Newspaper Page Text
No. 10 Vol. VII.]
From the National Gatellc.
LIFE AND DEATH OF AN INFIDEL.
The personal career of Thomas Paine
was marked by hateful rices and habits,
which were notorious, and are proved by
the strongest evidence. He made a bad
husbaud; he brought with him to America
the wife and children of the man with whom
he lodged at Paris, and seemed to have
converted the former into his mistress, and
maltreated them all; he violated his duty,
and was ignominiously dismissed, as an ex
ciseman in England & a publick officer in the
United States; he laboured to evade the
payment of his debt3, even the most sacred,
alU.r he bad the means of discharging them ;
f* / appeared to be wholly wanting in grati
t'a'ie to bis benefactors; he did not scruple
to make false representations, when such
might promote his private interests; he
exhioited for many years the spectacle of
an abandoned, squalid sot, grovelling in the
lowest and coarsest fellowship; he devoted
much of his li:e to the purpose of over
throwing a!! revealed religioo, and, wc
think, mads, by his writings on the subject,
more wsetched unbelievers than any oth
er author : his book the Jige of Reason, was
e tly adapted and has chiefly served to
those classes of society that stand
most in need of the restraints and consola
tions of Christianity.
It is undeniable that he rendered very
important services so the cause of American
: Independence; but it is especially so, that
no cause was ever more outraged after its
| triumph, by the private conduc and charac
ter ol an advocate—a circumstance which,
however, does not impair the real excel
lence and glory of the cause itself. He set
np besides, the most extravagant claims as
a benefactor, and laboured to blacken the
true hero of the Revolution: (be transcend
am model of patriots & the brightest orna
n> ni of American History. We may value
aa.l acknowledge t{;e aid furnished by
Paine; but ve are entitled or bound to re
probate the betrayer of publick trusts; the
violaterofdomestick ties; the sordid in
grate; the venomous defame r of unequal
led virtue ; the overweening boaster ; the
mischievous assailant of the Gospel; and
the habitual drunkard. When Dr. Rush
visited him, for the first lime, in order to
enlist his pen for the advocates oflndepen
deoc-e, he found reason to believe Xhal he
had already begun, or undertaken, to write
on the other side ; but he was so unsettled
in hi- principles and views as to be easily
| induced to j-in with the separatists. This
- anecdote rests upon the authority of Dr.
)tush himself, who communicated it to a
gentleman of this city of our acquaintance.
I We should not omit to add, indeed, that he
| remained as steadfast as he was useful to
jL the American cause ; w heilier from a pure ‘
| and enlightened attachment to it, or the
? profound hatred which he bore to the min
istry and institutions of cbe mother country
—let the previous and subsequent tenor of
his life determine.
Eye witnesses, entirely credible, have
borne circumstantial testimony to bis de
meanor aod condition in his last days; and
their reports constitute a picture and a les
ion scarcely lass awin’ than any ol the kind
I. which the detn bed has ever afforded.
I We do not remember to have read or heard
aof a case that mure forcibly exemplified
the truth of Warburton’s live remark.
“ Humanity is but a poor thing at best ?
but in certain situations is capable of be
com-ng so wretched, that, let proud Phil
osophy say what it will, it is not to be en
dured without the aid and hopes of Reli
gion.”
Paine’* bodi'y situation, produced by un
cleanliness aid disease, was such that we
cai.r, t venture to repeat the description of
it which bn physician has drawn. That
respect..ble individual,—Dr. Manley, of
New York—has recorded also, details il
tnstralive °f the state of his mind, some of
wnich we shall proceed to transcribe.
“I recollect being with at night, watch
ing ; he was very apprehensive of a spee
dy dissolution, and suffered great distress of
mmd and perhaps of body, (as he wa wait
ing the eveut of an application to the so
ciely of Friends for permission that hi*
corpse might he deposited in their grave
ground, and had reason to believe that the
request might be refused.) when he re
marked in these words. “ I think l can
say, what they make Je>us Christ say—My
God, oiy God, why hast thou forsaken me !”
