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the nation； in such places where the inhabitants desired to show themselves
equal to all the heights of the Revolution。〃Scott； vol。 1； ch。 17。
Said the orator who introduced the worship of Reason： 〃Legislators！
Fanaticism has given way to reason。 Its bleared eyes could not endure the
brilliancy of the light。 This day an immense concourse has assembled beneath
those gothic vaults； which； for the first time； re…echoed the truth。 There
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the French have celebrated the only true worship；that of Liberty； that of
Reason。 There we have formed wishes for the prosperity of the arms of the
Republic。 There we have abandoned inanimate idols for Reason； for that
animated image； the masterpiece of nature。〃M。 A。 Thiers； History of the
French Revolution； vol。 2； pp。 370； 371。
When the goddess was brought into the Convention； the orator took her by the
hand； and turning to the assembly said： 〃Mortals； cease to tremble before
the powerless thunders of a God whom your fears have created。 Henceforth
acknowledge no divinity but Reason。 I offer you its noblest and purest
image； if you must have idols； sacrifice only to such as this。 。 。 。 Fall
before the august Senate of Freedom； oh！ Veil of Reason！〃
〃The goddess； after being embraced by the president； was mounted on a
magnificent car； and conducted； amid an immense crowd； to the cathedral of
Notre Dame； to take the place of the Deity。 There she was elevated on the
high altar； and received the adoration of all present。〃Alison； vol。 1； ch。
10。
This was followed； not long afterward； by the public burning of the Bible。
On one occasion 〃the Popular Society of the Museum〃 entered the hall of the
municipality； exclaiming； 〃Vive la Raison！〃 and carrying on the top of a
pole the half…burned remains of several books； among others breviaries；
missals； and the Old and New Testaments； which 〃expiated in a great fire；〃
said the president； 〃all the fooleries which they have made the human race
commit。〃Journal of Paris； 1793； No。 318。 Quoted in Buchez…Roux； Collection
of Parliamentary History； vol。 30； pp。 200； 201。
It was popery that had begun the work which atheism was completing。 The
policy of Rome had wrought out those conditions； social； political； and
religious； that were hurrying France on to ruin。 Writers； in referring to
the horrors of the Revolution； say that these excesses are to be charged
upon the throne and the church。 （See Appendix。） In strict justice they are
to be charged upon the church。 Popery had poisoned the
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minds of kings against the Reformation； as an enemy to the crown； an element
of discord that would be fatal to the peace and harmony of the nation。 It
was the genius of Rome that by this means inspired the direst cruelty and
the most galling oppression which proceeded from the throne。
The spirit of liberty went with the Bible。 Wherever the gospel was received；
the minds of the people were awakened。 They began to cast off the shackles
that had held them bondslaves of ignorance； vice； and superstition。 They
began to think and act as men。 Monarchs saw it and trembled for their
despotism。
Rome was not slow to inflame their jealous fears。 Said the pope to the
regent of France in 1525： 〃This mania ＇Protestantism＇ will not only confound
and destroy religion； but all principalities； nobility； laws； orders； and
ranks besides。〃 G。 de Felice； History of the Protestants of France； b。 1；
ch。 2； par。 8。 A few years later a papal nuncio warned the king： 〃Sire； be
not deceived。 The Protestants will upset all civil as well as religious
order。 。 。 。 The throne is in as much danger as the altar。 。 。 。 The
introduction of a new religion must necessarily introduce a new
government。〃D'Aubigne； History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of
Calvin； b。 2； ch。 36。 And theologians appealed to the prejudices of the
people by declaring that the Protestant doctrine 〃entices men away to
novelties and folly； it robs the king of the devoted affection of his
subjects； and devastates both church and state。〃 Thus Rome succeeded in
arraying France against the Reformation。 〃It was to uphold the throne；
preserve the nobles； and maintain the laws； that the sword of persecution
was first unsheathed in France。〃Wylie； b。 13； ch。 4。
Little did the rulers of the land foresee the results of that fateful
policy。 The teaching of the Bible would have implanted in the minds and
hearts of the people those principles of justice； temperance； truth； equity；
and benevolence which are the very cornerstone of a nation's prosperity。
〃Righteousness exalteth a nation。〃 Thereby 〃the throne is established。〃
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Proverbs 14：34； 16：12。 〃The work of righteousness shall be peace；〃 and the
effect； 〃quietness and assurance forever。〃 Isaiah 32：17。 He who obeys the
divine law will most truly respect and obey the laws of his country。 He who
fears God will honor the king in the exercise of all just and legitimate
authority。 But unhappy France prohibited the Bible and banned its disciples。
Century after century； men of principle and integrity； men of intellectual
acuteness and moral strength； who had the courage to avow their convictions
and the faith to suffer for the truthfor centuries these men toiled as
slaves in the galleys； perished at the stake； or rotted in dungeon cells。
Thousands upon thousands found safety in flight； and this continued for two
hundred and fifty years after the opening of the Reformation。
〃Scarcely was there a generation of Frenchmen during the long period that
did not witness the disciples of the gospel fleeing before the insane fury
of the persecutor； and carrying with them the intelligence； the arts； the
industry； the order； in which； as a rule； they pre…eminently excelled； to
enrich the lands in which they found an asylum。 And in proportion as they
replenished other countries with these good gifts； did they empty their own
of them。 If all that was now driven away had been retained in France； if；
during these three hundred years； the industrial skill of the exiles had
been cultivating her soil； if； during these three hundred years； their
artistic bent had been improving her manufactures； if； during these three
hundred years； their creative genius and analytic power had been enriching
her literature and cultivating her science； if their wisdom had been guiding
her councils； their bravery fighting her battles； their equity framing her
laws； and the religion of the Bible strengthening the intellect and
governing the conscience of her people； what a glory would at this day have
encompassed France！ What a great； prosperous； and happy countrya pattern
to the nationswould she have been！
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〃But a blind and inexorable bigotry chased from her soil every teacher of
virtue； every champion of order； every honest defender of the throne； it
said to the men who would have made their country a 'renown and glory' in
the earth； Choose which you will have； a stake or exile。 At last the ruin of
the state was complete； there remained no more conscience to be proscribed；