True American. [volume], January 18, 1855, Image 4

About True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
-1
1 1 i
it
X
i
k
i I
ft
I ft
f.l
J' i
ll - i
:
i:
LITERATURE OP PROTESTANTISM.
BI REV. DAVID WILSON.
Considerable interest baa been manifes
ted in contemplating tie pretensions of the
Catholic clergy in assuming charge of our
. . educationalinterest. The whole country
was recently surprised by a simultaneous,
and it would; appear, a concerted effort
'. upon their part to gain an undue control of
- the common school fund. This plan has
been variously disguised, at one time sup-
- pliant for the simple exclusion of the Bible
. as a text book, and anon claiming the sep
arate organization and endowment of de
nominational schools. Under various pre
tences these arguments have become in-
; deed too popular with many of our fellow
V citizens, who, actuated doubtless by the
' noblest impulses, were prepared, without
proper reflection, to inflict upon their pos
terity a great moral and political wrong.
The danger is not yet past, and as we
eannot tell what peculiar causes mjy occur
J to givo preponderance to this scheme, and
as the effort has. been repeated under differ
ent pretexts, it behooves us to carefully
' guard against these encroachments on our
rights. This effort has also given rise to
another question, which, though in no way
interfering with our constituted privileges,
is one which it concerns us to examine ; I
allude to the attempt to underrate our gen
eral educational privileges by an unfair
comparison of Catholio and Protestant lit
erary institutions. At first view it may
be thought that this can do no harm ; that
. the converse facts are too apparent, that it
is a jcBuit trick, &c. But this will not do,
and if necessary, we are not without evi
dence to prove that these statements have
already done infinite harm. We need but
refer to the thousands of Protestants who
are annually educated in Catholio semina
ries, and who are constantly exposed to all
these pernicious evils, martyrs to ignorance,
ambition or undue parental fondness. It
is natural and right that parents and guar
dians should select tho best educational ad
vantages and they are rather objects of
pity than censure when from this anxious
desire to benefit those with whoso educa
tion they are entrusted, they send them to
Catholic echools. We are anxious to do
Justice to this question, not to consider it
in one sense cither as a Protestant or Cath
olic, but at the same time to defend our
own Protestant literature and institutions.
If our institutions, in a literary point of
view, are really inferior, they ought not to
remain so; and the whole country as tho
guardians of education should demand the
Adoption of such measures as must tend to
the elevation of the standard of education.
There is no reason why Protestant schools
should not rival their Catholic neighbors,
and from the position of other Protestant
institutions on the European Continent, if
these results are not secured, the fault
must attach to us. We are a new coun
try, and have fewer facilities for thorough
intellectual discipline, but wc are not so
now that all necessary advantages cannot
be easily secured. Some of the most prom
inent institutions of our country had an
early origin, and owe their present eleva
tion, no doubt, to the wise liberality of
their colonial founders. It is true, were
wo to judge of the literary characters of
our fathers by the present standards of
taste and thought, the comparison would
bo against them, but the earlier efforts of
many of them would not suffer in the com
parison with some of the most gifted minds
in Europe. Tho past century both in this
country and in Europe, was a distinguished
era, and none doubt but that Edwards and
fiavies in theolotrv. and Franklin in nhi-1
losophy, attained an almost unrivalled pre-j
eminence. Indeed it may seem farcical '
thnk he ru-nfenainna cn,,!,! nvlct TTIc
VWW II rUUWUM UUVUIU djL 111 f I
tory, reason and observation show that it
. is not the case. It is not our purpose,
. however, to contrast simply the respective
' merits of these separate institutions, but to
disprove these assertions, from the literary
characteristics of each system. These in
stitutions are not mere piles of brick and
" mortar, each has an organio existence, and
each is designed to bo the exponent and
advocate of Its own distinctive views.