During the latter pirrt of hUlife, he would
not be left alone night or day ; he not only
required to have some person with him, but
he must see that someone was there, and
would not allow his curtains to be closed at
any time; and if, as it sometimes unavoida
bly happened, be was left alone, he would
scream ami holla, until some person came
to him ; when relief from pain would ad
mit, be seemed thoughtful and contempla
tive, his eyes being generally closed, and
> his hands folded upon his breast, although
| be never slept without the assistance of an
I anodyne. There was somethiog remarks
I ble in his conduct about this period, (which
I comprises about two weeks immediately
jjj- preceding his deatb,).parliciilarly when we
reflect that Thomas Paine was author of
the Age of Reason He would call out
P during his paroxysms of distress, wiiuoul
f intermission, “ 0 God, help me, Lord, help
THE MISSIONARY.
me, Jesus Christ, help me, &c.” repeating
the same expressions in a tone ofvoicethat
alarmed the house. During the whole
course of his illness, his petulance, vanity, &
self-will, were excessive.”
Dr. Manley took occasion, two or three
days before his demise, to ask him emphat
ically, whether he believed or wished to
believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of
God. After a pause of some minutes, be
answered, “ I have no wish to believe on
that subject.” His Will is dated the 18lh
of January, 1809, and begins thus; “The
last will and testament, of me, the snbscri
her, Thomas Paine, reposing confidence in
my creator God, and in no other being,
for 1 know of no other, nor believe in aov
other.”
Paioe received but a common and scanty
English education. The diction of his works,
as to correctness and elegance, does not in
dicate a cultivated taste; but bis writings
bespeak a mind of great acuteness, activilv,
and ingenuity. He possessed those qualifi
cations which enable an author to succeed
with the multitude, and he so exerted them
as to produce the most extensive effects.
Much of what he published, particularly
when he was recommending or vindicating
a good cause, is sound, shrewd, and skilful
ly presented : he displayed zeal, industry,
and more or less of talent, in ail bis under
takings. Oo the whole, however, he put
forth at least an equal quantity of trite and
in short, mere trash. Circumstances were
signally propitious to the kind and degree
of hi abilities aod attainments, as well as to
his disposition. In other times he might
have remained obscure and insignificant;
and would, certainly, have enjoyed far less
mental influence and general reputation
than fell to his lot in the ferments of two
popular revolutions. That he was so con
spicuous and operative an agent in human
affairs, was owing rather to their particular
aspect in his day, than to any real magni
tude or superiority in his powers.
It is said, by his principal biographer,
that, from 1 800 to 1808, he wrote essays
for the newspapers, some of which were
decidedly in favour of an invasion of the
United States by the French. He inserted
verses of his composition in the Magazines
and Gazettes, that have not been collected.
The few of them which we have seen, such
as the Death of Wolf, and his “ Castle in the
Air” deserve more praise than his life and
character.
THEOt’HILANTHROPISTS OK FRANCE.
In our last paper, we gave au extract from Dr.
Alexander’s work on the Evidence of Christiani
ty, and we nbwgive lartlicr extracts, containing
an interesting account of the Theophilanthro
pists of l ranee. After describing several minor
efforts of Deists, to establish and in.liritaiureligious
worship among themselves, the author says :
[<V. Y. Ob.
The mot interesting experiment of this
kind, was that matle hy the Theophiianlhro
pisis in France, during the period of the
revolution. After some trial had been
made of atheism and irreligion, and when
the wan! of publick worship was felt by
many reflecting persons, a society- was form
ed far the worship of God, by the name
just mentioned, upon Ihe pure principles of
Natural Religion. Among the patrons of
this society, were men beloved for their
philanthropy, and distinguished for their
learning; and some high in power.
