"Christian liberty will be a leading topic in the Palladium, as genuine religion can breathe freely only in the atmosphere of freedom. There cannot be imagined a greater treason against heaven and earth, than for men, under the pretence of a superior sanctity, to plot, contrive, and provide for the control of human thoughts, actions and hopes, by infusing into the minds of their brethren and equals the delirium of superstitious fears of God, and the poison of cringing subserviency to man. The churches which have attempted this, have displayed the worst effects of ambition, selfishness and sensuality; and the states which have submitted to it, all the debasement of servility, ignorance, and even of crime. Men should dread nothing but sin, and submit to no authority not delegated by themselves, except that of their parents and their God. The Palladium is not designed to espouse any party in politics; yet it may have occasion at times to speak on the subject of Civil Government, so far as that species of government has a direct bearing on Christian liberty."
In this bold, independent, out-spoken manner, the Editor of the Palladium unfurled his banner both to the friendly and the adverse breezes of the church and the world; and though he well knew how and when to be politic, his paper had no disguise of sentiments. Up to the mark of his own enlightenment it had a bold, free, and therefore an effective utterance on the errors it attempted to correct, and the truths it aimed to set forth.
As one object of Mr. Badger's monthly was to develop the talent of young writers in the cause he represented, in his first number he commends to their observance a method of improvement, containing seven distinct rules, which are worthy of repetition in this volume, as many of the same class may still be profited by taking them into consideration. He says to them:—
"1st. Devote some part of each week to writing on some important subject. 2d. Express your ideas in as few words as possible, render the sense clear, use plain and familiar language, but lively and impressive figures. 3d. Often revise and improve your former compositions. 4th. Keep your ideas clear and distinct, and avoid tautology. 5th. Occasionally submit your best compositions to your more learned and experienced brethren; and never be offended, but always thankful, for any new idea or correction. 6th. When you write for the press, keep a copy of your communications, and when they are revised and published, carefully compare your copy with the editor's improvement. 7th. Always keep in view the great object of all our labor, which is to make men good."
Let these seven rules of wisdom for young writers still be remembered, as those that are able to discipline and to improve their power, and particularly the last, which gives to writing an earnest and a truthful character.
Assisted by a few practical writers, and by such contributions as he could get from others, he continued his work successfully, presenting a good variety of matter; essays on moral and theological themes, letters, extracts from the best authors, poems, news from churches, and so forth. This first volume presents among its writers the names of Kinkade, Morrill, Millard, Walters, Barr, Flemming, Miles, Jones, McKee, Purveyance, Henry and others, whilst on its pages are able extracts from the pen of Channing, from the Christian Examiner and other periodicals of the time; and at the close of the year, April, 1833, the editor, in an address headed by the impressive lines,
"'Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours,
And ask them what report they bore to Heaven,
And how they might have borne more welcome news,'"
was enabled to say:
"We now have associated with this establishment a greater number of correspondents than there is in any other of our acquaintance. Our periodical has received the approbation of some of the oldest and most experienced ministers in the connection. Several liberal periodicals have favorably noticed us. Many young men have used their pens for the first time (for the press) to adorn our pages. Our old brethren who have long been dormant, have come forth as from the silence of the tomb, have spoken again and stretched forth their palsied hands to our assistance. Kinkade's last trembling lines were for our use. In his wise counsel we commenced; and in his dying moments a fervent prayer was raised for our prosperity."