With the Catholic, perhaps, much more
thau with Protestant institutions, they are
mainly intended as indispensable auxiliaries
in propagating chosen opinions. This the
atholics will not deny, at least the alleged
religious injury done to their own children,
when received into the public schools, was
the great plea for tho proportional dividend ,
of the public fund. Destroy tho probable
injury likely to be done to Catholics from
contact with Protestantism, or let their
seminaries lose their immense religious in
fluence, and who doubts that their literary
zeal would evidence considerable abate
ment. This we repeat is tho great key to
; their enterprisesand readily accounts for
tho strangeness", not to say inconsistency of
this literary infatuation. We find our
selves oft-times unconsciously inquiring as
wo occasionally survey the immense build
. ing3 being' enlarged and erected in our
' cities and, towns for these purposes, are
these po&plo really sincere, and is this that
hierarchy which was formerly tfo intoler
Atit of learniug and science ? This fact is
"really astounding, and our Catholic citi
zens will xcuse us if our Protestant cred-
ilitjippparj somewhat taxed by these
strange exhibitions. Liko conduct in any
Protestant Church would excite some sur
prise, though we might not dread the re
sult. True literature is based upon an
indiscriminate cxerciso and intercommuni
cation of thought and opinion. It is not
confined to a favored few, and that few the
elite of the country. The plebian in this
sense need not be a beggar, and indeed the
aristocrat may be but a mendicant in the
schools of learning. What has been the
history of the Catholio Church, and what
her uniform course, not ouly in her esti
mate and treatment of literary men prop
erly so called, but in reference also to that
which, in our estimation, constitutes the
true and only basis of all sound literary
advancement ? For the first few centuries
of the Christian era, sho did not assume
to dictate so authoritatively in matters
which concerned the mere literary advance
ment of the people ; other interests enga
ged her attention, and all other subjects
were insignificant in the comparison.
Councils were principally engaged in set
tling tho various claims and issues result
ing from another controversy. Who
1 711. Vl 1 . ? - 1 13
snouia ruie at iome, ana not wuo snouiu
discourse Plato, was tho question. Tho
arm of power was not then uplifted to crush,
with an iron sceptre, tho men who declai
med and wrote on these subjects. Litera
ture was in some sense regarded as a dis
tinct and separate pursuit, and church
chroniclers were not anxious to attempt to
rival the classio excellence of their own
great models of taste and eloquence. Wc
are, informed that even in these early days
in view of the violent and relentless oppo
sition which Christians had to encounter
from Pagans and from their opposing
brethren, many of them fell into mistakes,
reasoned badly, and falsely construed the
Scriptures. Even then the "mystery of
iniquity began to work," and it seems as
though an injudicious zeal, in the heat of
controversy, caused them to grasp every
shadow with which to refute their oppo
nent's, and their singular fondness for alle
gory confounded their understandings, so
that thfc'v have in many instances substitu
ted fanciful resemblances for solid argu
ments. 3' any of them failed to draw dis
tinction between the light of reason and
that of rcvela.'ion ; as revelation, in many
instances, presented subjects of faith and
not reason ; they erred jn supposing that
reason was to be rgected. Some went so
far as to say that reason wai the devil's
work, and therefore rejected it altogether ;
repudiating the logic of Aristotle as the
deceitful wibdom of this world, they claim
ed to have a better in tho demonstration
of the spirit. Catholicism has ever been
intolerant of civil and rcligous freedom,
and has been assiduously zealous in at
tempting to put down that liberty which
seems essential to the proper improvement,
if not to the very existence of learning
itself. To this cause we attribute her
meagre proportion of truly learned riien,
not only during tho "dark ages," but e ven
long before the police of tho inquisition in
its fanatical frenzy threatened to extin
guish the la.st emotion of literary ambition.
It is mournful to contemplate the effects of
religious bigotry and malevolence under all
its forms, but when learning and science,
the unoffending handmaids of religion, be
come the objects of its hate, we want lan
guage to express a just sense of indigna
tion at its unprovoked assault. We need
not inquire here what amount of liberty
and what other adjunct facilities are requi
site to the successful cultivation of letters.
Nor need we stop to inquire somewhat into
the condition of ancient men of science.
The question is not whether an aristocrat
or republican will become tho greater
scholar, but whether such restrictions as
the Roman hierarchy has imposed, can be
at all compatible with education and with
,icr Pcnt pretcrsions. No well informed
Catholic wiH claini tbat the eLurcu has as
sucl1 encouraged or countenanced men of
learning. Her wliolo history IS full of
- -
the most disgusting and servile inspection!
of the works of men of genius j and most
frequently where she did not destroy them,
she destroyed their works. It is indeed
lamentable, that often those who have la
bored most zealously to instruct mankind,
have been those who have suffered most
from ignorance; and tho discoverers of
new arts and sciences have hardly ever
lived to see them accepted by the world.
With a noble perception of his own genius,
Lord Bacon, in his prophetio will thus ex
presses himself: "For my name aud mem
ory, I leave it to men's charitable speeches,
and to foreign nationR, and the next ages."
Before the times of Galileo and Harvey
tho world believed in the stagnation of the
blood, and the diurnal immovability of the
earth; and for denying these the one was
persecuted and tho other ridiculed. Gali
leo was condemned at Home publicly to
disavow sentiments the truth of which
must have been to him abundantly mani
fest. (Are these then my judges?" he
exclaimed, in retiring from the inquisitors,
whose ignorance astonished him.