La Revelliere Lepaux, one of the direc
torv of France, was a zealous patron of the
new religion. By his influence, permission
was obtained, to make use of the churches
for their worship. In the city of Paris
alone eighteen or twenty were assigned to
them, among which was the famous church
of Noire Dame.
Their creed was simple, consisting of
two-great articles, the existence of God, and
the immortality of the soul. Their moral
system also embraced two great principles,
the love of God, and the love of man ; which
were, indicated by Ihe name assumed by the
society. Their worhip consisted of pray
ers and hymns ol praise, which were com
prehended in a manual, prepared for a
directory in worship. Lectures were de
lived by the members, .which however,
underwent the inspection of (he society,
before they were pronounced in publick.
To these were added some “imple ceremo
nies, such as placing a basket of fruits or
flowers on the altar. Music, vocal and in
strumental, was used—for the latter, they
availed themselves of the organs in the
churches. Great efforts were made to
have this worship generally introduced, in
all the principal towns rs France; and the
views of the society were oven extended to
foreign countries. Their manual was sent
into all parts of the republic, by the minis
ter of the inferior, free of expense.
Never did a society enjoy greater advan
tages at its commencement. Christianity
had been rejected with scorn ; atbeiun had
for a short time been tried, but was found to
be intolerable—the government was favor
able to the project; men of learning and in
fluence patronized il, and churches ready
built, were at the service of the new deno
mination. The system of Natural Religioo,
also, which was adopted, was the best that
could have been selected, and considerable
wisdom was discovered in the construction
of their liturgy. But with all these circum
stances in ioelf lavour, iue ibcioiv couiut
or-. 11 J- ... , . J® it? all the world, and preach the Gospel to everv creature.— Jesus Christ
impositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports Washington.
MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1825.
not subsist. At first, indeed, while the
(Scene was novel, large audiences attended;
most of whom however, were merely spec
tators; but in a short time, they dwindled
away to such a degree, that instead of occu
pying twenty churches, they needed only
four, in Paris—and in some of the principal
towns, where they commenced under the
most favourable auspices, they soon came
to nothing. Thus they went on declining,
until, under the consular government, they
were prohibited the use of the churches
any longer—upon which, they immediately
expired without a struggle—and it is belie
ved (hat not a vestige of the society now
remaios.
It. will be instructive and interesting to
iaquire into the reasons of this want of suc
cess, in a society enjoying so mauy advan
tages. Undoubtedly the chief reasoo was,
the want of a truly devotional spirit. This
was observed from the beginning of their
meetings. There was nothing to interest
the feelings of the heart. Their orators’
might be men of learning, aod might pro
duce good moral discourses, but they were
not men of piety—aod not always men of
pure morals.* Their hymns were said to
be well composed, and the music good—but
the musicians were hired from the stage
There was also a strange defect of liberali
ty in contributing to the funds of the so
ciety. They found it impossible to raise, in
some of their societies, a sum which every
Christain congregation, even the poorest,
of any sect, would have collected in one
day. It is a fact, that one of the societies
petitioned government to grant them relief
from a debt, which they had contracted, in
providing the apparatus of their worship,
not amounting to more than fifty dollars—
"toting that their annual income did not ex
ceed twenty dollars. In the other towns,
Iheir musicians deserted them, because they
were not paid—and frequently, no person
could be found to deliver lectures.
Another difficulty arose which might
have been foreseen. Some of the socie
ties declared themselves independent; and
would not agree to be governed by the
manual which had been received, any furth
er than they chose. They also remonstra’
ted against the authority exercised by the
lecturers, in the affairs of the society, and
declared that there was danger of their
forming another hierarchy.
There were also complaints against them
addrehsed to the ministers, by the ageo's of
government in the provinces, on account of
the influence which they might acquire in
civil affairs.
The Theophilanthropists were moreo
ver censured by those who had madegrea'-
er advances in the modern philosophy, for
their illiberally. It was complained, that
there were many who could not receive
their creed, and all such must uecessardv
be excluded from their society. This cen
sure seems to have troubled them much;
and in order to wipe off the stigma, they ap
pointed a fete, they called the anniversary
of the re-establishment of Natural Religion.
