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NOTICES OF PERU. 337 



long has darkened this fair portion of the earth, is breaking 

 away before the rising light of knowledge ; its rays have pene- 

 trated far and wide, yet there is much still to clear from the 

 darkness of superstition and the influence of clerical imposi- 

 tion ; and there is reason to hope, that the Catholic church will 

 in these countries be freed from its abuses, and the faith re- 

 stored to its pristine purity. The very discussion above al- 

 luded to, may possibly result advantageously to Christianity. 



By many in the United States, even the name of Catholic is 

 used reproachfully; but when we see men of talents and edu- 

 cation yielding to forms and ceremonies that appear idle, let 

 us pause, and be sure that we understand before we condemn 

 them. San Martin, the Liberator of Peru, received instruc- 

 tions from the Chilian congress to hold sacred the temples of 

 religion, and to punish any of those under his command who 

 should forget the duty that Christians owe to their God ! 



Soon after the commencement of the revolution, the book- 

 makers of Europe prepared hasty translations of the most im- 

 pious books, such as Volney's Ruins, the writings of Thomas 

 Paine, &c., with a host of lascivious novels, that abound in 

 the French language, and brought them into the South Ame- 

 rican market. Lima was full of them. Instead of enlighten- 

 ing, they only served to stir up the passions, and fill with 

 doubts a people by no means prepared to think on abstract sub- 

 jects. To prevent the diffusion of this mental poison, several 

 decrees were published during 1823, prohibiting the publica- 

 tion of any article in the gazettes, against the Holy Scrip- 

 tures, the articles and dogmas of faith, morality, religion, or 

 the essential discipline of the church." 



It was these circumstances that gave origin to the ''Cartas 

 Peruanas," that were commenced in 1822, and continued 

 till 1825, at intervals. In 1829, they were collected and pub- 

 lished together, forming a well written work on the evidences 

 of Christianity, in which the author displays a great deal of 

 erudition and industry. He is said to be a canonigo, named 

 Moreno. He has taken up and answered the arguments of all 

 the most distinguished anti-religionists of France, as Voltaire^ 

 Rousseau, Diderot, &c. 

 43 



