The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-12-27
{. The Christian Era.V

A few numbers of the Christian Era have
fallen under our notice-a paper issued
under tie editorial care of Rev. j. BLANcH-
ARD, who has supplied for a time the desk
of the Plymouth Church in this city.
From a hasty glance at the paper, we
judge that it is characterized by the two
extremes Of disgusting hattery and snarl-
ing acknowledgements, perhaps, might
be expected.
Its general principle is, THAT Jesus
Christ is really present in whatever OF re-
ligion He has appointed, whether govern
ment, doctrines, or rites; and that evil
spirits ilhabit and WELD all others, in the
interest of Anti Christ, the god of this
world
An important premise in this sheet is,
that Consregationalism is the only scrip
tural church government The above
= principle" of course leaves a :" bad show
for all other denominations, especially
Episcopalians and Presbyterians. But Its
most terrific application by its owner is to
"secret oath-bound" societies, such as Sons
of Temperance, Free Masons and the like
Devil worship is the term used e. they
sacrifice to devils Of the religious rites
of the Lodges. If the lodge is a religion,
or its ceremonies erorShtp,-and they are
then the scriptures class them with all
self projected worships, AS spiritual adultery
and fornication.
1t does not help the matter at all that
Episcopalian Ministers are generally Ma
sons, and very many Methodist and Baptist
Ministers are becoming so:' they are GO
ing in for the unfruiuul works of dark
ness" In short, as teaching force the
Lodge is the enemy Of Christ, the enemy
OF human equality which He taught, the
enemy of the Bible, and of true religion;
and in a ministry of more than quarter
OF century, have never known Or heard
of an adhering Mason who gave evidence
of conversion to Christ
This paper is more loyal than some Of
like stripe yet it is quite apparent that it's
support is not support OF Government
on strict Constitutional principles; but
support Just so far as the government is
an agent for the abolition policy. This is
seen in the following resolution which it
publishes from the Fox River Union, re-
ligious body with which the editor is con-
nected
We regret that the President of the
United States did not base his procla-
nation to emaucipate slaves on duty to
nd of n "a 81 =
Of self preseryatiou,-and that he did not
make it universal instead of partial, and
that he did not give it immediate effect
instead OF postpoalng operation Tor three
months
We are informed that its editor OF the
ERA is President of a college at Wheaton
in this State-an institution started by the
Wesleyans, but to save the ship and cargo,
took in con grega tioRaiists as partners How
veil the original proprietors like the mar
rage, is, perhaps, indicated in a recent
number, which announces an organization
OF " esleyan church in this place
" The separation was caused by preference
to their own ways, though Of course, there
were different opinions a. 10 the wisdom
and propriety of that movement" Very
likely.
The Era is down on Christmas, ~ Us error
and superstition, and as bottomed on a
pagan fiction Yet thinks, nevertheless,
= The Episcopal churches will praise the
" taste of the young ladies in the arrange
ment Of festoons and the insipidity Of
stereotyped religious service will be reiiev
ed by the annual novelty of rites, without
any moral or religious principle at bottom
The Era only wants about four hun
dred Of the fifteen hundred subscribers
needed u make it pay cost and run a year
We hope the friends will feel free 10
hurry W and pay the meney-if they
like to do so. Yet, in truth, we are sorry
to believe that the paper If continued, will
do no good, but that its mission is and will
be pestilent for mischief wherever it shall
have az Influence.