p. 80 | Freedom of Speech by M. E. Cornell

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 27, 1859

Freedom of Speech.

By M. E. Cornell

At the annual meeting of the New England Association in Columbus, Ohio, the "Rev. Mr. Nye" in his address uttered the following:

"Here in these glorious valleys of the West we are to imitate these deeds (of the Pilgrims). The individual rather than a party, the individual rather than the church. I am afraid that we lack the nerve and charity here to carry out these ideas. Let every one resolve to think, act, and speak for himself. A man should not bow down to majorities or mobs, but hold fast to his own faith, and be true to his own thought, though all the parties in the world, and all the sects in the church, should pronounce anathemas upon his head. Let this be our motto, men and women from New England, and the God of our fathers shall be our God and our guide forever!" "The Pilgrims came hither to speak for themselves. They fought to found a Commonwealth without a King, and a church without a Bishop or Priest."

These sentiments are worthy to be engraved in the rocks in the most public places. The fears expressed above are realized, and this is the difficulty in the church. Let the professors of the day "carry out these ideas," and they will no longer escape persecution.

M. E. CORNELL.