The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-30
the Greek Church the Church of Rome, and nu-

the Greek Church, the Church of Rome, and nu-
merous schsms The spirit of Christianity was
almost lost. TIE dark ages followed ceremo-
MES were increased and multiplied; but religion
itself was nowhere TO be found
Amidst this reign Of ceremonies, Luther and
the other reformers arose and preached a spi-
ritual religion, which had life and pith in it,
and was everywhere successful, producing even
civil revolutions throughout Europe, and up
turning the existing order Of things. This
wonderful effect was produced because the
papal church had become the slave of forms and
had lost its vital power. In process of time
the reformed churches relapsed into Journalism
again when Fox started Quakerism and Wes-
ley and Whitfield established Methodism.
Both religions were more spiritual than the
churches from which they emanated, and from
which they took so many converts. Their
founders despised forms, and cultivated religion
in the soul. They were accordingly successful
in an eminent degree In recent years, how
ever, these Protestant sects, together with all
others, have become as formal as their prede-
cessors, and the people are sick of them. Out OF
twenty-fve millions of inhabitants in the United
States, Judge Edmonds calculates that not more
than four OF five millions attend any place
of worship, and out of the population Of New
York city four hundred thousand never 60 to
church, while of the remainder, who do go, there
i. not one in every hundred that regards pub
lie worship in any other light than as matter
Of form. Hence Hence it is that every religious
novelty thrives, for men are ready to give trial
to any thing new, in the hope that it may prove
better than the old. 1t was thus that Joe Smith
was successful in establishing Mormonism. And
now Judge Edmonds, who is an able and far
more learned man and who seeks to establish
a better religion, will succeed to.a far greater
extent. In point of legal and general erudi-
ton, and knowledge of languages, the Judge is
equal to st. Paul.
There is another reason why the labors of
the Mormon prophet are not crowned with more
extensive success. He did not make his reli-
gion sufficiently spiritual. He permitted the
existence of polygamy, and his followers to
have wives at will. Judge Edmonds, on the
contrary, having lost his wife, does not intend
to take another and he is opposed to all licen-
tiousness and indulgence of the flesh. He be
lieves that even in this life, by abstinence, the
soul becomes purified. elevated, and capable of
"second sight" A time of luxury is favorable
for the reception of a spiritual religion. The
Jews and Romans were wallowing in all sorts
Of voluptuousness when Christianity was intro
duced. Il was the same in the Romish Church
when the fire of the reformation was kindled.
1t was SO in the established Church Of England
when Wesleyism arose. 1t is so now, in our
own day, when we find luxury and sensuality
in every shape and form usurping the place Of
the simplicity and frugality Of our ancestors.
This, therefore, is the time for the new reli-
gion. We know not yet what it may be called.
Judge Edmonds calls it spiritualism. We call
it new Christianity. All other sects may
look out Their days are numbered. The new
religion will absorb and swallow up Eethodism,
Quakerism, Shakerism. Baptism, Congregation
alism, Episcopalism, Milleri SIN, Socialism, and
all other isms, embracing even Women's Rights
All will go, except the religion Of Bishop
Hughes, which is built upon rock, and there
fore, even the spirits, whether they are black
spirits, white spirits or gray, or their medi-
ums, including Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, and
the Fish girls, cannot prevail against it.