Arrogant and conceited, he, though a very young man, thrust
himself forward as a censor, and very soon was in controversy with Dr.
Clapp. Without a tithe of his talent, or a grain of his piety, he
assumed to arraign him on the ground of unfaithfulness to the tenets
of the church. This controversy was bitter and continued. The result
was, that Dr. Clapp dissolved connection with the Presbyterian Church,
and, at the call of the most numerous and talented as well as wealthy
congregation ever preached to, up to that time, in New Orleans;
established himself as an independent, and continued to preach for
many years--indeed, until age and infirmity compelled him to retire.
His peculiar religious opinions were more Unitarian than Presbyterian.
They consisted of an enlightened philosophy derived from _natural
revelation_, which elevated Deity above the passions, prejudices,
loves, and hates of mortality. _His_ GOD _was_ INFINITE,
ALL-PERVADING, _and_ PERFECT.
The purity of his character, and his wonderful intellect, combined,
brought around him the most intelligent and moral of the population,
and his opinions won many converts.
Pages:
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928