The New England States possess to a
great extent the externals of religion, and inherit in a modified degree
the principles of their Puritan ancestors; and the New Englanders have
emigrated westward in large numbers, carrying with them to the newly
settled States the leaven of religion and morality. The churches of every
denomination are crowded, and within my observation by as many gentlemen
as ladies; but that class of aspiring spirits, known under the name of
"Young America," boasts a perfect freedom from religious observances of
every kind.
There is a creed known by the name of Universalism, which is a compound of
Antinomianism with several other forms of error, and embraces tens of
thousands within its pale. It often verges upon the most complete
Pantheism, and is very popular with large numbers of the youth of America.
There is a considerable amount of excitement kept up by the religious
bodies in the shape of public re-unions, congregational soirées, and the
like, producing a species of religious dissipation, very unfavourable, I
should suppose, to the growth of true piety.
