Newspaper Page Text
Vo 8 Vol. VII.]
J’ rom the Recorder Sf Telegraph.
A DEADLY EVIL.
Messrs. Editors, —I have long intended
to ask ihe liberty of making, through your
widely circulated and useful paper, a few
•'lggeMions to the moral and religious pub
lick on the subject of Intemperance , that tre
mendous evil which i” traversing our coun
try and our world, diseasing more bodies St
damning more souls, I verily believe, than
any other. Christians weep over the de
eolations it makes ! but are Christians ex
erting themselves as they might and as
they ought, to stay its merciless wast
ing* ?
When incontempluting the ravages of this
destroyer, I have often asked myself, “Is
there nothing that can be done to cheek its
alarming progress ?—And I would ask the
same question in the ear and before the
the conscience of the thousands that pe
ruse your publication. Are there no meas
ures to counteract this deadly foe of God
and man, that the uui'ed Christianity of our
land might adopt with some prospect of
success ? Is there no standard that might
he lifted up against this enemy, to which
the f hristians of the entire country would
dock.
I feel my incnmpetency to admonish and
instruct ihe publick on this subject ; —yet
1 will venture to throw out. a few queries:
and I will preface them, if it is agreeable
to you, with the following extract from a
Discourse delivered a few Sabbaths ago in
a southern citv, the subject of which was,
“The Prevailing Sms of the Times, and
the Manner in which Christians may be
Partakers in them.”—“ I commence, said
the Preacher, with the capital sin of Intern
perance—the sin that makes a chaos of
the mind, of the heart, and of the body of
ten i mass of loHlhflompnes? :
the sin that destroys every thing which is
valuable in individual existence, and em
bitters every thing which is sweet in social
life :—the sin of this age, for iu no former
age do ( believe that it has spread to so
ruinous an extent :—and I must add, the
sin of this nation, the grand reproach of
this KepuMick, the foulest spot upon its
fair ( ice Where else among men does it
take eO wide and wasteful a sweep? Where
are there so many slaves to this fatal pro
p u-'ty, as among our own free citizens ?
it *v* tmi the other day that I read iu the
obituary report of a -ister city, of seven
deaths by intemperance in one week-.
Dealt did f say ? I might have said seven
damnations ,• (or so the Bible reports them.
“Be not deceived, no drunkard shall in
bent the kingdom of Gad” And among
ourselves there is hardly a week, that one |
or more are not reported as having died 1
this suicidal death—and a multitude of vic
tims are in preparation tor Ihe sacrifice.
I beheld the other day one of Ihe many
affecting exhibitions which this sin makes.
It was on a sacred day too. Ido uot mean
the Sabbath, inji civilly sacred day ; a day
that should t>e hallowed to the praise of
the living G"d and to the memory of the
hernick dead ; our country’s Jubilee now,
bat destined to be toe world’s; the birth
day of American freedom, but perhaps bv
and by that restrictive qualification shall be
taken av.ay, and it shall be celebrated
wide as i- the Sabhatb of God. as the na>
tal day of the liberties of mankind; a day
therefore that no moral stain should rest
upon. I saw an old man, of grey, hairs,
staggering with intoxication until he fell
to the earth ; and a step before him, in
the t-arr.e’ dt,gosling slatp, wa one that ap
peered to be his son, and he held by the
hand a little girl that seemed to be his child
(I wished she had been an orphan ratii-r)
too ignorant to know what wa- the matter,
yet ’looking sad, and seeming hurt bv the
unkuulness she received ; anil they- were
on their way, 1 suppose, to tear Ihe last
scanty bandage from two broken hearts
that were bleeding in secret at home.
