THE OR GAZETTE OF THE UNIVERSAL COMMUNITY SOCIETY OF RATIONAL RELIGIONISTS. Enrolled under Acts of Parliament, 10 Geo. IV. c. 56, and 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 40. "THE CHARACTER OF MAN IS FORMED FOR HIM AND NOT BY HIM."-ROBERT OWEN. JOSHUA HOBSON, PRINTER, MARKET STREET, BRIGGATE, LEEDS. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1839. PRICE 2d CONTENTS. 711 712 Bradford, Huddersfield, Liverpool, 716 717 Progress at Manchester District, Gildersome, 720 Ibid Notice to Branches, CLERICAL CALUMNIES REFUTED. The pressure of other matter has hitherto prevented us from noticing a pamphlet with the following title:"The Mutual Love of Christ and his Church: a Sermon preached in St. Ann's, Blackfriars, to which is prefixed a Letter on Owenism to Lord Melbourne, by the Rev. R. W. Dibdin, A. M., of St. John's College, Cambridge." Of the "Sermon" we can only say that it is as stupid and full of words signifying nothing, as sermons should be, and usually are; and probably a feeling that this was the case, induced the Rev. Author to “prefix” the "Letter on Owenism." That subject is attractive, in connexion with the name of the Premier, and with a Parson's shrewdness, he must have perceived that it would impart life and interest to the otherwise uninteresting progeny of his brain; the "prefix" will no doubt carry the "Sermon" into many quarters it would never have reached without the aid of "Owenism.” The prefixture" is as full of falsehood and misrepresentation as beseems the production of a clergyman, when writing against those he fears or hates. He begins by assuring Lord Melbourne that he speaks the sentiment of thousands of well-wishers, and "the sentiments of the clergy to man," when he expresses ❝ the deepest regret and alarm," at the introduction of Mr. Owen at Court, and more particularly so when the object of that introduction was the advocacy or advancement of the principles of Socialism. introduced himself to Lord Melbourne, Mr. Dibdin proceeds in the most christian-like manner to set forth the enormity of Mr. Owen's writings, sayings, and doings; and applies the epithet "unhappy person," twice to him, as a proof of the overflowing charity and "deep compassion" with which his reverence regards him; and then gives vent to the following delectable bit of scandal in the true spirit of the charity "which thinketh no evil.”—“A man fallen from the place which he once held in the esteem of the virtuous and reputable; and become the avowed advocate of vice-the systematic enemy of religion in his old age, is to be pitied. If there be one being more despicable than another it is a vicious old man who is lascivious when the passions have subsided." The Rev. Gentleman's logic, or his metaphysics, are not very clear in this passage. How a "vicious old man can be at one and the same time the object of "deep compassion and pity," and "despicable," is not explained. Before proceeding further with our analysis of this clerical libel, let us examine the preceding assertion; it states that Mr. Owen “has fallen in the esteem of the virtuous and reputable." We venture to state for the information of Mr. Dibdin, that he never stood higher in the estimation of both. It is only with a few of the Parsons that he is in bad odour; and looking at the objects of their friendship and esteem, it is a high compliment to his virtue and goodness that this is the case; a eulogy from them would diminish the lusture of his character and impair his usefulness; all the "reputable, virtuous," and We give the Rev. Author all credit for the sincerity of this decla- enlightened portion of society would immediately regard him with ration. The "alarm and regret" of the clergy is very "deep," when suspicion. The imputation of an "avowed advocacy of vice" is one of they hear of any thing calculated to put priestcraft in danger. The those headlong assertions which mean nothing when proceeding from a bitter hostility they have ever evinced to all measures of educational priest, but that the individual spoken of is not a servile tool of improvement or intellectual elevation, unmixed with the alloy of clerical tyranny; and it is on a par with the succeeding accusation superstition or principles calculated to continue their sway over the that he is "the systematic enemy of religion ;" which latter term destinies of humanity, is proof sufficient of the correctness of the aver- means with these parties tithes, church-rates, snug endowments, luxument. Mr. Dibdin, however, is desirous of saving his Lordship from rious ease, large pay, and no work, for their particular class ;—a good the imputation of the horrid crime of introducing Mr. Owen, and enough religion for them, but a very indifferent one for those who declares, in the next place, that he shall "most heartily rejoice," if have to" pay the piper." In these senses Mr. Owen is eminently imLord Melbourne will only deny it in some public manner. If, how-moral and anti-religious; and we rejoice to know that the number of ever, he is denied this "hearty