1842 Western Frontier overrun by Mormons, Campbellites, Atheists, Catholics

Our Country; its capabilities, its perils, and its hope. Being A Plea for the early establishment of Gospel Institutions in the destitute portions of the United States. New York: The Executive Committee of the American Home Missionary Society, 1842. [12561] Removed, no wrapper, 6 3/4 x 4 1/4 inches, 60 pp., foxing. Newly sewn. Good. Pamphlet. A tract designed to promote and encourage evangelization in the West, "the duty of thoroughly evangelizing the United States. Three chapters: 1. Facts and Considerations relative to the United States in general, including "the influence of the United States on the rest of the World"; 2. The Missionary Field in the Mississippi Valley - its size, increase of population, and "Peculiarities of the Western Character"; 3. Home Missions, the great means of spreading the gospel in our country. The dangers of Mormonism, Campbellism, Atheism, and Catholicism are revealed as incentives for evangelical Christians to counteract their influences. Flake 6022b for the Mormon content. "Mormons and Mormon tenets," "Zeal in proselyting," p. 47-49. This section of the pamphlet describes three classes of Mormons: the first, "honest-hearted, credulous, deceived, duped." The second, "lazy, shiftless, worthless men, or avaricious men, who hope to make money." The third are "the leaders - wicked, designing men; men of more or less talent, and ambitious, but who can never rise to much distinction among Christians, or who have lost their standing, and who wish to regain it without repentance." Also, "the position of Iowa relative to Missouri, makes them regard it with peculiar interest. They expect soon to be strong enough, with the aid of the Indians, to meet Missouri in battle array. Every one who embraces the system is as ready to fight as were the Israelites under Joshua." Other dangers include Abner Kneeland, "On the Des Moines is Abner Kneeland, the great apostle of Atheism, with a band of his followers." - p. 45. And Alexander Campbell: "Campbellism is the great curse of the West - more destructive and more injurious to the cause of religion than avowed infidelity itself. There is evidence of wonderful cunning in the system, and in those who seek to carry it out. It presents something like a form of godliness...As Mohammed, in framing his system of delusion, sought to accommodate it as far as practicable to all forms of religion then extant, so Campbellism is intended to commend itself to all the other denominations. It has no creed or confession of its own." - pp. 46-47. Roman Catholics also come under condemnation: "In a community in Illinois...The number of voters is about 1900. Of these, 7 or 800 are Catholics, who generally act together on all questions of public interest...these hold the balance of power. This was so well understood during a political contest, that both parties made interest with the Catholics, in hops of securing their votes at the poles. To this end, intoxicating drink was freely employed, and the holy Sabbath desecrated to electioneering visits from house to house." - p. 47. The American Home Missionary Society was formed in 1826 by the Congregational, Presbyterian, Dutch Reformed, and Associate Reformed Churches for the purpose of providing financial and spiritual support for church planting in the growing American western frontier. Its home base was New York City and local auxiliaries were spread about the country. Many state and local home mission societies joined in this larger organization, which was active until the end of the 19th century.