D'Isracli says Cornelius Agrippa was
compelled to fly his country and the enjoy
ment of a large income, merely for having
displayed a few philosophical experiments,
which now every school-boy can perform.
"The people behold him as an object of
horror, and not unfrcqucntly, when he
walked he found tho streets empty at his
approach; ho died in a hospital."
' In these times it was common to suspect
I every creat man of an intercourse with
'some familiar spirit
Petrarch wan less
desirous of the laurel for honor, than for
the hope of being sheltered by it from the
thunder of the Priests, by whom both he
and his brother poets were continually
threatened. They could not imagine a po
et, without supposing him to hold inter
course with some demon. We do not wish
to conceal tho fact that Protestant coun
tries have been parsimonious in bestowing
favors on men of genius and in encourag
ing education. All communities may be
indeed too indifferent, yet but few instan
ces of equal cruelty can be found anywhere
as those referred to above. It was a long
time the boast, as it should have been the
shame of the Catholio church, that she did
not need tho auxiliaries of literature and
science. It was no uncommon occurrence
for Bishops, Priests and Cardinals to be
unable to read. The Bible was a sealed
book. Canons, decretals and indulgences
took tho place of the Bible, and its simple
reading exposed thousands to torture j and
Atheism offers but few inducements or re
ward for literary labor, and on these as
sumptions it would seem almost a useless
and unmeaning devotion. One might, like
Gibbon, consecrate himself to the service
of letters, but the reward of his labors
would be to him whatever might bo his
achievement, but an extension of the great
universo of vanity of which nothing would
seem so unmeaning and vain as himself.
A good writer has well said: "Of all the
powers and faculties of the human mind,
the uoblest is the one which God has cre
ated for himself, and if that reverential or
adorning faculty does not exist, or be by
suicidal hands extirpated, the world will
soou cease to fear the man who had no
God." "Aud thus while the Yoltaires
and EoEseaus of atheist memory, are wax
ing old and vanishing from the firmament
of letters, names of less renown, but more
religion, brighten to a greater lustre." So
true is it that no man can long keepahold
of his fellow wen, unless ho himself first
has hold of God.
But if a sincere and strenuous acknowl
edgment of God be thus important, such a
natural faith in God as buoyed ancient
philosophy in its longest and most ethereal
flights, or "bulged the Saxon muscle of
Shakspeare in his mightiest efforts," in
comparably more prevalent is that intellec
tual prowess which a scriptural faith pro
duces. He is no unknown God whom the
believer in Jesus worships, and it is no or
dinary inspiration which that God of light
and love supplies to his soul. Were it not
that the subject has been often adverted to,
I would rejoice to enumerate many geni
uses which the gospel kindled, if it did not
create. That gospel all admit was Milton's
poetic might. "This was," in the language
of Milton, "the struggling energy which,
after years of deep musing and wrapt de
votion, after years of deep muttering and
anxious omen, sent its pyramid of flame
into old England's dingy hemisphere, and
poured its molten wealth, its lava of gold
and gems, fetched deep from the classic
and from patriarchal times, adorn tho rus
set steep of Puritan theology. This was
the fabled foot which struck from the sward
of Cowper's mild and silent life a joyous
Castalia, a fountain deep as Milton's fire,
and like it tinctured with each learned and
sacred thing it touched when rising, but
soft and full as Siloah's fount, which flowed
fast by the oracle of God. And that gos
pel was the torch which on the hills of
Renfrewshire fired a young spirit, Pollock
himself both sacrifice and altar pile till
Britain spied the light, and wondered at
the brief but brilliant beacon. But Avhy
name tho individual instances ? What is
modern learning, and the march of intel
lect, and the reading million but one great
monument of the gospel's quickening pow
er. Three hundred years ago tho classics
were revived; but three hundred years
ago the gospel was restored. Digging in
tho Pompeii of the middle age, Lorenzo
and Leo found tho lamps in which tho old
classic fires had burned, but there was no
oil in the lamps, and they had long since
gone out. For models of candalabria tnd
burners, there could not bo better than
Livy, and Horace, and Tlato, and Pindar ;
but the faith which once filled them, the
old Pagan fervor, was long since extinct,
and the lamps were only fit for the shelves
of the antiquary. But it was then that in
tho crypt of the convent, Luther and Zuin
glo, and Mclancthon observed a line of su
pernatural light, and with lever and mat
tock lifted the grave-stone, and found the
gospel which tho Papists had buried.
