<5^ SPIRIT FANATICISM g^©^!?a©4i>2i SiSS^JF§02)^a When men make the tempest or whirlwind their car, To ride in great haste from the earth to the skies ; In clouds of delusion, before they've gone far. Their heads become giddy — strange phantoms arise ! ^ NEW- YORK; PUBLISHED AT THE " BEACON" OFFICE^ 94 ROOSEVELT-STREET. 1842. ^^f\A\ $ 1^\ C^\i^l INTRODUCTORY. Ix recurring to the history of former times, we are presented with a series of frightful calamities, brought upon the human family by the blind devotion of the many to the ambitious designs of the few. Indivi- duals professing to be the agents of a supernatural power, and acting as the interpreters of God's will, and considered as such by the unthinking multitude, have always found it an easy matter to rule and sub- jugate the minds of men, and direct their actions in such a way as to favour their own selfish and wicked purposes; and to imagine that those v^^ho pretend to act as mediators between God and man in our own country, are so disinterested as not to use their OAvn influence in such a manner as to promote their own power, and favour their own aggrandisement, is to suppose that human nature has undergone a change. The spreading light of science, and the spirit of free inquiry, have, in many parts of the Union, done much within a few years to disarm superstition of its terrors, and to elevate the condition of man. A kind of spiritual incubus, however, still exercises a power^ ful control over the minds of a vast portion of our fellow-citizens. The leaders of a number of tho reli- gious sects, seeing that light has burst in upon their empire of darkness, have taken the alarm, and have been laboring for some time with redoubled energy, in getting up what they term revivals, by means of protracted meetings and other movements, calculated to facilitate their operations in gaining proselytes. In the plenitude of their zeal, they let no one within their reach escape their importunities : and those persons who take the liberty to think for themselves, probably experience greater annoyance, from secta- rian strife and the intolerant spirit of fanaticism, than they would from an established religion, — which all honest men would deprecate, XV. INTRODUCTORY. Having attended some of the celebrated revival meetings, and witnessed the process of making con- verts ; and believing it to be nothing more than the effects of animal excitement, and productive of more evil than good, the author now offers the following poetical production to the public, as an exposition a€ his views on the subject. THE Spirit of Fanaticism (a poetical rhapsody.) What wild exclamations salute the dull ear, With screams bursting forth on the stillness of night ! 'Tis noise of the holy devotion we hear, Of fanatics frantic with grief and delight. The ranting and canting. And shouting and spouting, Bewilder weak minds with alarm and affiright. Like furies now raving, o'ercharged with blind zeal, Excitement soon drives their best senses away ; When nerves are unstrung, from emotions they feel, The priest, like the potter, can manage his clay, With coaxing and hoaxing, Beseeching and preaching, That all will be lost who may longer delay. The victims of terror now shudder and quail, As horrible spectres the preacher pourtrays ; With mouths and ears open for each frightful tale. Unthinking they scream, and bewilder'd they gaze. What wonders and thunders, And lightning and fright'ning, Proceed from the storms that enthusiasts' raise ! With nonsense, proclaim'd till it seems quite profound, Deception then mostly on tumult relies ; 6 SPIRIT OF FANATICISM. When fear and amazement are kindled around. Then reason no longer her balance supplies. But singing and sighing, And laughing and crying, Are followed by groaning and rubbing the eyes. Some fancy they're hearing hell's fiery floods roar — In mandates like thunder they're told to repent; O'ercome with dread terror they sink to the floor, When shouts o'er the prostrate to heaven are sent. Then thumping and jumping, And shaking and quaking. As if this fair earth to its centre were rent. The tumult now thickens — the saints now perspire ; With voices like volcanoes, people are told What M'onders are wrought by the heaven-sent fire — Its power on those present, they now may behold. With lhem» a delusion Is holy infusion, Refining the heart ; no alloy with the gold. The fallen ones rising from rest and repose, Refreshed and much better.they wipe oflT their tears: They're now born anew, as they fondly suppose, And discord, like chorus of angels appears. No horrors nor sorrows. But pleasures and treasures,^ Are sung in loud strains, that fall full on their ears. They know that a change in their feelings was wrought, The cords of ihe soul had been played on with art; Outpourings of grace from above, they are taught, Has made them new beings — produced the new heart :* * After the feelings have been alarmed and excited to the high- fest degree, by the recital of the most awful agony and anguish in ao imaginary world, the credulous mortails sink beneath the sup- SPIRIT OF FANATICISM. 