THE REPORTER.
"'TIS PLEASANT, THROUGH THE LOOP-HOLES OF RETREAT, TO PEEP AT SUCH A WORLD-- TO SEE THE STIR OF THE GREAT BABEL, AND NOT FEEL THE CROWD."
VOL. I. NO. 52.	WASHINGTON, (PA.) MONDAY, MAY 22d, 1820.	WHOLE NO. 52.

MR. EDITOR,

      SIR--I do not intend that, in future, my visits should so much resemble those of Angels, short, and long between. I have now waited more than three weeks to see if any gentleman would meet me on the ground I have assumed. But as none has yet appeared I think it time to proceed. My first number, as was expected raised the temper and provoked the resentment of the "moral association" and their allies. I am happy however, in having pleased the judicious and disinterested, whom I expected to please, and, consequently, I have not been disappointed.

      Many have expressed a great desire to know who I am, but as yet they are not agreed among themselves. I cannot, I confess, see any just cause, why they should trouble themselves on this account. They have only to consider what I have said, and enquire, have I spoken the words of truth and soberness. I have chosen a signature expressive of what, I would wish to be, and did not subscribe my personal and family name in full; being convinced, that it, should neither add to, nor detract from, the merits of any thing I have said, or may say. Nor shall I say any thing, intentionally at least, that I shall be ashamed openly to avow. But as I expect to occupy the public attention (with your permission, sir,) for some time, in discussing the subject proposed; I intend through you, to gratify the curiosity of some, so far as to inform them what I am. You are at liberty then, sir, to inform them, that I am a plain, blunt man; that I profess to have common sense. That I have been so long in the world, and have had so many opportunities of becoming acquainted with men and things, as to authorize me to say, and to think, I hope, without vanity, that I have obtained, in a moderate degree, a correct sense of things, civil, moral and religious. I do not make any pretensions to extraordinary eruditions but hope to be able to express my ideas in a plain and intelligent manner; and to feel the force of any argument that any opponent may urge. As I am a farmer, and laborious in the avocation of life, and obliged to make my living, these hard times, the best way I can; and of course, have no large portion of time to spend on trifles. My reading at present is not very extensive, though I am a lover of good books, and could occasionally intrench on the hours of sleep when I meet with an agreeable author. As I am now rather encroaching upon the character of an egotist, I may go a little farther and say, that I have a sincere regard for the interests of religion and morality, and never wish to profess more of either than I possess. But, I am happy to say, that, notwithstanding all the infirmities of my nature, my moral character has never been impeached. This, sir, is saying a good deal, but I think you can safely attest, as far as your knowledge extends, the truth, of what I have now asserted.

      With regard to the motives that have led me to oppose the "moral associations;" I can consistently affirm that they are not those of malice, envy, or any unlawful passion towards individuals, or the cause of morality. I owe benevolence to all men, and constant regard to the interests of morality. I wish always to distinguish between the agent, and the action; and though I may detest the latter, I would ever commiserate the former. There is but one class of mankind, on whose conduct, I would, as far as consistent with candor, animadvert, with righteous severity. This is that class, composed of all those of every grade who unsolicited mount the judgment seat, and uninvited, place themselves in the censor's chair; to deal rash judgment round the land, on everyone they suppose able to pay for their transgressions. When at the same time they themselves, perhaps are not unspotted in their moral reputation.

      I have only to add on this topic that I am determined not to notice any thing that may be said by any opponent, who does not discover the character of a gentleman in paying a just regard to truth, decency and propriety of address. The scurrilities of anonymous abuse, should any such appear, shall perish untouched. I regard not severe criticism; I depricate not the force of argument, I shrink not from rational discussion, and I will not advance an argument, nor write a sentence to which I would blush, to add my name.

      If any person should enquire what right I have to interfere with the proceedings of these associations; my answer is, I conceive I have as good a right to sit in judgment upon them; as they have to sit in judgment on their fellow citizens: and certainly they cannot expect more lenity than they shew. These things premised I proceed to shew that these "moral associations" are a moral evil. In doing this my efforts shall be directed to accomplish the following objects. To demonstrate that they are anti-evangelical, anti-constitutional, and anti-rational. These things being accomplished, it will not be a difficult matter to shew that they are a moral evil.

      In the course of my deliberations I shall attempt to point out a better way to secure the ostensible objects of these associations, than any which they have yet adopted, or than any which they, as "moral associations," can adopt.

      In the first place then I proceed to shew that they are anti-evangelical or anti-christian combinations. In order to do them and myself ample justice, I shall agreeably to the rules of the antients, in the commencement of my discussion, give, what I conceive a true and concise definition of a moral association. A moral association, such as that of West Middletown, is an unincorporated, unchartered, heterogeneous, self created, and impotent association of men; for the professed object of suppressing vice and immorality; by enticing some to become informers; others, to collect fines, or to imprison as the case may require; for, and in consideration of the following sins, only; sabbath breaking, prophane swearing, drunkenness, card playing, ball playing, or any kind of gaming for money. As far as my information extends this is a correct definition of it. I am not altogether certain whether ball playing, is really yet placed amongst the list of sins to be punished as the law directs. My information on this article is altogether derived from the oration published in the Examiner alluded to, in my first No. in which ball playing is pointed out, as a sin of the first magnitude; deserving the attention of the fraternity. If I have not given a true definition of it in the above words I request to be corrected, and more especially as I am about to predicate sundry arguments on the truth of the above definition.

      As the ambiguity of language is such, as to occasion many controversies, I shall further explain one or two words in my definition. By heterogeneous I mean--of different religious persuasions, and those of no religious persuasion. By impotent, I mean, powerless, possessing no more legal authority in an associate, than in a private capacity. The other terms are not so liable, in my opinion, to be misconstrued.

      Such an association as I have described; was not known in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, nor in the days of Moses, Daniel, St. Paul, St. Peter and St. John. It is a modern invention, and of how much utility, we shall see by and by. It is not purely civil, moral, nor religious, but a mixture of the three. The Bible, since the commencement of christianity, only speaks of three distinct corporations existing in the world, down to our times. The church, the unbelieving or heathen world, and anti-christ, or an unhallowed alliance of the kingdoms of this world, with the kingdom of truth. The church has jurisdiction over all its own members, in regard to their whole moral and religious character. The state has jurisdiction over all its own members, in things civil, and moral, but not religious.

      Antichrist claims an unhallowed, and iniquitous control, over every individual under its grasp, in all things civil, moral and religious. It crowns kings, sanctifies and disannuls leagues, punishes and remits sins--and claims the highest honors to itself. Now these associations are not the church of Christ, inasmuch, as their members do not all profess christianity, they do not attend in their associate capacity to any of the peculiarities of a church--consequently as societies they are not the church of Christ. Nor are they purely civil, for they claim jurisdiction over actions that are not civil, but religious; such as the keeping of a Sabbath, and taking the name of God in vain. There remains but one association which can justly claim them; and they resemble their mother in the prominent features of their countenance, inasmuch, as they claim jurisdiction over actions civil, moral, and religious.

      I must leave you to guess at my meaning until I finish the first part of my argument in another number.

      P. S. As you cannot expect a man who sometimes holds the plough, to write a good hand, you will pardon the crampness of some parts of my writing; which I observe occasioned some typographical mistakes in my first number, which materially marred the grammatical constructions of two or three sentences.

CANDIDUS.      

[The Reporter, 22 May 1820, pp. 1-2.]