rejoicing," he must be allowed the such vicious and irreligious people is already very great, and rapidly consolation of thinking that the Premier was totally "unconscious of on the increas?. But that Mr. Owen is, in the usual language of the the character of Mr. Owen's private history, as well as of the nature world, a “vicious man," is a lie so great, so palpable, so utterly conof his (so called "new morals" i. e. Socialism," and that in this tradicted by the whole tenor of his noble and philanthropic life, that instance, at least, Lord Brougham's epithet of "a noble and ignorant none but a Parson or a Parson's newspaper editor could have dared to lord," is most fitly applied. violate common decency and truth by its utterance. Having in this manner, and with much more to the same purport, The whole of Mr. Owen's long life, and his ample fortune, has been devoted with a singular and unique disinterestedness for the promotion of principles and plans, which he believes calculated to confer universal blessings on man. If we look at his proceedings at New Lanark, we find the philosopher and philanthropist patiently warring with old prejudices and vicious habits among a degraded population. Under his benign sway, theft, drunkenness, swearing, and beggary disappear; cleanliness in person and home take the place of filthiness in both; magnificent institutions rise up in the midst of his workinen, for the instruction of their children, not in mystic doctrines or holy fables, but true knowledge-the divine, awful, and lovely realities of nature. The song of light hearted gaiety and happy contentment echoes through the vale, and the hum of infantile voices in these halls, under the watchful and tender superintendance of experience and love, blends beautifully with the hymn of the river, as it pours its waters over Cora Linn! No Magistrate or Policeman ever needed to invade that peaceful retreat, during the long period that he dispensed happiness and justice to its population; and even now, when his personal superintendance is removed, the philanthropy and all-embracing benevolence of his genius has infused itself into his arrangements, and continues, through their medium, to make them the "happiest and most moral population in the world."* If we follow Mr. Owen in his career, we every where find the marks of the same devotion to the interests of his fellow-beings. His munificent presents to Bell and Lancaster, for the promotion of their plans for education; the establishment of Infant Schools; the introduction of the Pauper Colonies into Holland ; of National Education into Prussia, both which measures are now working with the happiest effects for these respective countries; his negociation of a treaty of peace between the American and British governments; his origination of the Bills for regulating labour in factories, and long perseverance in urging them forward; and his journies into every part of Europe and America, in search of the means of doing good, not to a section, but the whole of mankind: these things stand out too broadly, and well authenticated on the page of history, to bear denial or controversy; and we place them in juxta-position with the libel of this Church menial, not for the purpose of eulogising Mr Owen, (a practice which he and we equally despise, from a deep conviction of the inutility and inapplicability of praise to any human being,) but for the justification of a great and good man, and the refutation of a false and virulent personal libel. When will any of these beneficed and sleck preachers of good-will and peace come forth and copy his example, even to the tithe? When will they deny themselves the luxuries which wealth commands-ease, respect, and all the appliances which society confers upon those who swim with the stream of popular prejudice; when will they abandon these, and all self-seeking aggrandisement, and go forth, as he has done, on a mission of love to all men, making wealth not ministrant to personal ease and comfort, but the well-being and prosperity of the race? Alas! we may ask, when? The echoes alone answer us! Foremost in the strife of party and of sect; first in the chief seats at feasts, and eager after honours and emolument, are they seen. The glorious de votion, the total abnegation of self, which characterizes the conduct of Robert Owen, is a living reproach to them; and their only escape is in pointless and wholesale calumny. The criticism of the Rev. Gentleman, on Mr. Owen's views, are of a piece with his assertions, respecting his life and character. Rather singularly for a person who takes his text from that modest, chaste, and delicate book, the "Song of Solomon ;" he fastens particularly on those respecting the marriage system; and with all the uncleanness *See Parliamentary Report, by F. Hill, 1838. and libidinousness which usually characterises the, writings of such persons as Ministers of the Gopel, goes on to totally misrepresent and falsify these views. He says that" some of the leading features of Mr. Owen's system so entirely outrage the bounds