There it had flamed a "liajit shining in a
dark place" through unsuspected ages, un
quenchable in its iron immortality, the
long lost trump in the sepulchre. Jupiter
was dead, and Minerva had melted into
ether, and Apollo was grey with old, and
tho most elegant idols of antiquity had gone
to tho moles and bats. But there is One
who cannot die, and docs not change, and
the fountain of scripture learning is He
who is also the fountain of life, the Alpha
and Omega, Jesus the Son of God. From
His gospel it was that the old classic lamps
when filled with fresh oil, were kindled
again, and at that gospel it was that Bacon
and Locke and Milton and Newton and all
the mighty spirits of modern Europe,
caught tho fire which made them blaze the
t meteors of our firmament, the marvels of
' our tavored time.
! As has been frequently intimated, Tro
tcstantisni in freeing the intellect, the press,
&c, docs not givo loose rein to infidel spec
ulation. This is tho abuse, and yet we
confess that thcro are no other means than
these very engines of skepticism which can
be employed to destroy. Belying on these
instrumentalities, Protestantism goes forth
in the confidence of assured success. The
discovery of the art of printing gave an
impetus to thought and opinion, and was
the available and characteristic exponent of
Protestant literature. The literature of
most modern nations dates from that, pe
riod. It gave birth to Erasmus, Melanc
thon, Luther and Calvin. And as the Bi
ble first awoke these dormant mental ener
gies and resources, so these in turn gather
ed strength and zest from each new reli
gious or scientific discovery, added contin
ually vast volumes of thought and practi
cal research, from year to year, in illustra
tion of its benign precepts, principles and
doctrines. Religion had thus become the
necessary and self-constituted clement of
popular literature. It was indeed the har
binger of science, philosophy and poetry ;
and the learned turned gladly away from
tho records of saints and newly canonized
friars to the temple of nature, the arkana
of God; from the pretended miracles of
mythological saints to the study of the great
standing miracles of nature and God. Who
can estimate the vast good which has re
sulted to science from these discoveries ;
for all these great practical results may be
traced directly or indirectly to tho awaken
ing of one single mind. Call not that lit
eraturo which holds no communion with
tlio world, and which, if it has any sympa
thy with it, pours forth its sickly sentimen
tality in outraging credulity and reason, in
detailing tho marvelous cures and miracles
wrought by the mouldering bones of some
superannuated saint. As the Bible was
the first book given us, so it is also the last
book with which we can part. Science on
ly as such will always need this same pow
er, if not to preserve it, at least to incite
its votaries to those pursuits which have
shincd so worthily in that light which the
gospel has dispensed. All admit that dur
ing the middle ages Germany had both a
literary and political pre-eminence over
England and France, and that only proves,
as they were all Catholic countries, that
Germany was not so hopelessly benighted.
It shows that nothing was wanting but the
man and the occasion, to burst the shackles
of ages, and for her to assume that posi
tion of intellectual advancement sho sub
sequently attained.
Iu the progress of the reformation its vo
taries studied tho Bible with avidity and
delight, and they found themselves fur
nished by it with sufficient armor for the
mighty contest in which they were to en
gage. They discovered in the New Testa
ment what Christianity really was ; their
representations of it were received with
wonder and read with avidity, the secession
from the church of Rome becoming daily
much more rapid and extensive Of this
tho Popes were fully aware, and as the on
ly way of counteracting these formidable
secessions, they attempted, by various de
vices, to fetter the press, to prevent the
circulation of the Bible, and thus again to
plunge the world into that intellectual
darkness from which it had been happily
delivered. "Theso reformers were men,"
says Dr. Wayland, "who counted not their
lives dear unto them when a moral change
was to be effected." In despite of every
thing appalling in the form of opposition,
they studied, they argued, they preached,
they wrote, they translated, they printed,
they employed for the promotion of true
religion all those means which the progress
of society had placed within their power.
Wc very much mistake, if these same ele
ments arc not effectually operative in work
ing out the great problems which the refor
mation suggested.
Tho Protestant world has been entrusted
with this great legacy, tho typo of which
may be seen in all the great civil and so
cial blessings which we enjoy. We are
now in the midstof many hostile elements,
Socialism and Popery, the corrupt and le
gitimate offspring of mental and moral
darkness, and it behooves constant watch
fulness upon tho part of the real friends of
literature aud religion.