Oh, it ‘here be no soul iu man, and no
eternity b-iore him—yet for the peace and
bap. loess of this limited life it would be
we’ worth all that the sober part of man
kmii can do and sacrifice, to stop the pro
gre-s of this spreading evil! Even on that
supposition, I,- might well be required that
every hand should be lifted for exertion,
and every knee bent iu supplication to stay
the ravages of this lawless scourge. But
man lias a sot//, and (his is ps murderer.——
Toere is an immortality, and (hi* to many
will be its haunting demon. For it is the
sin which perhaps beyond ll others has
the faculty of perpetuating itself. It i*
mans most irremediable sin, almost a a cer
tamly fatal to its victim as tfip fearful sin
against the Holy Ghost ! Can nothing be
done in opposition to this fell destroyer of
the bodies and souls of men ? My hearers,
what are you doing ? All that you can ? If
not, you partake in Ihe sin. You mourn
over it, and abhor it, but what good does
that do? Dn you also deprecate it in your
prayers? Do you discourage the use of in
ioxicatmg liquor, where you have any rea
soo to believe that it will be injurious ? Is
it oot too much exposed in your bouses,
especially on occasions of eniertaioment ?
Have you oot contrived too many ways of
making it palatable ? May not some of you
be improperly engaged in ibis kn! t.f iraf
ick ? Arc you, asciltz us and as < hi ( tian*,
exerting the whole amount of your influ-
THE MISSIONARY.
ence to suppress tbe vice in question 1 If I
were addressing the supreme legislature of
the land, I would ask them, why, at the
risk of their seats, they do not manfully lay
bold of this destroyer, and encumber it with
tbe fetter of a heavy taxation, if they can
do no more ? The sinful sagacity of man
(for sin ha* made him fruitful in inventions,)
has devised anew mode of consuming the
surplussage of a plentiful harvest. It is
found (hat by a certain process, the intoxi
cating principle, which exists no where in
nature by itself, heaven bavins in kindness
concealed it where men might least have
expected to find it, may be extracted from
the most nutritive productions of the earth.
The discovery has beeu turned to the most
destructive use. The purest blessing is
thus converted into the direst curse—thai
which was given for the bread that strength
eneth man’s heart, into the poison that des
troys his body and damns bis soul. It has
coine to pas,, through this process of dis
tillation, which, being morally defined, is
the art of extracting a curse out of a bles
sing, that a man may imbrute himself for a
penny, and the earnings of a day may fix
the habit of drunkenness on a whole family.
God knows, and we all know, that this
thing ought not so to he. The evil must
be struck at in the root, and this can only
lie done by enhancing Ihe price of this li
quid principle of death, which uow flows
almost as free and cheap as water. This
alone would rescue thousands. I will only
add that I am sure, the moral and religious
publick are not doing their duty, doing all
that they can do, in relation to this sin.”
I fully concur, Messrs. Editors, in the
closing sentiment of this extract, and 1
would respecilully suggest whether it is
noi likely that a petition to Congress to
lay a tax on spirituous liquors, accompanied
wilh half a million - of names, (and more
might easily be • blamed, for in every city
and town and village of America there are
those who would cheerfully circulate such
a pe.ti'ion,) would make a favourable im
pression on that honourable body ;—wheth
er it is not the immediate duly of American
Christians to unite in such a petition;—
whether though in the main object it should
he unsuccessful, it might no’ be the first iu
a series of measures that will finally prevail;
whether it is not the duty of Chirstians in
Boston to lead in the proposed undertaking,
and the duty of all who read these sugges
tions to give them a few minutes serious
consideration. M. S*
LIBERAL FEELINGS.
The London Christian Observer for May, contains
a Review o! Dwight’* Theology, from the close
of which the following paragraphs are extract
ed. The difference of feeling evinced towards
this country by the political works of Eng
land and those of a Christian character, is stri
kingly manifested.