7 Believers, deceirers, Now joining, combining, Denounce those they cannot control or convert. The works of the Lord are proclaimed through ihe land, And heralded forth with imposing parade ; A God-sent revival, though managed and plann'd By those who live well by the soul-mending trade. Then meetings and greetings. And tattling and prattling, Show plainly to all that a stir has been made. When priest-craft has gathered its harvest secure, The laborers greet one another with smiles ; To think how much credulous minds can endure, And what shining fruits they produce from their toils : With speeches bombastic, And gestures fantastic, Seem big as the kings of the Cannibal Isles. Young converts now tell us of treas\tres they prize, Obtain'd from the beings they loudly implore ; They talk of rich crowns they will wear in the skies. Where toil and industry are needed no more : posed spectres of dispair ; and as they recover from their paro- xysms of fear, the tune is changed, and the holy songs of gladness and glory, in animating strains, cheer their drooping spirits, and kindling zeal warms their hearts, and they soon become frantic with joy, and imagine they have undergone a thorough conver- sion, or, (as they familiarly call it) the new birth. Changes of feelings and opinions, and sudden convictions, are often effected in a similar way at political meetings, by the speakers operating on the hopes and fears, sympathies and prejudices, of the people. Dr. Underbill's lectures on mysterious religious emotions, show clearly how these emotions are produced — by rousing the natural feelings by artificial excitement. a SPIRIT OF FANATICISM. From feelings fermented, They thmk they've repented, Though more prone to slander and strife than be- fore.* With meetings repeated at morn, noon and night, Pride, envy and malice, their evils still yield ; New subjects for dreamers afford new delight. They change not their nature, but take a new field: They leave former fashions, But keep all their passion, To act with more zest under piety's shield. Those who make the tempest or whirlwind their car, To ride in great haste from the earth to the skies ; In clouds of delusion, before they get far. Their heads become giddy, strange phantoms arise! From whirling and twirling, And reeling, they're feeling. Like topers when fumes of the Cogniac rise. The temp'rance reform ! how it gladdens the land ! Bright faces proclaiming its virtue to save; Vast myriads moving — their numbers hovv grand ! Resolved that strong drink shall no longer enslave : * That some people are made better by being frightened into a belief that they have experienced a change, from the regenera- ting influence of a supernatural conversion, may be admitted ; — while, on the other hand, we cannot avoid the conviction, that in most cases instead of there being any improvement made in their dispositions, they appear more unfriendly and vindictive towards other members of the human family, than before. The ideal dreams of fanaticism and superstition, as they lead the mind off from the important realities of life, seem to chill the tender feel- ings of impartial benevolence, and shed a moral blight of the social affections. The anticipation of future happiness and glory in the ethereal regions, causes most of the enthusiasts to neglect the affairs of this world, and their duties to their fellow beings- SPIRIT OF FANATICISM. 9 Shall bigots be able, To build up their Babel, And rave with intemp'ranoe round Aleohors grave. What troubles, heart-burnings, proscription and strife, Are kindled around by each sanctified squad ; Their hatred so holy is lasting as life, Their venom they fancy is pleasing to God: They scout human reason, As worse than high treason, And science they shun as a poisonous flood. We're ask'd by the spirits of wonder and strife, What things we can offer like their's that can ease^ Man's heart, as he travels the journey of life — We say we'll give wisdom and truth, if they please : Give candor for slander, Give bon sense for nonsense, And substitute soundness and health for disease. When reason's artillery is thundered around,* No doubt but the zealots will take it amiss; The gospel of wisdom, for them too profound. Who think to go raving to regions of bliss ; Their leaders with kindness Would cure all our blindness, And preach other worlds for the good things of this. A robe of magnificence covers the land ; It yields to the fanatic ie^ or no charms ; The sun-lighted firmament round us, how grand 1 No beauty for those in the midst of alarms: From wrangling and jangling, And taunting and vaunting, They're restless as saints when in Lucifer's arms. * It is not the still small voice of reason, as the Friends would call it, but the thunder of its artillery, that can make any impres- eion on the battlements of superstition, or produce any salutary effect with those who never indulge in calm reflection. 