of modesty, that even to speak against them, one is almost compelled to err against decorum ;" and having thus adroitly paved the way for the violation of "decorum," he proceeds to use language which could proceed from nobody but a person deeply read in the impurities and disgusting details of a book, misnamed holy; and which Mr. Shiel, a member of the House of Commons, and holding office under Government, eloquently and forcibly declared he would shut up from general use, and not suffer to pollute the minds of a sister, a wife, or a daughter, by its filthy relations. We now offer to Mr. Dibdin, or any other clergyman who chooses to take up the invitation, that for every passage in Mr. Owea's writings which can, by the most forced construction, be held to convey an impure idea, we will find in their Bible a hundred. In fact, those who are acquainted with Mr. Owen's works, know, that on every topic his sentiments and language are such as may be read by all persons of every rank and station, without the least hesitation. We recollect an amusing instance of the failure of clerical m'srepresentation on this very point at Coventry, during the discussion between Messrs. Bannister and Campbell. Mr. Bannister had declaimed at great length against Mr. Owen's views on this subject, and read some passages which he thought bore out his view of the matter, without making much impression on the audience; when he declared that "he had then his hand upon a passage which was so awfully obscene, so disgustingly filthy, that he could not think of polluting the ears of a christian audience by reading it.” (This was after he had exhausted the vocabulary of the brothel.) We immediately demanded that the passage should be read-and, backed by our friends, in spite of equivocations and subterfuges, we compelled him to read it. He put on an appropriate face; read it with due inflection and gesticulations, while every ear was open-and the ladies faces down-all present expecting to hear something horribly outrageous; but as he proceeded-the beauty of the language, the purity of the sentiments, the truth of the principles contained in the passage, breathed their own purity through the assembly; heads and eyes were alike raised, and the conclusion of the passage was met by an exclamation of "VERY GOOD!" followed by loud and rapturous cheering, in the midst of which the speaker stood aghast and dismayed. The impurity was in his own depraved conceptions, and his attempt to fasten it upon Mr. Owen recoiled upon himself. Mr. Dibdin says, " My Lord I do not deny the truth of Mr. Owen's statement that I or you, or any other man, would, under suitable temptation, and if not prevented, commit either murder or adultery; but"-Aye, "but ;" what then? "I do deny what Mr. Owen further says, we should not be guilty in the sight of God if we did so." This is a lame and impotent conclusion; we do not recollect that Mr. Owen uses such words. He draws this conclusion; that as temptations to the commission of crime are certain, “if not prevented," to produce crime, it is the duty of society to remove the temptations, and surround man with those circumstances which will conduce to right conduct. This is a much more practical, moral, and legitimate conclusion from the premises thau Mr. Dibdin's; and when Mr. Dibdin informs us how an Omnipotent God can permit temptation to exercise its natural influence upon a created being, and then hold him guilty for succumbing to its influence, after he has made both the temptation and the tempted, we shall be glad to enter into the other question he has | and, at the same time, lay the foundation deep and broad for the formooted. He then proceeds to "inform his lordship, that it is one great practical feature in this system of morality,' that there ought to be xo MARRIAGE!" which is an unmitigated falsehood. To the marriages of the Priests we certainly are opposed: marriages of interest and sordid motives; marriages proceeding from other motives than pure affection, we denounce, as equally opposed to the laws of human nature and human happiness; but the permanent union of affectionate and sympathising individuals, is the aim of all the projected arrangements of the New Moral World; and we see immorality only in compelling to a discordant and unholy existence together, persons who never did possess affection for each other, or who, having once possessed it, have been made mutually indifferent or repulsive. We hold separation to be a great evil, but living together in forced connexion after affection has ceased, to be a much greater. Mr. Dibdin continues thus: 'My Lord, what shall we answer our country women, when they hear us, from the pulpit, and in the drawing-room, call upon them as virtuous and Christian women to pray against the spread of Socialism and Popery, and other dark schemes for the destruction of Christianity? What shall we answer them when they say, 'Why the Queen has received and countenanced the Founder of the Socialists?"" 