It is painful really to contemplate the
results of the growing indifference of Pro
testants to these things. In their charac
teristic simplicity, candor or confidence,
they imagine that all will end well, and
that there can now be no danger since these
reforms have been accomplished. This
work is not yet complete. Eternal watch
fulness can only secure us from these much
more dangerous, because more .insidious at
tacks. But to show that these Tapal pre
tensions to learning are unfounded, glance
at church history, or inquire who became
really distinguished in science anywhere, in
any country, during the long night of Ro
mish supremacy. Contrast tho stylo of
Grecian and Roman literature with any pe
riod of the Catholic supremacy; and strange
as it may appear, tho advantage will be up
on the side of the anetcnts. Nor will it do
to say that Protestant writers havo not ri
valed these ancient authors, for Catholic
ism, all admit, lays an effectual embargo
on that unlimited form of thought and
opinion, which, whilst not a poculiarity, is
at least a characteristic of tho Pagan clas
sics. Michaveli may indeed form an ex
ccption ; and yet, according to an eminent
German critic, his great reputation and sue
cess depended upon his "intimate knowl
edge of antiquity and decidedly Roman
prejudices."
Of tho philosophy of these times, (if
ndecd they possessed anything worthy of
, the name,) "It may be said to havo been
defective, chiefly because it was not thor
oughly Christian; because tho intellect,
knowledge, and ideas of mankind were not
sufficiently penetrated with the spirit of re
ligion." It is truly lamentable to look
back on these periSds, and knowing thence
from whence all these evils originated, con
template the arrogance with which tho suc
cessors of these men assume now to be the
exclusive guides of faith and reason. Ca
tholicism truly has yet many errors for
which she has to atone errors which in
tho aggregate cover its whole past history
but here we scarcely know whether it is
most an object of commiseration or censure.
When the Catholic church shall first eman
cipate from the fetters of ignoranco her
own long enslaved millions, when she shall
appear to be a less zealous supporter of
church than of public education, she may
then lay some reasonable claim to her pres
ent unreasonable pretensions. In the mean
time her different theories on t he subject of
education, not to advert to her uniform
practice, mutually refute ono another; and
we may plead the authority of ono against
the authority of another.
Those who believe in the sincerity of
her former professions and practices, when
ignorance was regarded to be the adjunct
of religion, must disbelieve her present
pretensions. The great problem to account
for tho origin and maintenance of this new
theory of papal propagandise may fall
within our present design. That tho end,
however unworthy, or whatever tho steps
taken to accomplish it, (sanctifies the means)
is, wc believe, an avowed papal doctrine.
All intermediate derelictions from a correct
morality arc adjusted in making up the ag
gregate. Then education is in this coun
try a popular subject, and none object to
tho Catholics receiving a duo proportion of
its benefits: It is also demonstrated that
these appliances are indispensable to de
nominational success and influence. The
masses are daily becoming more and more
enlightened, and it is quite necessary that
there should at least be the external ap
pearance of zeal in its behalf. Telzcl's in
dulgences have been converted into equally
remunerative scholarships in Catholic sem
inaries and colleges, aud the surplus favors
are dispensed iu learned degrees and char
ity hospitals. Far be it from us to impugn
the motives with which many of these sub
ordinate laborers and teachers engage in
these enterprises, as wc have ouly to remark
concerning the obvious, combined, ecclesi
astical motives for which these institutions
arc endowed and maintained.
Iutcllcct was awakened in tho great re
formation, and Frotcftantism starts out
claiming kindred with learniug and science.
If indeed she has sometimes appeared to
forget her mission to neglect literary men
or perhaps for the time, to join in the
sometimes popular outcry against the im
provements of the age it is not to bo set
down to the injury of religion. Young
Protestantism everywhere suffers vastly
from previous influences, and it required a
lengthened experience to fully invest her
with all her Holy Bible elements. It is
at all times personally difficulty to break
the force of old associates and habits; to
act consistently with renewed professions.
Yet how much more perplexing, when
as in the transition from Romanism to
Protestantism, systems undergo an cutirc
change, and when whole communities sud
denly assume to act from changed and re
newed motives and impulses. It is quite
common to set down the early errors of
Protestantism to its own account, when
those errors are obviously chargeable to old
bigotry and superstition. We admit that
tho early reformers were not immaculate,
that they were sometimes intolerant and
inconsistent, that they did many things
which ought not to havo been done, and
which they themselves would not have
dono had they lived longer ; and yet that
only shows that their errors arc to be tra
ced to their former associations. Who
has uot heard of Calvin and Sorvctus, and
who does not perceive that if half that is
attached to the great reformer bo justly
chargeable, he was rather more on object
of commiseration than censure. In like
manner we also account for many of the
errors in Protestant theology, not only in
tho doctrines themselves, but in their
modes of argumentation, and in tho undue
stress laid upon certain doctrines and prac
tices, to the exclusion of others. In the
early ages of tho church sho sustained
great injury from the mingling in of the
various systems of philosopny, and Prot
estantism in turn suffered from equally
obnoxious influences in tho Catholic
Church. Tho reformers discovered one
new truth and got rid of one old supersti
tion at a time; and if they were some
times not quite as successful as we could
havo wished, let us not blame them, but
rather be thaukfu,l that amid so many un
favorable circumstances, they were in tho
end such successful, holy and eminent
discoverers aud reformers. Protestant lit
erature has suffered all along under an Al
lantean load of Catholia superstition; and
to get rid of these, religion itself, as in the
days of tho French revolution, has felt the
shock of their concerted national annihila
tion ; has quivered under the rebound of
tho fearful transit from blind submission
to infidel speculation. Other nations wero
not equally exposed, and tho change boing
more gradual, they were fortunately not
subjected to the fearful errors of that re
markable period.