Whatever may ultimately be the publick
decision on the theological importance of
these volumes, they will at least tend to
reduce to reason some person* who have
indulged a spirit of scepticism, not so much
on the moral, a* on (he menial excellence
of their relations on the other side, of the
Atlantick. It will, ive think, he at length
conceded, that man in America, as well as
in Europe, is a reading, writing, and even
thinking animal. This, by many, will be
deemed a liberal concession. There are
those among.ns from whom it wili, howev
er, and must ultimately, be extorted, in
despite of what they have spoken and writ
bn to the contrary Our Quarterly Re
views and similar writers should be aware
of the recoil ol their vituperation upon
themselves; if in no other point, yet in
this, that the people of the United States
are “ bone of their hone, and flesh of tbeir
flesh;” descendants from a common ance*
try, and substantially British in their civ
il and ecclesiastical institutions, literature,
science, domestick habits; and entirely one
with them in language. But thus it is that
even-handed justice bestow* it* impartial
decisions, and chastise- the abettors of fam
ily quarrels, by causing them to expose
their own shame. We wish that certain
of our countrymen remembered, and im
itated in the spirit of their conduct, the dig
rofied consistency of his late Majesty, when
he received the first ambassador of the
new Republick with this address;—“ I was
the last man, sir, to consent to the indepen
Jence of America; and I shall now be the
last man to violate it.” Those who recol
lect the manner, and graceful elocution of
George ihe Third, in the moments of royal
etiquette, will imagine Ihe effect of these
manly expression; and indeed it is, we
believe, on record, that Ihe arobasador, on
this occasion, was completely overpowered,
and returned to his government, under the
full conviction of the King’s determination
to maintain tbe relations of peace and am
ity.
It America exhibits the vices of a young
nation, she should not gratuitously retaliate
upon the alleg-d deformities of her aged
and still surviving parent; thongh,as Amer
icans seem to think, under the pressure of
years, and still suffering from various do
mesi.ck troubles. One of these, so al least
Hu.ppeared al rh ;,me, was the desertion
of a favourite daughter on the 4th of July,
. . Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.— Jesus Christ.
oi all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports.— Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1825.
1776. Greybeards perfectly well recollect
the consternation of (he family at that try
ing moment ; especially the shrieks and
hystericks of the mother. They remem
ber too, that for several tedious years the
strongest measures were adopted to effect
the child's return ; but all in vain ! A com
promise at length took place in 1782: mid
since that time, (with one unpleasant ex
ception of recent date,) they have been tol
erably quiet. Why then, not “ let well
alone ?”—lf we conlioue to complain, in
our quarterly reports, of the disorderly be
haviour of backwoodsmen, squatters, row
dies, gougers, and other persons designa
ted by appellations of similar elegance, we
must not be angry, if we are reminded in
return, of Tfiurtells, Pruberts, Fauntleroye,
radicals, agitators, St. Giles’s and VVapping,
and of tbe thousands classed and described
by Mr. Colqohoun, Mr. Pierce Egan—we
beg pardon for coupling the names, —and
by “the gentlemen of the press,” in their
“reports of the ring,” and the Westmin
ster pit; and in their elaborate details of
“sporting and pugilism,” and the existing
mo: als of (he theatres.
Steering a middle course between adula
tion and comtumely, we Cannot for a mo
ment doubt that the United States are rap
idly rising in the scale of civilization, sci
ence, general literature, and moral vigour.
In naval architecture, in steam navigation,
m certain branches of engraving, id ampli
fying the powers of machinery, in the con
struclion and extent of canal-, in the ap
pointments both of the military and mer
cantile marine, and in various practical ap
plications of art and science, they are al
ready either our supertours or our rivals.
Their diplomatist* have contrived to meet
the practised statesmen of Europeon toler
ably equal tern.s; while Mr. Washington
Irving occupies a conspicuous ranlr,evenin
our own cherished Island,among the elegant,
refined, and polished writers of the day.
They regularly republish all our popular
works, and, among these,* the Edinburgh
and Quarterly Reviews, and some other
British periodical publications; our own,
as we have stated, among the number.
Some of their own periodical works also,
especially of a scientifick kind, are in good
repute. We have therefore only to give
our cousins a little time ; and iu their turn,
they will perhaps produce a Bacon and
Newton, a Locke and Butler, a Milton and
Shakespeare ; as they have already, in
the emergency of the war of independence,
shewn their Washington, and other chiefs
of their armies, which, after a severe strng
gle witfi tbe disciplined veterans of Europe,
established anew empire.
