The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-02-16


If flthy-if unrighteous-he will remain
unrighteous and filthy throughout the
unending ages of eternity. 1t teaches
that an-ev the vilest-may become
fitted for heaven ; that his affections may
/ o completely and essentially changed
but oil this must be done-not in the
next world-but while here upon earth.
After death there may be progression in
happiness or misery; but there is-there
can be-no essential, fundamental change
in the spir;. world. such as is necessary to
ft fallen man for the society, and bliss,
and happiness Of Paradise,
III. Spiritualism ignores the great
scheme of salvation, and denies tho pi-
vinity of Christ, Spiritualism sends men
to heaven by their own good works alone;
but the Bible teaches that there is only
one way to reach that happy land, and
that is through Jesus Christ aud him cru
cited. Any other foundation than this
will prove to be false in tho great day OF
accounts. If Spiritualism is true=-if all
men are saved by their works-it was un-
necessary that the Savior of mankind
should come into the world. His birth,
his life of perjury, and toll, and want; his
cruel and ignOminious death; his resur.
rection on the third day; his final ascen-
sion and his constant intercession are all
unnecessary and totally valuoless. No
wonder that a great majority of tho athe-
lists and infdels Of the land arc believers
in ~Spiritualism. It holds out a sensual
heaven. It ignores q hell or place OF
punishment. Il teaches that all mon will
ultimately be supremacy happy. 1t de-
MICS the Divinity of Christ-conceding
that he was a good and pure man, but
nothing more and it teaches that all
men may reach heaven-not by His right.
eousness-but their own, which is as
filthy rags. It does not materially restrain
sinful indulgcnces of any kind whatever.
1t panders to the carnal appetites. No
wonder that Robert Dale Owen, and men
Of his stripe, are among its warm defend
eTs and jealous advocates.
". spiritualism requires that VIC OK
change the Mosaic account Of the crea-
tion-the u~nequalled imagery and poetry
of David aud Isaiah-the close, terse and
unansyerable logic of st. Paul--the beati-
&c visions of st. John, and the sublime
and god-like teachings of the Savior Of
the world, for tho inooherent, disjointed
grandilOquence and tBaddle of Sweden
borg and Davis. For one we respectfully
yet firmly decline the proposal.
v. Suppose We grant that S~piritualism
is true, and that all other systems of roll
gion arc wrong. They who are disbelievers
will fare just as well, after death, as those
who are its most sincere disciples and do.
voices. They will all enter some of the
spheres and ultimately reach the highest
the acme of bliss and happiness. But
suppose SpiritualisU is wrong, aud that
the system Of theology We entertain is
right-Who win be the loser in the next
world? Who will miss heaven? Who
will experience the pangs of remorse for
ever? It is clear that we can lose moth
ing and may gain much, while the Spirit
ualist can gain nothing aud may lose
everything.
Some attach great importance to tho
fact that most Spiritualists are very honest
and sincere in their belief. Sincerity and
honesty do not, per Sc, prove that the be-
lief entertained by those who practice
these virtues is right. The great mass of
all religionists are honest and sincere
Tho followers of Mohammed; the Roman
Catholic; the various orthodox denomina-
tiops the untutored savages Of tho will
derness, and the laity of tho Mormon
church even are all honest and sincere
As they cannot gil be right, it is plain that
honesty and sincerity, as connected with
belief, do not necessarily prove that hat
belief is right. They are all well enough /;
but if our belief is wrong they will avail
nothing in eternity.
As this article is already quite lengthy,
we must close-else we may be accused Of
preaching . regular sermon. If Mr.
Kirkpatrick, or any other SpiIitualist
h~ereabouts, desires to answer us, he can
do SO provided he exceed not the space we
oqrself have occupied.
Coop FOB NEsMITH.-A friend o.
ours, says the Placer Herald, who was on
to Washington last winter, tells US the