France has not vet recovered. Her ht-
erature is yet skeptical, and it will require
a determined and thorough evangelization
if she continues much longer, under her
present political and ecclesiastical govern
ing powers, to save her from the repetition
of that dreadful catastrophe. Give the
gospel to France and it would chango her
literature; licentiousness would not find a
market, and her whole host of vile fiction
mongers would bo univei sally discarded.
Shall wo then submit our national litera
ture to all these influences ? Will we not
rather cultivate those principles which
have contributed to give our own theologi
ans, historians, and poets even an enviable
European reputation. Are we not all
proud of the names of Edwards, Davies,
Dwight, Buckminster and Channing men
reared under the wholesome influences of
Puritanic thought and feeling, all of whom
wero deeply in love with our republican
principles ? This race of Titans is not yet
extinct, and we look forward in the hope
that others will rea"p rich rewards in the
learning of kindred consecrated themes.
Wo have alreaely many poets of whom any
nation might be proud, whilst in the de
partment of the arts, the names of West,
Alston, Grecnough and Powers, have gain
ed for. us acknowledged pre-eminence.
But our own success is only an illustration
of the results which accompany the culti
vation of scienco under any Protestant
government; and making all duo allow
ance for our Saxon energy, other nations
show similar results. Protestantism and
general intelligence are synonymous, and
the apparent contrast in this respect shows
the legitimate product of each system.
In all Italy there is no general system
of education. None of her swarming beg
gars can read ; such is tho fact as to the
tier of people above the beggars. The
merest fraction of tho people know how to
read. Kirwan says, in Naples "there is
a college for the sons of the aristocracy,
whose students wear a military uniform;
thcro arc schools where, at great expen o,
the children of the wealthy may be educa
ted ; but nothing is done for tho instruc
tion of tho people. There arc neither
"godless" or godly schools there. Some
how or other, priests and ignorance arc al
ways found together."
We owe all wc havo, as a nation under
God, to the influence of the Bible. It is
the bulwark of our education and freedom;
it is not true that Catholic schools have
any superior advantages, that they are
generally under better government, or
have a higher standard of education. In
stances might be given to show satisfacto
rily the utter fallacy of all these preten
sions. As Trotestants and Americans wc
can have no good reason to distrust the
present system of education, and surely
none why we should jeopardize the real
interests of our children by sending them
to Catholic schools. If we wish to perpet
uate theso great national and religious
privileges, let us early instil into the miuds
of our children a love for those principles
under whose blessed influence we have
grown to be a great people, and through
which we may yet become a blessing to the
world.
PMlatklpliia July 22, 1854.
A Preacher in a Fix.
The editor of tho St. Louis Christian
Advocate, in a recent issue, relates the
following incident :
It was late Saturday night ere our friend
had completed his manuscript discourse for
the ensuing day. Tho family had long
since retired, and all about the house, him
self excepted, sound asleep. Tho whist
ling of the cold wind, the occasional rattle
over tho hard paved street, of a carriage
whoso passengers had been somewhere
keeping late hours, and tho whack of the
watchman's club, wero about the only
sounds to be heard, when our faithful man
wrote the last sentence of his "Sunday
morning's sermon." Meditating upon a
preacher's "hard lot," ho then retired to
rest, where he fondly hoped to fjuiet the
storm which hard study or stimulating ef
fects of tobacco had raised in his nervous
system.
It was late next day when he again en
tered his study, to take one more look at
his manuscript before going to church.
But, alas, some one of those changes which
effect all things sublunary, had been made !
His manuscript, with which ho had taken
so much pains, was nbn est inventus.
Where could it be ? It had been carefully
prepared from "Beloved brethren" to the
last amen. Every t had been dotted, and
every t crossed, all completed and left there
upon the table on the preceding night.
Where could it be ? "Nor wife, nor chil
dren" could tell ; and, alack, the bells be
gan to ring ! Call up Biddy, the house
maid. She comes as fine a specimen of
tho Green Islo as one could wish toseo.