66 mation of a new state of society, in which division and enmity, tyranny and slavery, want and crime, ignorance and brutality would be for ever banished from the abodes of men. These are tidings worth proclaiming in the "drawing rooms and the pulpits." The elucidation of the principles upon which the plans are based by which these results are to be effected, will form much more important and benef cial topics for preaching, than the reiteration of worn out dogmas, and an unintelligible jargon of mystical subleties which few care for, and none understand. If the Rev. R. W. Dibdin, and his brethren of the cloth, will preach this gospel--this "Good news," avoiding all mention of “black popery," "unclean Heathens," and other irritating epithets, with which his and their prelections are very much interlarded; if, in short, they will become ministers of peace, instead of war-of union, instead of division-of love, instead of hate-we promise them that the religion of Jesus Christ will be realised; his precepts no longer a dead letter, mocked by the every day conduct of men ; but that every house will be a temple, every man a priest filled with a divine spirit, and his life an incarnation of the glory, goodness, and beauty of an all pervading love. SOCIALISM IN FRANCE. CHARLES FOURIER.-Article 1. one. To this end we propose to lay before our readers, in a series of original articles, the character and history of Socialism in France, as founded by the amiable and enthusiastic FOURIER. As few of our readers are acquainted with the biography of this extraordinary man, we shall preface our history of French Socialism, by a brief review of the life and character of its founder. It does not appear that M. REYBAUD is a disciple of FOURIER'S, but he writes in a calm and dispassionate style, and introduces his subject with the following reflections, which we think are well deserving the attention of our We will inform the Reverend Gentleman what to answer; and it will suit the atmosphere of the "drawing-room," which is marvelously favourable to any thing that bears the stamp of rank or fashion. Tell them that the Queen is not alone in her "countenance of the founder The Revue des deux Mondes, a French periodical, conducted by of Socialism;" that her father was his warm friend and disciple; that talent of a very high order, contains a well-written article on modern Lord Liverpool's government was most friendly to his principles and Socialism. The author is M. LOUIS REYBAUD, one of the most plans; that Dr. Manners Sutton, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, talented contributors to the work; and as our readers all know in distributed 500 copies of Mr. Owen's New Views of Society among what manner Socialism is treated in our own land, it will no doubt his clergy, in token of his "countenance" to these views; that the pre-interest them to know what sort of reception it meets with in a foreign sent Emperor of Russia was Mr. Owen's guest and friend; that the King of Prussia sent him an autograph letter, thanking him for his plan for schools; that the King of Bavaria, Prince Metternich, Baron Humboldt, the Prime Minister of Prussia, and our Ambassadors at the courts of Berlin and Vienna, received and entertained him most graciously during his late continental tour; and also, that the Presidents of America, for the last half century, and especially Mr. Van Buren, the present President, have all been his confidential friends. Tell them this, Mr. Dibdin, and you will be telling much less than the truth. Tell them, also, that Mr. Owen is eminently attractive in the society of ladies; and that the purest and most delicate mind will never feel either by word, look, or action, aught derogatory to the dignity of human nature, while in his company; say also, that while he has laboured much for the emancipation of man from error and misery, he has done so much more for the release of woman from civil, political, and domestic slavery, and their elevation morally, mentally, and physically, to be the enlightened, free, and happy companions of man, instead of the domestic drudges and playthings for whiling away an idle hour with, which they are now made. When Mr. Dibdin has told all this, and returns from executing his commission, we will give him more information for the "drawing room." We will explain to him, in detail, how Mr. Owen proposes gradually to remove from society all the causes of crime and wretchedness, to clevate the condition of the producers of wealth, without trenching on the rights, property, or privileges of the rich. How, by the introduction of means for the creation of new wealth, and imparting a superior education, to the children of the present generation, he would abolish all the causes of that discontent which now makes our governors have recourse to soldiers and constables for its suppression, readers : "We should fall into a grievous error if we were to suppose that revolutions in the social machine-in the manners, customs, and habits of society, manifest themselves in as lively and rapid a form as revolutions in the political world. The accession