RELIGIOUS.
ADDRESS - ~
OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY,
Instituted at Ac'ju York, in 1825. to the Chris
tiun Public.
The Executive Committee of (lie Arne
rican Tract Society, by this document, beg
the privilege of addressing the Christian
community upon one of the most interest
ing subjects which have ever attracted the
notice of those whose station®, or whose
character, give them influence over the
destiny of their fellow men. In the month
of March last, incipient measures iveie
adopted in the city of New York, with the
view of forming a Society, to h denomina
ted tbe American Tract Society ; the object
of which should he, “ to diffuse a knowl
edge of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Re
deemer ot sinners, and to promote the in
terest9 of vital godliness and sound morality,
by the circulation of Religious Tracis, cal
enisled to receive the approbation of all
Evangelical Christians.” Deference to the
numerous existing Societies in the different
States, induced tbe original projector* of
this design to invite a committee of delegates
to be hidden on the Tuesday preceding the
anniversary of the American Bible Society,
for the mupose of maturing the enterprise
and giving existence and form to the m-ti
tution. At this consultation, there were
present a respectable number of delegates
from various religious denominations, who,
with the advice and assistance of other
gentlemen ot high consideration from dif
ferent sections of the counlry, revised and
agreed upon a constitution, to be submitted
to a more public meeting on fbe following
day, when the proceedings of the conven
lion were considered and sanctioned with
a most delightful unanimity. Since that
period, measures have been pursued which
have already secured the co-operation of
several Tiact Societies, and particularly
the aid of the most respectable and efficient
institution in the Eastern States, the Ame
rican X ract Society at Boston, who have,
without a dissenting voice, resolved to be
come a Branch of the National Society es
tablished in New York. Under these aus
pices, the citizens of New York have libe
rally stipulated to furnish the Society a
large and commodious pdifice for the seal
of tbeir operations, and have already pro
cured funds to the amount of upwards of
twenty thousand dollars, and commenced
the Society’s bouse in one of the most eli
ff' bl * P ort i®w oHfie city. The indiv.duals
alluded to have done tlii?, not oily with
the express design that the Society shall
have every accommodation, without ever
taking any thing for this purpose from funds
consecrated to the publishing and distribu
tion of Tracts, but tbe expectation
that it shall eventually receive, from rents
on the building, a considerable amount an
nually in augmentation of the funds.
In making this early presentment of their
object, to the friends of the Redeemer, in
the United States, and in venturing most
respectfully to urge the claims of this insti
lution to general patronage, the Committee
feel that it is Deediess to exhibit to any
considerable extent, the superior advents*
ges of that method of moral and teligions
instruction, which is pursued by the distri
bution of Tracts. Though men are fal
len by their iniquity, and are to be recov
cred from their apostacy and condemnation
only through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus, and by the renewing of tbe
Holy Ghost, yet does this method of mercy
most distinctly recognize tbe use of means
in the business of tneir salvation.
Next to the Bible and the living ministry
one ol these means of light and salvation
will he found to be short, plain, striking,
entertaining, and instructive Tracts, exhib
iting in writing some of the great and g'o
nous truths of tbe Gospel. “ The \ford of
truth is the great instrument of moral reno
vation. He who scatters it scatters the
seed of the kingdom, and may look for the
harvest m God’s own good time, and way.
A Tract may be pc used at leisure ; it may
be consulted in the hour of retirement and
solitude ; it can be read in a little time : and
though it may contain instruction important
and weighty enough for the consideration of
the sage, and yet simple enough to be ac
commodated to (he ta*te and intelligence ol
a child, may be easily weighed arid deposi
ted id the memory. This method of in
struclion is peculiarly calculated f r the
poor, and is especially demanded by the
poor ol our extended population. It is a
method by which the blessings ol a religious
education may, to no inconsiderable degree
be extended to the lower ranks of society
with peculiar facility; and which, as a prac
tical system, is already entitled tu the claims
of successful experiment. It is a means of
doing good which is level to every capnci
ly, and adapted to eveay condition. The
inan ol low attainment in science, the inn
ther, the child, Hip obscure individual in the
meanest condition, can give away a Tract,
and perhaps accompany it with a word of
advice or admonition, with a- much promise
of success as a Missionaiv or au Apostle.