Biddy, did you see anything of a eer-
-w i rt. .1 . i 1 1 1 1 i . All
mon 1 leit on mo tanio nere last mgntf
"1'liizo ycr rivercnoe, sur, its' meself
that's not hocrd a snnnontsenoo I cum till
Amcriky. I go till mass every Sunday,
but have hoerd no sarmont at all, at all."
"O, that's not what I mean. Did you
see a nianusoript sermon somo paper
written on, I loft hero on my table ?"
; "Shuro an its sum bits o' paper marked
all over an'over, that yo'd be afthcr fin-
den?"
"Yes, that's it, exactly. Did you see
them?"
"Indado, sur, au it wasmesclf that tuck
'em to light the firewid j an shuro I tho't
it was kind in ye to lave 'em for me, all
so nice an handy J"
Reader, if you want to know "what for
a sermon" they hada " Church
last Sunday, you must 'ask tho congrega
tion. The above was rather too good for
us to keep, so our good friend must excuse
us for telling it. We sympathize with
him in the loss orhis sermon, but cannot
conceal the casar
BARGAINS! BARGAINS!!
HG. GARRETT, Dealer in Foreign
' and Domestic DRY GOODS. No. 100, 3d
Street, STKUBEjivitLE, will close out. his entire
stock of Fail and Winter Goods, at prices to
suit the limes.
V LIST OF FU10E8 !
Black Silk, best quality, which sold for $1 SO
I will sell at
.$1 00
Do, do
D6. do
Do. do
do
do
do
$1 25
100
" 75
87
75
50
Bl'k Satin, do
do
150
1 00
ALSO French Merinos. Cobunr and Para-
metta Cloths, in great variety; Delaines, all coi
rs, a fine assortment, selling from to 18
cents per yard ; Sacking .Flannel, best assort
ment in the eity, at reduced prices ; white and
red Flannel, a large stock, at prices from 25 to
50 cents per ysrd. '
.VARIETY GOODS.-Hosiery, Gloves. Col
Jars, CJndorsleeves, Spencers, Mull and Swisa
Edging and Inserting, Bonnet, Cap and Velvet
Ribbons, in great variety. -
In a word, all the goods I have on hand will
be sold at the above reduced prices, without
fall. ; Persons wishing bargains in Dry Goods,
will find it to their advantage to call soon.
H. G. GARRETT,
No. IOatJnion Building, 3d st., Steubcaville.
January 1, jo3j. . " .
V H. R. KERN, 1 .
1TAVING purchased the well known and
popular Boot and Shoe Store formerly con
ducted by H. R. Kern & Co., takes this method
of informing the friends and patrons of the
house, that it is his intention to keep on hand a
large and well selected stock of Boots and Shoes,
Trunks, Carpet Bngs, etc., etc.; and while he
docs' not pretend to undersell allothors in the
trade, he belioves his goods to be as cheap an
any In the market, and of as good a quality.-
His motto is "Live and let live." .
Store on Market street, below Third.
Steubennille, Jan. 1, 1855.
Dry Goods at Reduced Prices.
.ALEXANDER CONN invites tho at-
lenion of hU numerous customers and tho
publie generally, to the fact, that he is now dis
posing of the balanco of his large and attrac
tive stuck of Winter Dry Goods at great reduc
tions from former rices. The assortment com
prises in part, French Merinoes different shades
and quelilies, Coburgs, Paramettas, Thibet Me
rinoes, Persian Twills, Wool Delaines, figured
and plain Cashmeres, Bombazines, black Dress
Silks, plain, barred and figured fancy, plaid and
figured do., Ginghams, Prints, etc., etc. Also,
a full and complete assortment of Embroideries,
White Goods, Ribbons, Gloves and Hosiery,
Trimmings, Notions, etc., SHAWLS, in great
variety and ut very low prices, consisting of
fine Broclie, Thibet, Cashmere and the Bay State
Lung Jliawls. Also, our usual excellent stock
of Housekeeping Goods, comprising nearly eve
ry thing in the Dry Good3 line, needed in fam
ilies. Call and examine before piirchaKlng else
where. ALEXANDER CONN,.
, South went corner Fourth and Murket sts.
Sleubenville, Jan. I, 1S55.
'
AURORA,
A NEW COOKING STOVE, new in
design and principle, for burning Coal, has
on extra largo oven, a good draft, and easily
cleaned; construction such us to meet the expec
tations of nil, and guaranteed to give satisfac
tion to the purchaser. Will yon call and see it?
Nos. 3 and 4 Extra Coal Cook Stoves.