to power of a successful political faction is visible to the whole world-it is supported by physical force; it commands with authority; it presses upon the whole body politic with a weight felt by all, and shines with a splendour which penetrates every hamlet. If it be supported by the material force of the executive power, it cares little for the conscientious opposition and latent antipathies of a minority. Not so with a revolution in the social machine. It is far different with an extensive change in the manners, customs, opinions, and habits of society. A change of this description can only be produced slowly and softly-it interests less the mass of the people, and more the individual: whilst a political change demands obedience only in public, a social change enters into the privacy of domestic intercourse, addresses itself to the reason and to the affections of each, gains its victory slowly, step by step, and has to overcome a host of firmly fixed prejudices before it can completely establish itself. The political movement imposes itself ; ; simultaneously on all ; the social movement insinuates itself gradually was engaged as clerk to a mercantile firm, and part of his duty was to among individuals--the one strikes ; the other discusses : the one give his assistance at a voluntary submersion of grain in the port of forces obedience by the bayonet ; the other attracts obedience by Marseilles. Our readers are probably aware that large quantities of persuasion : the one contents itself by a negative success ; the other corn are very frequently destroyed by the owners, in order to raise requires a sincere and unqualified attachment. It is this difference the market price for that portion which is left, and that this practice which explains the reason why so many Conquerors have succeeded, has arisen from those restrictive laws designed to protect the agriculand why so many Reformers have failed. Since the establishment of tural interest against the other interests of society. These two facts Christianity, what numbers of political changes have taken place, and constantly presented themselves to the sensitive and reflective mind of how few have been the changes in the domestic and social economy of FOURIER. The first pointed to the falsehood and fraud imposed upon mankind. Religious controversies, and religious wars, which have the human being at infancy, and which continues to dominate orer made carth and heaven resound with their noise, have not been even him through life, at the same time that he is taught to be loud in his able to establish in the private family economy of their disputants a professions of truth and sincerity ; the second fact pointed to the difference at all to be compared with the disparity of their rival creeds. nature of competition and of commercial monopolies founding their Amidst the everlasting mutations of empires and kingdoms, the social benefits to particular classes on the destruction of nature's gifts. code has remained almost uniform, and if it have made any progress, Fourier looked at the animal and inanimate world, and saw no such it is owing more to the influence of discoveries in physical science, strange distortions in the relations which existed in it. Why then than to the efforts of Social Reformers. Twenty centuries, and six did it exist in the moral world ? Had not nature made as wise a successive conquests have not been able to eradicate the Hindoo law provision for the happiness of man as she has made for the happinesg with its sanguinary customs, and revolting categories ; and even the of the animal creation? Doubtless she had ; and Fourier began to daily contact of civilized Europeans have not been able to penetrate examine how nature's end had been frustrated, and how the artificial the coarse and ferocious character of the Musselman." elements with which man has barred his own happiness could be Thus, wherever we look-on whatever people we fix our regards, removed. (To be continued.) we find a principle of fixity in the social economy, and it is only by duly appreciating the great fact, that the character is dependent on ON THE EXISTENCE OF MORAL EVIL the influence of circumstances, that we can ever hope to overcome this AND ON THE INFLUENCE OF THOSE fixity by new combinations of circumstances which shall ensure to CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE PLACED every human being an amount of happiness never yet enjoyed. WITHIN THE CONTROL OF SOCIETY. CHARLES FOURIER was the son of a draper in the town of ESSAY VII. Besancon, in France. Possessed of an organization naturally susceptible of shunning indiscriminate intercourse with society, he appears to have acquired a calm and reserved air of abstraction, which might The ingenious artificers, to whom the ancient world have enabled him to pass through the journey of life unnoticed and was indebted for the blessings of Celestial assistance, took ucared for, were it not for the mission he undertook to fulfil, and by care to endow their pretended Deities with attributes conwhich