A minister may distribute Tract, among his
people, and thus impress and extend his
public instructions where the impressions
of his official duty would otherwise bo lost,
or never extended ; anti in this way he u.av
double his usefulness, and devote two lives
to his Master’s glory instead of one. The
teacher and the pupil, the parent and Ihe
child, the muster and the servant, may be
come to each oilier (he most effectual
preachers by the distribution of Tracts.—
The traveller may scatter them along the
roads, and throughout the inns aud cottages,
and m return ihe irn.s and cottages may
spread them before the eye of the thought
less traveller. Merchants may distribute
them to ship masters, and ship masters to
seamen: men of business may transmit
them with every bale of goods to ihe re
mote corners of the land and globe; and
tho 9 the infinitely important troths of Ihe
Gospel, truths by which it i ihe purpose
of the God of heaven to make men “ wise
unto salvation,” like ihe diffusive light, may
be emitted trorn numberless sources and in
every direction. All ibis may he done m
the m*et inoffensive and inobtrusive way,
with no magisterial authority—no claims of
superior wisdom or goodness—and no alarm
to human pride or forwardness. All this
may be done too w ith no loss of lime, “ A
Tract can be given away, and God’s bless
ing asked upon it in a moment.” Aside
from the influence of those institutions
which involve no expense at all, m no way
can so much probable good be effected, at
so little expense, as by the distribution of
Tracts. A 1 ract which contains ten pages.
cau be published for a single cent! And
when we recollect how long a single Tract
may he preserved, by how many individuals
and families it may he read, and when read
by them, to how many others it may be
sent; it is difficult to (Conceive of a way in
which more good can he accomplished by
a very small amount of means. As an aux
iliary to other means of doing good, the dis*
iribution of Tracts also hold a distinguished
place. In how many sick chambers, m how
many meetings of anxious inquirers, in bow
many circles of wealth and prosperity, of
fashion, folly and vice, may these faithful
witnesses be left to testify what otherwise
never would be told? The language of
every Missionary Society, either Domestic
or Foreign is, “ A Missionary without a
supply of Tracis is unprovided for his work.
Tbe press is the grand medium of commu
nication in all parts of the missionary world.’
A missionary at Sumatra writes, “ I am of
opinion, that among all nations not accos
lotned to books, the distribution of Tracts,
written in an easy style, or of single Goa
pel6, is much more likely to do good, than
• bat of larger works. Tht* opinion is
strengthened by the experience and obser
vation of every day.” Nor are
ing suggestions founded in lh*S>J i y*
warranted by facts. The arooun? of gdj[
already achieved by the distribution
Tracts is incalculable. Much has been dt
in this and other countries, to tiff rd tfi
most satisfactory evidence of their M*f l
cial efifect*. The most interesting areqwi;*
accumulate upon us from every
where Tracts are circulated either'itt rhnl
tian or pagan lands, of their extended utilf
ty. —It is imposible to recite them.—¥
nines might be profitably occupied With (*ht
most interesting narratives of ibis sort.-
There is not a week in which we have mb
striking accounts of tbeir happy
Some years ago, the author of ‘he litti
Tract, called The Dairymen's Daughter , j
said to have received information oi thri
hundred conversions, by the
ot that Tract. Os the labours of host mar
ministers of the Gospel can thlw w
even though they have extended f>
advanced age? Many revivals off |
this little I'ract is known lo have or
ed. The Tract called The Swearer's
has been at least, equally -n*s< —lu!.. i
i ban twenty instance of conver'-i. ir. 1
instrumentality of Tracts, have be ml
ported, w ith their attending r.irruifiiw
to the Committee of one Society m thlu,
ted States, during the past year, nw*
several revivals of religion ocr*i<><fl
greatly promoted by that Society’* pub#
(ions. We ire not ignorant of the at->rifc&
success which Voltaire and his infidel ss (
ciates, on the continent of Europe ano
where, proved the efficacy ot this m*to
of access to the common people, in pr:>j|
ing one ol the most terrible moral c-'iS,
sioiis which have ever shaken the wot*
And we are not ignorant of the ticc
men of a difiV rent spirit, in those wetl-k
tod efforts in the cause of Tracts, hyf|fK
the continent began to be enlightened. j,
reformed in the days of the GreaMti’i
mation. C
GEORGIA EDUCATION SOCIETY if
From Iht Athens Sentinel, ‘ Jit . -
Extracts from the minutes of the (icorgid,
ucatiou Society at their meeting on f.U
.iitgust. 1825.
