The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-05
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY 185oUADRUPLE

Immortality with the scriptural beliefs OF Christianity
that OF the increased almost supernatural influence
gwen by IL the Romsh Church Is, from IT'S univer
salty the destructive And here let say that
Christian charity forbids that such sinister motive
should be attributed 10 all the profcsscdly Christian
poncnts Of this theory and union. With many its In
ductive charm lay in It's phosophc and poetic aspect
while Others doubtlcss had sufficient pcrspicacity to
oresee something Of the vastly augmented power that
by It's adoption would inurc the priesthood To at
tain TO anything like a proximate estimate of tho
mighty influence thus conferred il must be borne in
mind that II placed in their hands the entire
fate OF all their votarcs In virtue OF her assumed
prerogatvc the Romish Church claims the custody OF
every infant born her communion and in order that
IL may be eligible for Christian burial in tho event OF
its premature death she demands that IL be immcd-
atey baptized Cby her priesthood alonel; otherwise,
dying unbaptizcd il is treated hereto and con
signed 10 unconsecracd ground which TO the bcrcavcd
and supcrstous parent is equivalent 10 It's damnation
A like pricstly hand holds the adult his anath-
ema, demanding implicit belief in the Churchs iniali-
bility, uniform and savsh subservience 70 her ordi
and ceremonies, and unQucstioning accept
ance OF her tcnets, claiming that, when death shall
sever their earthly ecclesiastical relations, she retains
her hold the dscmbOdicd spirit asserting her yica
rious control its eternal destiny retaining IL in or
releasing FROM purgatoral pains acccerating OF re-
tarding ITS final happiness. Surely fail to sec
that such ecclesiastical dcspotism IS usurped and most
unscriptural and destructive Nor can the cause and
effect be disassociatcd Take from the ROmsh Church
this its all controlling dogma and she is shorn Of her
unholy influence The supcrsttous fears of her vota-
rcs will be removed, their minds cmancpaied from
their demorazng bondage, and they would be free 10
weigh her precnstons to a vcarious authority and an
ntablc creed and assert their heaven born dignity as
rational and accountable beings.
Spirtualism Is another and formidable evil that has
derived It's existence and support from this pro
life parcnt-inherent immortality. Every sane mind
must conceive regard its prctcnsons and utteranccs
as absurd-nay, ridcuous and but for the social
standing OF many Of its disciples and their numerical
strength feels altogether dsnclned to speak OF IT
as sect or It's beliefs a creed The apostles OF
Spritualism claim that their disciples numbered
by millions and there much fear that the
statement IS not altogether erroneous and what is still
deplorable is that its chief acccssons have been
obtained from the called orthodox churches II being
asserted that there thousands Of members in good
standing who in accord with their doctrines,
induging the poesy Of dsordcred imagination while
claiming 10 hold communion with the disembodied
spirits OF their departed friends.
Can any doubt that, but for this "immortal SOUP
theory such morbid fantasies could never have had
name in profcssedly Christian community, and that
with its abandonment the very remembrance OF such
infatuation would be oblitcratcd? A third 10 DO
added to the dark catalogue of evils generated by the
heahcnish doctrine is less than that OF blasphcmy
against the Lord Jesus Christ who claims 10 be 'the
resurrection and the life and this is evil the very
suggestion of which should awaken in the minds OF all
who bear His name the deepest solicitude BEREAN.