, after all, he
executed, not without present tears and subsequent remorse. But he did
play the part prescribed. He was brought forward in full procession, to
declare to the convention, that the religion which he had taught so many
years, was, in every respect, a piece of priestcraft, which had no
foundation either in history or sacred truth. He disowned, in solemn and
explicit terms, the existence of the Deity to whose worship he had been
consecrated, and devoted himself in future to the homage of liberty,
equality, virtue, and morality. He then laid on the table his episcopal
decorations, and received a fraternal embrace from the president of the
convention. Several apostate priests followed the example of this
prelate.

The gold and silver plate of the churches was seized upon and
desecrated, processions entered the convention, travestied in priestly
garments, and singing the most profane hymns; while many of the chalices
and sacred vessels were applied by Chaumette and Hebert to the
celebration of their own impious orgies. The world for the first time,
heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and
assuming the right to govern one of the finest of the European nations,
uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man's soul
receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a Deity.
For a short time the same mad profanity continued to be acted upon.

One of the ceremonies of this insane time stands unrivalled for
absurdity, combined with impiety. The doors of the convention were
thrown open to a band of musicians; preceded by whom, the members of the
municipal body entered in solemn procession, singing a hymn in praise of
liberty, and escorting, as the object of their future worship, a veiled
female, whom they termed the Goddess of Reason. Being brought within the
bar, she was unveiled with great form, and placed on the right hand of
the president; when she was generally recognized as a dancing-girl of
the opera, with whose charms most of the persons present were acquainted
from her appearance on the stage, while the experience of individuals
was farther extended. To this person, as the fittest representative of
that reason whom they worshipped the national convention of France
rendered public homage.

This impious and ridiculous mummery had a certain fashion; and the
installation of the Goddess of reason was renewed and imitated
throughout the nation, in such places w