I now propose to make a few observations about disbelief in the United States.  On this point I have no statistics to refer to, nor do I believe such exist.  I therefore can form no idea of its extent; but the open way in which some parties not only express their doubts of the authenticity of Scripture, but dispute every doctrine which it contains, and openly proclaim it the enemy of man, is worthy of some notice.  An Ismite Convention was held for many days at Hartford, in one of the New England States (Connecticut) where, I suppose, education may be considered as universal as in any other State in the Union.

The meeting was considered of sufficient importance to occupy daily several columns of one of the New York leading journals, and to employ a special reporter.  It is thus headed—­“MEETING OF PHILOSOPHERS, THEOLOGIANS, THINKERS, STRONG-MINDED WOMEN, SPIRITUAL RAPPERS, ATHEISTS, AND NEGROES.”  Details of this Convention would be too tedious; I propose only giving a few of their resolutions.  Resolved—­“That the Bible, in some parts of the Old and New Testament, sanctions injustice, concubinage, prostitution, oppression, war, plunder, and wholesale murder, and, therefore, that the Bible as a whole, originated,[CG] is false, and injurious to the social and spiritual growth of man.”  After which the chairman goes on to prove (?) it is purely human, &c.  Another resolution reiterates the former, and adds that “the time has come to declare its untruthfulness, and to unmask those who are guilty of its imposture.”  Then follows a resolution for the especial consideration of slave-owners:—­“Resolved—­That it is the climax of audacity and impiety for this nation to receive the Bible as the inspired Word of God, and then to make it a penal offence to give it to any of the millions who are held as chattel slaves on its soil, thus conspiring to make them miserable here and hereafter.”  Then follows a charitable resolution, declaring their belief that all the clergy “would readily burn the Bible to-morrow if public sentiment demanded it.”  One of the orators brings the Bible to the bar of geology, and there condemns it, and recommends “that the Hindoos should establish a mission to enlighten Christians of this and other countries.  He believed that the priesthood and the Bible were opposed to all liberty and progress, and the deadliest enemies of mankind.”

Another member of this blasphemous band becomes highly indignant because the orthodox clergymen—­who probably remembered that “evil communications corrupt good manners”—­would not meet them on their infidel platform, and he presents a resolution declaring that “by their absence, they had openly declared their infidelity to their professions of theological faith, and had thus confessed the weakness and folly of their arrogant assumptions, and proved that they loved popular favour more than common good; and they are therefore moral cowards, pharisees of this nineteenth century, seeking to enslave