To prove that their liberality had oo bounds,
they prepared five banners to be carried in
procession. Oo the first was inscribed the
w.ird Religion ; on the second Morality,
and on the others, respectively, Jews, Cath
olicks, Protestants. Wbeo the procession
was over, the bearers of the several ban
ners gave each other the kissol peace: and
that none might mistake the extent of their
liberality, the banner inscribed Morality,
was borne by a professed atheist, universal
ly known as such in Paris They had also
other festivals peculiar to themselves; and
four in honour of the following persons, So
crate, St. Vincent de Paule, J. J. Rousseau,
and Washington; a strange conjunction of
names truly !
* Thomas Paine was one of them.
■—— .•-.< i r-M— rvmvmmam—mm
MISSIONARY.
From the (Richmond Fa.) Family Visitor.
LATEST FROM PALESTINE.
The latest intelligence from Palestine is
contained in two letters to the Secretary of
the American Board, one from Mr. Bird,
of Jan. 11th, the other from Mr. Goodellj
of Feb. 2d, 1825, both written at Beyroot.
They were prosecuting their studies with
mauy facilitities—preaching the Gospel in
English, every Sabbath, in the house of the
English Consul, whose kind attentions were
uoremitled—bolding conversations with the
people—and instructing their children in
the schools. One of their schools had been
destroyed by the Catholic priests. Anoth
er was commenced in their ‘own hired
house,’ in July of last year,.under the in
struct ion of a native Arab. It opened with
seven pupils, bat by the middle of Septem
ber the regular oumber was between fifty
and dxty. By this time, considerable no
tice wa9 attracted by such a novelty as a
free school established by strangers. Os
the multitudes who visited it, to make en
quiries, some applauded, and others cod
detuned. So much was said to Ihe Greeks
by their popish neighbours, for sending
their children to be taught heresy, that se
veral of (hem came & examined the books
that was used in it; which were Bibles,
Testaments, and Psalms. After this exami
nation, uqu h9W (be school been
conducted from the beginning, they depart
ed, saying, “It is very good.” Soon after
this, the school having just been removed
from the suburbs to a larger room in the
town,and the hopes of (he Missionaries be
ing thu9 considerably raised, the Greek
Patriarch residing at Damascus, issued a
Circular warning the people not to receive
the bcoks, or send their children to the
schools of the Missionaries. This circular,
which was occasioned by the Grand Seignor
mentioned several months ago, embarrass
ed the operations of the school, but did not
break it up.
The latest advices from Messrs. Fisk and
King, left them at Jaffa about the middle
ol March, on the point of setting off for Je
rusalem. The Firman had prevented their
doing much in circulating the Scriptures,
and they had luroed their attention to
preaching,in which the Catholic Priests op
posed them with great violence. From
Jerusalem, Mr. King intended to visit Con
staniiunple aud Greece; and expected to he
at Smyrna by the middle of June.
Letters have been received from Mr.
Temple at Malta, to the 19th of last April.
He mentions the driving of Rev. Mr Kneel
ing, a meihodist Missionary, and wife, from
their house, by a furious mob, at the insti
•gallon of the Catholic Priests. He remo
ved to Valeria, his former place of resi
dence. Mr. Kneeling and the American
Missionaries were on terms of intimacy, and
often preached for each other. Dr. Nau
di had incurred the displeasure of his for
mer friends, by renouncing the Catholic
faith. Mr. Wilson had just returnad from
the Morea, where be had sold aud distribu
ted more than 400 Greek Testaments,
about 100 copies of the Pilgrim’s Progress,
in modern Greek, and several thousand
Tracts. The demand for them was 60 great,
that his stock was exhausted before he had
half completed his tour. The Rev. John
Hartley had disposed of a large Dumber of
Greek aud Italian Tracts on the Grecian
islands, and had sent for more. Mr. Tem
ple was printing a tract, in Italian, entitled,
“The Novelty of Popery.” Mr. Joweti
was about to send to Svra, an Arabic tract,
containing the Ten Commandments, the
Lord’s prayer, & the Sermon on the Mount.
