised It ought, however, in justice to by them. On the one hand, the be mentioned here, that the personal defenceless people protected by their conduct of Gen. Harrison, and his innocence and peaceable conduct from officers generally, was not such to-' being hurt by the ferocious savages, wards the Shakers as that of the in the midst of war, while their spirits private soldiers. But the licentious were exasperated to the highest pitch. nature of those who generally com- On the other hand, an army, while pose un army, when not restrained professedly protecting the country, by the strictest discipline, will gene- doing more damage to their rally discover itself by such conduct countrymen than an enemy themas is abhorrent to every Christian selves. We see in this instance, in the feeling. instance of the Quakers being protected Probably you have seen the Peti- nearly 70 years in the first Settlement tion of the inhabitants of Illinois of Pennsylvania, and many other inTerritory, praying Congress remu. stances that might be brought, hou neration for their losses during that much more protection there is in the campaign. I have not seen the Pe. simple effects of the spirit of peace, tition, but have been told, it is there than in the expense and parade of stated, that the destruction of their armies. A LOVER OF PEACE. property by the American army, during that campaign, was greater than In No. 4. of this work, some notice all that was destroyed by the Indians, was given of a - Declaration of the during the war. people called Shakers” — in which How shocking the destruction of they stated the treatment that a large temporal things which is made by society of them had received in Inan army !-But when we consider the diana from the army under General sacrifice of lives, and most of all, Harrison. In remarking on these the horrid destruction of morals, in abuses, we asked the following questhis worst of all schools of vice- tion-“ Would the savages in that how can it be that any one who pos- region have treated the peaceful sesses any philanthropic or Christian Shakers in such a manner, knowing feelings, can be so blinded by the their principles ?" This question, begod of this world, as to advocate or ing noticed by some of the Shakers, justify the practice of war ? led to the foregoing statement. Of I have often thought it strange, the truth of the statement, we that any one who reads the New entertain no doubt; and we have own reason to believe that some disagree- justice and absolute necessity in every able circumstances were suppressed, particular case. Such a shedding of to avoid giving offence. blood as has just occurred, (and It is gratifying to find that “the though the instance is at hand and personal conduct of General Harri- impressive, hundreds to which the son, and his officers generally, was same reasonings apply must occur not such towards the Shakers as that in a soldier's life,) though it may, of the private 'soldiers.” Is it not, for aught I know, be legal; though however, a reproach to the nation, it may, for aught I know, be duty that our soldiers should be so much in the military sense; though it may, more savage than the Indians ? But for aught that I shall argue here, what better can be expected of men be politically praiseworthy; is what, who are trained up to barbarity and I think, no Christian can lay his hand bloodshed ? When compared with our on his heart and say he would door soldiers, how magnanimous does the that he would not rather be thewretchIndian Chief appear, in assigning his edest slave on the face of the earth than reasons for not injuring the Shakers! have the moral responsibility of such “We warriors meddle with a peace- deeds. He dares not, he cannot think, able people! That people, we know, that any authority, any professional will not fight. It would be a dis- regulation, any legal protection, will grace to our nation to hurt such a be an availing plea, a recognized people.” Can there possibly be any licence for destroying a fellow-creaneed of making war on a nation ture, at the bar of God. For 300 which is governed by such a Chief, years, Christian and Soldier were or by such noble sentiments ? What universally held incompatible terms. will an enlightened posterity say of What has united them ? Certainly our bloody wars with such a people? not a clearer understanding of the Where shall we look for a white spirit of the Gospel. Chief that has been employed in a war with the Indians, who will be Auspicious Occurrences. regarded by posterity as worthy to I. By a late act of Congress the be ranked with the magnanimous red Slave-trade has been pronounced Chief, whose sentiments have now piracy. been recorded i Such a man will not II. An act was passed by the be found among any of our Chiefs Legislature of New York, at the who have been instigators of war close of the late Session, exempting against the feeble and nearly exter- all persons having religious scruples minated tribes ; nor among those again bearing arms, from the perwho can boast of having hanged formance of military duty in time defenceless and unarmed captives. of peace, without requiring from such persons the payment of any CHRISTIAN and SOLDIER fine or commutation whatever in incompatible Terms. lieu of such service.”