he has justly acquired the title of the founder of Socialism in allowed to obey the same influences, to feel influenced by genial to the taste of the Devotees; they were also France. Fourier lived in the world, but was not of the world. A the same passions, to endure the same trials aud vexations, man of close observation and acute judgment ; he walked through to engage in the same outrages, cabals, and hostilities, society without mixing with it. Like a traveller visiting a strange and when conflicting tribes came to be united either by land, he took notes of every thing he saw. He wept over the misery conquest or alliance, their Gods were permitted to share which surrounded him—he sympathized deeply with the sufferings of the advantage, ceased their dissention, formed the same humanity-he traced the causes which produced them, and found, to friendly union, and cordially partook amongst them the his infinite joy, that they were not indelibly imprinted in the consti- invocations, the hosannahs, and the smoke. What, upon tution of the universe, and that ignorance alone was the prevailing such occasions, became of the costly offerings, the gold cause of misery. Having discovered the cause of evil, he planned, and precious stones, is a mystery I have not yet obtained with astonishing perseverance, the remedial system, which he advo permission to reveal ! cated—and unfriended by a single human being, but scoffed at by all, The residence of the Gods varied its locality, also, he proclaimed it to his fellow citizens ; and that system which was at with the changing condition of society. At first, it was first looked upon contemptuously by all, now attracts the favourable in desert islands, in the deep gloom of forests, in caverns, regards of some of every class of society in France, from the working grottoes, and consecrated groves ; then in magnificent artizan of the shop, to Louis PHILIPPE and his sons, in the palace of temples, seated on lofty hills ; then upon mountain tops the Tuilleries. Two facts inade an indelible impression on the orga “ The thunderers sat, where high Olympus shrouds His hundred heads in heaven, and props the clouds." nization of FOURIER. The first occurred when he was five years of Their next remove was into the “ Starry Régions" age. He was in his father's shop when’ a customer was making pur-(where several of them had worlds of their own) from chases. As truth was not strictly adhered to in describing the whence, " in' Rome's best days," a large covey again desqualities of the articles, little FOURIER, with all the simplicity of cended, took up their abode in the Pantheon, and were, childhood, contradicted the falsehoods which the shopman uttered, and by the piety of Constantine the Great and his devout revealed to the customer the fraud which was practised upon him. assistants, converted, at last, into Christian Saints, or, at But how astonished was Fourier when he found that so far from least, baptised with their names. having gained his father's approbation by his frank exposure of the During these vicissitudes, it was obvious to many, who shopında, he had to endure a severe reprimand for his conduct. The wished to profit by the discovery, that the glory of the other fact, took place when Fourier was nineteen years of age. He immortal phantoms was promoted much faster by the prompt acquiescence of credulity, than by the slow and cautious determinations of reason, and they exercised no small ability to bring the latter quality into contempt and disuse. both so often to the temptation, and consented to invoke assistance, whose only object was to deceive and mislead their fellows; nevertheless, we are assured by modern Divines, that our Catholic as well as our Pagan ancestors were They began by filling the minds of children with deluded into the worship of those helpless non-existent superstitious terrors; incongruous notions were next in- phantoms by the promptings of the Evil Spirit; but it stilled, which contradicted the evidence of all their seems more charitable to suppose that the author of those senses; these notions were enjoined as matters of belief; delusions must have been the self-same spirit with that absurd ceremonies, expensive and unnatural rites estab- by which they themselves are prompted, inasmuch, as in lished upon such creeds as divine ordinances, were then both cases, the consequences are exactly the same, enforced as indispensable duties: neglect of these duties to the teacher and the disciple. How long this harassing never failed to incur some grievous calamity, either public probation must continue before it can mature the faculties or private, unless divine wrath could be averted by a of our refractory and disobedient race, is difficult, even costly atonement made through the agency of the Priest. to surmise. Faint rays and feeble corruscations begin to By such artful contrivances (which were countenanced by dapple the mental horizon; but whether these are to be those whom the ignorant multitude held in respect and regarded as frightful