The way was believed to be open for the
circulation of tracts in Italy. The Rev. Mr.
Cook, Wesleyan Missionary, wrote from
Marseilles, in France, on the 15th March,
that he had succeeded in starting a subscrip
tion at Nice, for the purpose of furnishing
the Pre?9 at Malta with a fount of Arabic
type. The two Episcopalian clergymen at
thui place recommended a subscription by
word and deed, and 550 francs were sub
scribed by thpmselves and eighteen other
persons present. At Maiseilles, 41 fraoc*
were subscribed for the same objects, mak
ing in all, 591—nearlj half enough to pur
chase an excellent fount. Two gentlemen
had promised to try what could be done, for
this press at Rome and Naples!
The Palashne missionaries are evidently
increasing in zeal, and are exiending h< ir
plans and labours; while the Pope and ins
priests are making corresponding exertions
to oppose them. From present appearan
ces Mr. T. anticipates some awful explosion
within (be kingdom of the Beast, at no
distant period.
The Church Missionary Society hare un
dertaken amission to the Mediterranean;
nod the We9leyan9, one at Alexandria and
Cairo, in Egypt.
SANDWICH ISLAND MISSION.
The Missionary Herald, for the present
month, brings the history of the mission at
Honoruru, down to the 28th October, and
ol that at Lahaion to the 28th February,
1824. We find but lew interesting occur
rences, with which our readers are not al
ready acquainted. The mission is evident
ly exerting a salutary influence on the
chiefs and people, and is gaining friends
among them. The chiefs, who have for
merly manifested a desire to monopolize
the instruction” of the missionaries, are be
coming willing and even desjrious, (bat the
people should share in the blessings. Some
of them have established, and superintend
schools for the benefit of the inferior chiefs.
There is an increased demand for books, in
the native language. The chiefs are be
ginning to send out heralds, a day or two
before the Sabbath, to proclaim its ap
proach, & direct that il be kept as a sacred
day. An application for baptism, had been
made by a few chiefs, toge'her with a Ta
hitian, and a pious blind man, whom the
missionaries call Bartimeus. Much impro
vement is discoverable in the construction
ot the chief’s houses, in Ihe enclosure and
cultivation of (heir lands, and in the treat
ment of their dependents.—These are fa
vourable circumstances.
On the other hand, the people are still
extremely ignorant, superstitious, and fre
quently cruel. Great terror was excited
by an eclipse of the moon, which was belie
ved to portend some great calamity to the
nation. The gods, said they, are eating up
the moon. The opinion still prevails that
one person has the power of praying ano
ther to death. The impositions of sor
cery continue to be practised; and maniacs
are etoued to death. These are some of
t he remains of heathenism, which, it is hop
ed, will soon disappear before the light of
the Gospel.
Under date of November 26. 1824, the
Rev. Mr. Stewart wrote from Oahu, to a
friend in New Haven—“ Only last night we
had renewed assurances that the universal
cry throughout the broad spread district of
Hawaii is ‘give us teachers—give us books; 5
and, on stepping into the street this morn
ing, the first salutation 1 received wa* ac
companied with an earnest request I for the
Gospel of Jesus.'’ Such are our prospects,
and such are our hopes; and with them, we
cannot be “weary ia well-doing ”
At the last monthly concert in Boston, a
letter wa* read from Mr. Chamberlain, da
ted early in January, the contents of which
are thu* mentioned in the “ Recorder and
Telegraph : ”
Several schools at Honoruru, which had
been intermitted during the war, were now
resumed. ‘There is an increasing attention
to religioos meeting". Net less than 7,000
copie of an elementary sheet had been
printed; and nearly all were distributed—
and the general lace of thing” wa s a- cudd
ly encouraging. Tbe mi“#ionar;es, were,
however, in want of paper, lyp.-s , .
