Page:New England and the Bavarian Illuminati.djvu/101

 the inflamatory representations and proceedings of these clubs, their abettors and friends. 1

Medford's minister acquitted himself with something more than his customary fiery earnestness on the occasion of this same national festival. Mounting his pulpit, he pictured to his hearers " the reign of a ferocious and atheistical anarchy in France," whose authors had " formed the design of bringing other nations to fraternize with them in their infernal principles and conduct." 2 Their emissaries, Osgood argued, have spread themselves abroad and entered into every country open to them. In Geneva these abandoned creatures have been "horribly successful in overthrowing a free government but lately established, and in bringing on, in imitation of what had happened in their own country, one revolution after another." The same identical agents have found their way into the United States and have begun here their poisonous fraternizing system. 3 The sermon as a whole could scarcely have been more violent in tone. It is very clear that Osgood had resolved to do what he could to rouse the country.

As a direct result of this kind of pulpit utterance a result that doubtless had much to do with persuading the clergy that an alarming decline of religion was under way in New England the charge of "political preaching" rapidly developed into one of the standing accusations of the day. The bitterness of party strife grew apace. Opposition to Federalist measures of government, such as Jay's Treaty and the handling of diplomatic relations with France,


 * 1 Tappan's Sermon, p. 36.


 * 2 A Discourse, delivered February 19, 1795. The day set apart by the President for a general thanksgiving throughout the United States. By David Osgood, A. M., pastor of the church in Medford, Boston, 1795, P. 18.


 * 3 Ibid., pp. 1 8, 19.