omens, or, as the dawn of a glorious veneration) the human mind was rendered so imbecile day, will perhaps depend on the wise determination of that no fiction was too gross for belief-no conduct too those few enlightened minds, to whose care, at the present revolting for practice; faith was substituted for righteous-time, the balance, which contains the destinies of Europe, ness-children were sacrificed for the offences of their has been entrusted; perhaps, on the single consideration parents, and nations for the sins of their rulers: in a word, of whether they shall be permitted to place in one of its credulity prevailed and reason was extinguished by the scales a sufficient portion of justice and intelligence to fogs of superstition. counterpoise the selfishness and fanaticism which now X. preponderate in the other. AGRICULTURAL CLASSES. It is worthy of note that the most efficient agents in establishing this system of delusion were not the dignified Exarchs and High-Priests, who rolled about in sacredotal pomp to dazzle and stupify the vulgar, but men of humble pretensions and modest demeanor, who mixed familiarly To the Editor of the New Moral World. with the people, shared their sympathies and feelings, amused the youngsters with fables of apparitions, and Dear Sir,-Considering it the duty and interest of tales of miraculous favours, toyed with the virgins, the Socialists, both individually and collectively, to gossipped with the wives about the adventures of Venus, acquire a knowledge of those subjects which will have Leda and Io, got tipsy and gamed with the husbands, the best practical tendency, in insuring the success of and having insensibly led them into vice and profligacy, the great object for which they are associated-the turned suddenly round, repented bitterly, shaved their emancipation of the human race from their present heads and put on sack cloth; and thus obtained, after death, rank among the demi-gods, or a crown of immortal glory. Their old dissolute associates were sometimes so much edified by these pious examples as to bequeath their worldly wealth to temples and altars, and leave their wives and families to the care of those merciful beneficient powers whose interests they had so carefully promoted. enslaved condition, by the means of Communities, such as they contemplate; I beg, through the medium of the New Moral World, to recommend to their attention the advantages they would derive by the establishment, in each Branch, of a Class or Classes, for the attainment of a knowledge of Agriculture. In my opinion, few kinds of knowledge are more immediately adapted to aid them in their endeavours, than by acquiring all possible information of this most important and necessary branch of production. The institutions ascribed to Moses seem, under this point of view, rather defective as compared with those of his heathen progenitors. By securing to his own tribe all the advantages of piety and holiness, he separated its It is an opinion, I believe, generally subscribed to members from the common people, and thus rendered throughout "the body," that Agriculture must form their pecadilloes more obvious, odious, and unpopular than the basis of our arrangements; and, as a consequence, they otherwise might have been. It was probably this it demands a considerable share of our attention. It circumstance, joined to the absence of all reversionary is, therefore, desirable that as large an amount of inforhopes in a life to come, that made the children of Israel mation on the subject should be obtained as present so prone to go whoring after other Gods, and not, as circumstances will allow. By there being formed in some affirm, because the Pagan worship was more attrac-each Branch, at least, one Class for the purpose, a very tive and economical; for to judge from the enormous considerable amount of valuable information would be wealth, said to be frequently abstracted from the temples obtained; which would materially aid in giving sucat Babylon, Heliopolis, Delphos, &c., the Pagan priest-cess to the experiments contemplated. I am aware, hood must have been nearly a match for the Hebrew, in rapacity and extortion!! Deplorable as all such abuses must appear to those who have recovered the right use of reason, still, when it is considered that these are the very means by which powerful armies have been urged along their resistless career of plunder, and devastation and the revenues of mighty nations thus rendered subservient to charity and holiness, it is not surprising that human frailty should have yielded that, situated as are a large majority of our friends at present, it would be difficult for them to gain little more than a knowledge of the theory; but even this would be of vast importance; for when individuals are called from their present situations, to take an active part on the " Land," the information thus previously acquired, will serve as the basis for a more strong and extended knowledge of the pursuit; as they, at least, will know something of the nature of the soil on which |