north america-1-第89章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
is； if not its essence； at any rate its chief protection。 It is a part of their system that religion shall be perfectly free； and that no man shall be in any way constrained in that matter。 Consequently； the question of a man's religion is regarded in a free…and…easy way。 It is well； for instance； that a young lad should go somewhere on a Sunday； but a sermon is a sermon； and it does not much concern the lad's father whether his son hear the discourse of a freethinker in the music…hall； or the eloquent but lengthy outpouring of a preacher in a Methodist chapel。 Everybody is bound to have a religion； but it does not much matter what it is。 The difficulty in which the first fathers of the Revolution found themselves on this question is shown by the constitutions of the different States。 There can be no doubt that the inhabitants of the New England States were； as things went； a strictly religious community。 They had no idea of throwing over the worship of God； as the French had attempted to do at their revolution。 They intended that the new nation should be pre…eminently composed of a God…fearing people； but they intended also that they should be a people free in everythingfree to choose their own forms of worship。 They intended that the nation should be a Protestant people； but they intended also that no man's conscience should be coerced in the matter of his own religion。 It was hard to reconcile these two things； and to explain to the citizens that it behooved them to worship Godeven under penalties for omission； but that it was at the same time open to them to select any form of worship that they pleased； however that form might differ from the practices of the majority。 In Connecticut it is declared that it is the duty of all men to worship the Supreme Being； the Creator and Preserver of the universe； but that it is their right to render that worship in the mode most consistent with the dictates of their consciences。 And then； a few lines further down； the article skips the great difficulty in a manner somewhat disingenuous； and declares that each and every society of Christians in the State shall have and enjoy the same and equal privileges。 But it does not say whether a Jew shall be divested of those privileges； or； if he be divested； how that treatment of him is to be reconciled with the assurance that it is every man's right to worship the Supreme Being in the mode most consistent with the dictates of his own conscience。 In Rhode Island they were more honest。 It is there declared that every man shall be free to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience； and to profess and by argument to maintain his opinion in matters of religion； and that the same shall in no wise diminish； enlarge； or affect his civil capacity。 Here it is simply presumed that every man will worship a God； and no allusion is made even to Christianity。 In Massachusetts they are again hardly honest。 〃It is the right；〃 says the constitution； 〃as well as the duty of all men in society publicly and at stated seasons to worship the supreme Being； the Great Creator and Preserver of the universe。〃 And then it goes on to say that every man may do so in what form he pleases； but further down it declares that 〃every denomination of Christians； demeaning themselves peaceably and as good subjects of the commonwealth； shall be equally under the protection of the law。〃 But what about those who are not Christians？ In New Hampshire it is exactly the same。 It is enacted that 〃every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience and reason。〃 And that 〃every denomination of Christians； demeaning themselves quietly and as good citizens of the State； shall be equally under the protection of the law。〃 From all which it is； I think； manifest that the men who framed these documents； desirous above all things of cutting themselves and their people loose from every kind of trammel； still felt the necessity of enforcing religionof making it； to a certain extent； a matter of State duty。 In the first constitution of North Carolina it is enjoined 〃that no person who shall deny the being of God； or the truth of the Protestant religion； shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit。〃 But this was altered in the year 1836； and the words 〃Christian religion〃 were substituted for 〃Protestant religion。〃 In New England the Congregationalists are； I think； the dominant sect。 In Massachusetts； and I believe in the other New England States； a man is presumed to be a Congregationalist if he do not declare himself to be anything else； as with us the Church of England counts all who do not specially have themselves counted elsewhere。 The Congregationalist； as far as I can learn； is very near to a Presbyterian。 In New England I think the Unitarians would rank next in number； but a Unitarian in America is not the same as a Unitarian with us。 Here； if I understand the nature of his creed； a Unitarian does not recognize the divinity of our Saviour。 In America he does do so； but throws over the doctrine of the Trinity。 The Protestant Episcopalians muster strong in all the great cities； and I fancy that they would be regarded as taking the lead of the other religious denominations in New York。 Their tendency is to high…church doctrines。 I wish they had not found it necessary to alter the forms of our prayer…book in so many little matters； as to which there was no national expediency for such changes。 But it was probably thought necessary that a new people should show their independence in all things。 The Roman Catholics have a very strong partyas a matter of courseseeing how great has been the emigration from Ireland； but here； as in Irelandand as indeed is the case all the world overthe Roman Catholics are the hewers of wood and drawers of water。 The Germans； who have latterly flocked into the States in such swarms that they have almost Germanized certain States； have； of course； their own churches。 In every town there are places of worship for Baptists； Presbyterians； Methodists； Anabaptists； and every denomination of Christianity； and the meeting…houses prepared for these sects are not； as with us； hideous buildings； contrived to inspire disgust by the enormity of their ugliness； nor are they called Salem； Ebenezer； and Sion； nor do the ministers within them look in any way like the Deputy…Shepherd。 The churches belonging to those sects are often handsome。 This is especially the case in New York； and the pastors are not unfrequently among the best educated and most agreeable men whom the traveler will meet。 They are for the most part well paid； and are enabled by their outward position to hold that place in the world's ranks which should always belong to a clergyman。 I have not been able to obtain information from which I can state with anything like correctness what may be the average income of ministers of the Gospel in the Northern States； but that it is much higher than the average income of our parish clergymen； admits； I think； of no doubt。 The stipends of clergymen in the American towns are higher than those paid in the country。 The opposite to this； I think； as a rule； is the case with us。 I have said that religion in the States is rowdy。 By that I mean to imply that it seems to me to be divested of that reverential order and strictness of rule which； according to our ideas； should be attached to matters of religion。 One hardly knows where the affairs of this world end； or where those of the next begin。 When the holy men were had in at the lecture； were they doing stage…work or church…work？ On hearing sermons； one is often driven to ask one's self whether the discourse from the pulpit be in its nature political or religious。 I heard an Episcopalian Protestant clergyman talk of the scoffing nations of Europe； because at that moment he was angry with England and France about Slidell and Mason。 I have heard a chapter of the Bible read in Congress at the desire of a member； and very badly read。 After which the chapter itself and the reading of it became a subject of debate； partly jocose and partly acrimonious。 It is a common thing for a clergyman to chang