And especially an increase of faithful d-vo
ted missionaries.
A lettec irom Mr. Stewart, at Lahainah,
represents the schools on that island to be
in a high degree prosperous. In less than
one week, schools were formed there, not
long after the restoration of peace, con
taining more than six hundred new scholars !!
All these have been supplied with spelling
books, and yet the demand continues good.
Mr. Stewart thinks that full two thirds of
the inhabitants of that isand (Mowee) would
immediately learn to read, it (hey could on
ly procure books and teachprs.
From another source we learn, that,
“From the time of the arrival of the Mis
sionaries in 1820. to November 20th, 1824,
1600 children have been taught to read,
and of these, 1000 can read with facility and
understanding. Not less than 1000 have
been taught to write, and of these, 6 or 700
are capable of writing fair and intelligible
letters to one another. Thousands new
waiting only for books and teachers, to be
added to tbe number, to be instructed.
There are six chapels already erected, in
which from 1600 to 1800 natives eseemble
every Sabbath, to listen to the preaching of
Gospel in their native tongue—their week
ly lecture, & prayer, and conference meet
ings are also well attended—and many of
tbe natives by their conversation & deport
ment give evidence of a change of heart
and life.”— [Family Visitor.
MR. WOLF.—THE SABE.INS.
In the August number of the Jewish Ex
posi'or we find a continuation of the journ
al of this distinguished mau. Most of it
consists of .t single conversation which h*
bad with a Sabean, whom he found at Bas
sorah, on the p-r iliarities of their religious
faith ami practice. “The Sabeane,” cays
Mr. W. “are the dKcipies of St. John the
Baptist, and are properly called the Man
davi Yaha. They have hitherto been
known only through Manomedan writers ;
the accounts therefore which are given of
them are liable to suspicion : more <'-pe
cially as the Sabeans have beeu persecuted
by the Mahotuedans from the time of Ma
homed to (bis present moment.” We give
an extract from Mr. W’s notice of (be
Sabeans, but pass over bis “ conversa
tion.”
In regard to the deess of the Sabeans,
they usually wear a turban of silk, the
ground white and striped with red; a gir
dle of wool round the waist, a linen shirt
and cotton trowsers, with a camel’s hair
cloth like tbe Arabs. But in church they
appear dressed entirely in white linen.
Sohoron, the Sabean, relates the follow
ing story of John the Baptist:—“St. John
was ooe day preaching near a Jewish syn
agogue, a daughter of Israel beard him,
and was deeply impressed with his doc
trine. She went over to him, with the
intention of being baptized. The Jews
rose in arms to reclaim their daughter. Sf,
John defied the utmost power of their arms,
and declared that neither sword eoold slav
him, nor lance pierce him. Tbe Jews
ru"hed to the conflict, but they found theip
arms unavailing. St. John was then thrust
into a furnace, hut he issued from it in the
beauty ofyouth, and with a nosegay of flow
ers iu his hand. The Jews, seeing this
abandoned tbeir daughter, and she was bap
tized by St. Jobo.”
Sohoroo called again on Uie 17ib of
Jime, and produced the book called Sadra,
which is begun from tbe two ends of the
book, and written to tbe centre. Tbe
right side is called Yemeena, and the left.
Shemdala. On the right the affairs of
Christians are treated of, and thetr congen
erate sects; and tbe left relates to Mahom
et and the Jews. The Sadra treats of
events previous to the the time of Noab.
It contains not only history, but likewise
prophecies. It prophecies of the occur
rence of Islam, and its various observances,
aod also of the second coming of the Messi
ah, and the date of bis coming. Sohoron
declared to us, that, according to th Sadra
Raba, Jesus shall come a second time,—
‘ till when, (say* the Sadra Raba,) keep