—The Reformer, Whatever may be the just rights June 1821. of self-defence, whatever of universal [We sincerely regret that Massaarming and organization may be chusetts, the boasted cradle of civil allowed by the Gospel to an invaded and religious liberty, is so far behind nation, it is astonishing to me that her sister state in this important any one can read the New Testament, affair; and that peaceable men, by and think its believers sanctioned in her laws, are still exposed to fines making the use of arms a profession, or imprisoninents, for conscientiously in giving up their consciences to a declining to learn the art of killing superior, and being accessary to the their brethren! Can there be greater destruction of human life, without folly than that of punishing men for the fullest conviction of its strict pacific principles and dispositions ?] ODE TO WAR. Dread offspring of Tartarian birth, Of arms, where Discord's gorgon-featur'd form Stern god! wolf-hearted and accurs'd, Her heart of adamant! and arm'd her hand There, where the battle loudest roars, The frequent sob, the agonizing smart, Avaunt, from Albion's isle ! nor there Bid the hoarse clangors of the trumpet cease, THE HERALD OF PEACE. NOVEMBER 1821. A PREVALENT AND BRUTAL CUSTOM REPROBATED. a O" upon this latter voted to the consideration of practice, and which we believe gives the barbarous and absurd practice, of to the minds of many its peculiar settling private disputes by the point of zest, is, that the uncertainty as to its the sword, or the contents of a brace issue, and the excitement of feeling of pistols; and we think the argu- which is produced during its proments which have been adduced ex- gress, furnishes a fruitful source for pose, completely, the folly, the in- the spirit of gambling to exercise adequacy, and the iniquity of such itself. modes for adjusting differences. But If such be the nature, and such there is another practice, esteemed the consequences of the Pugilistic of a plebeian nature, very prevalent science, for such it is become, is it in England, which is more brutal in not incredible, that a country and itself, and far more demoralizing in a government, calling themselves its influence on society. Duelling is Christian, should permit its conticonducted with the exterior of ci- nuance? Is it not incredible, that vility, and with the greatest secrecy; the archbishops, bishops, and clernor are there more than two or three gymen of the established church, persons present, to witness the exe and all other ministers of Jesus cution of its murderous purpose. Christ, who profess to be engaged But that, to which we now allude, in the great and glorious work of is carried on with a studied and evangelizing mankind, do not rise in savage brutality, that would disgrace one powerful body, and solicit the the monsters of the forest, and its suppression of practices, which were bloody and barbarous display is at- disgraceful to the morals of even tended by hundreds and thousands Grecian and Roman idolaters ! To of spectators, who cannot but be- see human beings, the workmanship come increasingly depraved and in- of God, animated by dispositions human by such exhibitions. Another which properly attach to infernal 2 T VOL. III. tude; beings, tormenting and destroying Open as our eyes are to the hor. each other, is a distressing sight: rible nature, and extensive, deterioyet however much we may grieve rating consequences of the art of over such a display of the depravity Boxing, we cannot but feel surprised of human nature, we should have that tracts have not been written reason to rejoice, if the knowledge against it, accompanied perhaps with of the fact produced general detesta- anecdotes, calculated to shew its tion and abhorrence. But what con- great evil, and pernicious effects.sequences may we not apprehend to The grand argument which is adsociety, when, from the tender age duced in support of the practire, is of childhood to the full possession that against which the friends of of muscular strength, displays of Peace must ever be opposed. It is brutal contention are allowed to ex- alleged, that the art of boxing proist, nay are even patronized by the duces a bold and martial spirit. nobility, and admired by thousands This might be most effectually disand tens of thousands ? What fatal puted ; but it is our duty to shew results may we not anticipate, when that a martial spirit is at complete we see the windows of respectable variance with the religion of the booksellers exhibiting the portraits Cross : If any man hath not the of these Christian gladiators, in every spirit of Christ, he is none of his.' variety of fierce and barbarous atti and announcing publications, FROM THE CORRESPONDENCE OF THE where prize-fighting is attempted to be dignified into a science, and where the enormity of its bloody and cruel A GENTLEMAN engaged in literary purdetails is endeavoured to be glossed suits, having applied to the Peace Society over, and made attractive by tech- for information with respect to their prinnical terms of ludicrous or fanciful ciples and their origin, a set of their Reports and Tracts were sent to him, import. which produced a correspondence between We freely acknowledge the neglect him and the Secretary of the Peace Society, of which we have been guilty, in not of which the following is the substance :calling the attention of our readers pointedly to this subject before. The 20 Aug. 1821. SIR,-I desire you to accept my importance of it, in reference to the thanks for the favour of the Reports progress of Christian principles, and and some tracts of the Society for the spirit of Christian peace, presses promoting Peace. The idea which powerfully upon our minds, and we they convey is truly Christian, invite our Correspondents and Chris- the time is approaching when man kind will learn their best interest in tians in general, to assist in exhibiting this antichristian monster in haps this Society may be one of practising War no more ; and per. his true colours. If it be possible, the human instruments towards falet us rouse such a noble and gene- cilitating the spread of that divine rous Christian feeling of abhorrence prophecy! at the practice of Pugilism, through But I believe, many, who profit out the country, and in the govern- conclusion of the Christian dispensa by a War, are not insensible to this ment, as shali effectually banish it tion-yet still enjoy the prosperity from the face of Britain. which arises from their calling in a COMMITTEE OF THE LONDON PEACE and |
0 مراجعات لا تتحقّق Google من المراجعات، ولكنها تتحقّق من المحتوى المزيّف وتزيله في حال رصده. كتابة مراجعة |