" 1 " 2 Ilnrtley " " do.
" 3 " 4 Air Tight Wood do.
' 2 " 4 Premium do. do.
. " 1 " 2 Cook or Bachelor Stoves.
Eg. Parlor and Chamber Stoves of beautiful
design, Fancy Grates, Fenders, etc., etc., all at
red uced prices, at the Ohio Fou n d ry Warerooms,
Market street. SHARP ft CRAIG.
Steubeuville, Jan. 1, 1855.
Wholesale Drug House.
rpiIE subscribers havo on hand a largo
nnd well selected stock of Drugs, Chemi
cals, Paints, Dye Stuffs, Oils, Varnishes, Brush
es, Patent Medicinos, Perfumery, Surgical In
struments, Dnguerreolypo stock, Glassware, etc.,
etc., which tliey offer very low either wholesale
or retail. Deolers will find it to their interest
to examine our stock and prices, as we are do
termined to sell as low as any house in tho
West. Orders promptly executed, aud personal
atteniion paid to shipping, j
DRUG EMPORIUM, Market street, two door
below the Jefferson Branch Bank.
HENING & MELVIN.
Steubenville, Jan. 1, 1855.
House Painting, Glazing, &c.
pERRY COYLE would notify the pub
lic that he is still ready to wait on his pa
trons in the business of House Painting, Gla.
ing, Paper Hanging" and Graining. Sign Palnti
ingdone by journeymen. Shop on Market St.,
Bouth side, opposite Kllgore's new Hall.
Steubenville, Jan. 1, 1855.
NORTON HOTEL,
FORMERLY BLACK BEAR HOUSE
South Fourth streot, Steubenville, Ohio T.
D. Hamilton, Proprietor. The above named
House is situated midway between the Steam
boat Landing and Railroad Depot, rendering
it a convenient Rtopping place for Travelers and
others visiting the city. Jan. 1, '55.
J. II. MILLER. R. SHEI1RABD; Jtl.
MILLER & SHERRARD,
A TTORNEYS AND COUNSELLORS
AT LAW. Offico, Market street, opposite
Washington Hall, Steubenville, Ohio. Prompt
attention to collecting aud securing claims.-
Agents for obtaining Pensions and Bounty
Lands. Land Warrants bought and sold.
January 1, 1855. . ; v
... fc i , t M .
V J. C. M' CLE ART,
A TTORNEY AT LAW and NOTARY
x m- PUBLIC, Warrenton, Ohio, will carefully
attend to all business entrusted to him in the
counties of Jefferson, Harrison and Belmont, in
(he State of T)hio; and Brooke and Ohio coun-.
ties, Va. Oilice opposite tho Western Hotel.
JOHN A. DINO.HAM. , W. R. LL0TO.
V BINGHAM & LLOYD.
A TTORNEYS AT LAW. Office at the
corner of Third and Mnrkt ilmAi, nnnn.
sito the Court House, Steubenville, Ohio.'
January l, ihoo.
JOUM BUANE. . JAMES M. SHANK
f J. & J. M. SHANE.
A TTORNEY'S and Counsellors at Law;
V will promptly attend to all business an.
trusted to them. Office, Kilgore buildings.
Market Street, Steubenville Ohio.
January 1, 1855. ' - '
DOCTOR LOUIS A. HENSSLER,
(GERMAN and EnirHsh Physician.
Office corner of ThirH and nl,
Stoubcnvllle, Ohio. Jan. 1. 1855
SERMONS FOR THE PEOPLE
By JIev. T. H. Stock '
rpHIS highly interesting book contains
420 Dnire.. neatlv executp4. ith n.u
Pica typo, on tine psper.iamo. Pricein cloth
$1: in sheep, $15 j in half morocco, fl ,50.
A liberal jliscount elven to amnta atwi
sellers, by AT ,11. ENGLISH A CO..
Jan. 1. 1855. No. 38, Wood St.. Pitt's. Pa.
samtjeI. stokely. ..-."
ATTORNEY AT; LAW, Steubenville,
c- Ohio. Office under Kilgore Hall, Market
street. Jan. 1, 1S55.
Wesley Starr & Song, K
rpOBACCO AND GENERAL COM
MISSION MERCHANTS, No. 4 Light 8t.
Wharf, Baltimore, attend to the sales of To
baccoand all kinds of WwrVru Produce, Pro
vision., 4c, c. f .. Jan. '5S.
" ' mi ii ii m it .i ii n t-iiimii li - -. ... . V
.. ,j --"" J"."' -., . , ,.a;a;:l . V . . . '
i in-.' ' , v "."W1 u