10 SPIRIT OF FANATICISM. Our country is throng'd with the men of the Lord, Milienial preachers ; what efforts they show To save our poor souls by the power of their word, Wile discord is kindled wherever they go.* Men's social condition No part of their mission, Their terms of salvation are warfare and woe. The doctrines proclaim'd by the good Nazarene, Should spread peace and concord through earth^s smiling lands; Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly, we've seen, Announc'd in the righteous reformer's commands r His birth-place a stable, His servants are able. By using his name to live pompous and grand. Proud bishops to teach us humility's way, Divinity's doctors, with faces demure. As gods are adored, as they flatter and pray, — Their zeal is most fervent when pay is most sure. They move in rich coaches, And shun all reproaches, Their hearts are so holy, their lives are so pure. What monsters have grown out of fanatic's dreams j What whimsical phantoms have prey'd on their minds ; * We have now a vast army of clerical gentry in the United States, well supplied with the munitions of spiritual warfare, and well paid for guarding us from the attacks of the Devil and the dictates of reason. This immense force is yearly augmenting, from new recruits furnished from about forty theological semi- naries ; yet we are told that the harvest is great, but the labourers are few. Few indeed, to accomplish the vast project of con- verting the whole human race to what they term orthodoxy, and bringing about the glorious millenium of ecclesiastical supremacy, tyranny and oppression, throughout the world. SPIRIT OF FANATICISM. 11 What spectres conceited are met with wild screams, What ideal beings credulity finds !* As Allah and Omar, And gods sung by Homer, And deities formed from the Zodiac signs. From Egypt's first saints, to the Mormon high priest, Deceivers have ruled thro' some omnific names; Through men's hopes and fears they could riot and feast, On things of this world that hypocrisy gains ; Men's minds they first puzzle, Their mouths they next muxzle, Unless they re-echo what priestcraft proclaims. O'er earth's smilings regions what horrors have spread, From priestly ambition, relentless and vile ; What wars has it kindled, what blood has it shed, To darken the Ganges, Euphrates, and Nile: Its magic how tragic, In spurning and burning, As seen at the stake and the funeral pile. . On altars cemented with carnage and tears, What victims were slain for the sanctified blaze ; * The late fanciful and ingenious production, entitled " Alce- PHooN," by T. Moore, contains a letter from a high priest of an- tiquity, who officiated at tiie Temple of Jupiter, to the commander of an army, in which he explains the mysteries of his craft. The following is an extract from his confession : " To guard secure the temple's ancient boast, And seem most holy, we must cheat the most, Work the best miracles, wrap nonsense round With pomp and darkness, till it seems profound ; Play on the hopes, the terrors of mankind. With changeful skill ; and make the human mind Like our own sanctuary; where no ray But by the priest's permission, finds its way ; Where, through the gloom as wave our wizard rods, Monsters at will are conjur'd into gods." LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 015 861 953 2 IS SPIRIT OF FANAT What demons have governed fears, What wonders they wrought amongst bigotry's slaves : To aid in oppressing, They'd call down a blessing, From terrible beings created by knaves. As through the dim vista of ages now past, In letters of blood the sad records we read, How thousands were slaughter'd, and men stood aghast, At cruelties wrought to establish a creed: Yes, bigotry's horrors, Awakens our sorrows. For myriads doomed by its mandates to bleed. Fanatical zeal a few ages ago, Could lead on its millions to fight and destroy; Its movements were marked by affliction and woe. To give earthly saints satisfaction and joy. The robbing crusaders, With other invaders, Afforded the zealots a constant employ. Priestcraft in all ages and nations the same, From Plata to Huron, from Lapland to Spain ; From Obi to India, whatever its name, To fetter men's minds is its object — its aim : With feelings inflated, And conscience dilated. In myst'ries' light comrSerce it traffics for gain. How dismal the gloom of the world in past ages. When demons of bigotry ruled in their might, O'er the empire of mind, and terrified sages, Commun'd with each other in secret and night: But now may fair science. Bid priestcraft defiance. And wave her bright wings in the regions of light. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS lllllllllllllii^ 015 861 953 2 ^ HoUinger Corp. pH8.5