Ihe Report of the Director* was re
acm pied and ordered to he printed. Ti
following resolutions were adopted: *
Resolved , That from and after the •
day of August, 1825, any person cunt rib.
ing 10 the funds of this mstituiion, by at
scription, dona ion, or otherwise, sh ill ha
(be privilege ol specifying, if they ch o
to do so, lo what religious society or d-r
nomination, the beneficiary shall bplnng.’
whose support their contribution shall I •
appropi lated.
Rcsolvtd , That the thanks of this Soto
ty re due lo the Rev. R. Chamberlar
tor his generous and disinterested *-xerti>i
to promote (lie welfare of the same, an
that the Society feel themselves under p. \
culi tr obligations to him for hi* Ia hot \
love, in undertaking aud performing bis ]!
gency for the coileclioif of funds
Resolved , That the thanks of this Societ
are due to all its generous friends -mil stq
porters, and that, in a particular niannei
the Society are under obligation* to tli
benevolent inhabitants of the City of An
gusta, of the tow nos Lexington, and of (h
town ot Louisville, being the only town
in which the Agent solicited donation*, foj.s
that prompt and Christian aid which they sot
cheerfully afiorded when informed of the’
wants of the Institution.
Resolved , That the thanks of this Sncie'’
are due to the Rev. Dr. Waddel for hi- l.b.
erality in hoarding one of our beneficiaries
for twelve months without remuneration.
The. following Officers were elected
for the ensuing year.
Maj. A Walker. Pre-ident,
Rev. 1 bos. Gonlding, Corres’ng Sec’ry.
Dr James Nisbet, Treasurer,
M. W. Dobbins, Recording Sec’ry,
Eice Presidents
Rev. Wm. McWhirr, Liberty county,
Francis Cummin*, D B. Greenshorough,
John Brown. D. D Mount Zion,
Moses Waddle. D D Athens.
Rev. Wm. T. Brandy, Augusta,
Abel Carter, Savannah,
C. O. Screven, Sunbury,
Lovick Pierce, Greenshorough,
Wm. Moderwell. Augusta.
Directors.
James Nephew, E*q Mclntosh county, j!
(.01. Joseph Law, Liberty county,
Samuel Dowse, Esq. Burke,
Thomas Cumming, Esq. Augusta,
Joeph Gumming, Esq Savannah,
A. G. Semmes, r.sq. Washington, Go.
Joseph Bryan, E*q. Hancock county,
Rev. Benj. Gildersleeve, do. do.
John Nisbet, Esq. Athens,
Dr. Wm. Baldwin, Lexington.
Prof’r. A Church, Franklin College.
Rev. T. Stanley, Atnens,
Rev. R. Chamberlain, Morgan county,
Rev. J. S. Wilson, Gwinnett county,
Hugh Montgomery, Esq. Jackson,
Dr. Anderson Watkins, Augusta.
On motion resolved, That in future, the
annual meeting of this Society, be opened
by a sermon.
The Society adjourned, tomes n the
first Tuesday in Agiist next, at s, v, .j o’-
clock, r. m. M. W. DOBBINS, Ste'ry.