The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-01-13
NOT so INNOCENT As TGEY LoK.

The following timely warning O.
the dangers attending tho circulation
of Christmas cards is from the Edia
burgh .ScotsmGn. Many people will nc
doubt buy them, despite the caution
Of the Calvinistic Scotch paper:
1t is time for the faithful 10 be ur
and doing. The watchmen in the
Scottish Zion are evidently in a deor
sleep, out Of which it is necessary tha,
some one should shake them. unless
they are to be caught mapping when
the enemy is at tho door. They do
not seem to be aware that a much
more dangerous enemy than the Sunday
Society or the Social Science Congress
has crossed the borders, and il making
silent havoc IN their flocks. The 70,
Aective and truly obssrvant reader
will rot need to DO told that the enemy
is none other than Father Christnas.
under whose flowing beard and ample
robes are concealed the most insidious
designs against the peace and purity Of
Presbyterian Scotland. 1t Is we'll
knswn that about two centuries ago
the English abandoned their efforts to
force prelacy on Scotland. But they
did 80 under a shrewd conviction that
they coHld gain their end by gsnGler
means. Here, also, they haSe been re-
warded with only too evident success.
In spite Of the Revolution seGsIement.
in spite Of the Act Of Union, Episoo.
pacy, as il well known, has made
greater progress in Scotland during
these years Of peace than she did under
the greatest pressure Of "the killing
time" Now she has her prete7sions
cathOdrals in our great cities, and her
neat and trim churches in provincial
towns, and even in remote highland
glens and lowland dales. Her ramiH-
cations arc as deep as they are FAR
reaching. There is reason to believe
that an earnest attempt is ON foot to
follow up these victories. The design
Is to be accomplished by ensicfns
PresbyteriaHs Of all classes into the
most innocent and enthusiastic OBJ
servance Of Christmas. The fact need
not be longer withheld that Father
Christmas is a Ritulist, or a Jesuit, in
disguise. In short, Father Christmas
is "the thin end Of the wedge behind
him are marshalled, in ever broadening
phalanx, all tho saints in tho calendar.
AS might have been expected, the
means employed to advance the project
are Of the most insidious character
The chief instrument relied on by the
new propaganda is the well-known
Christmas Card. The design Of most
OF the cards is beautiful; but look at the
design Of the system. Nothing coald
be moro innocent than the pleasure
which old and young alike take in the
sending and in the receiving Of thes'
cards. Yet nothing can be more Ger
tain than that they are prelatie springs
to catch Presbyterian wood-cocks
The design of many Of them is ecclesi
astical and Ritulistic. The pictures
ou some Of them are utterly Popish
The Scripture texts on al of them a.
the very texts used in the service O
the Episcopal Church appropriate h
the day. Could anything be paine
than that this is design to introduc
prslacy into our Presbyterian heart
and honest A young person who send
to friend one of these High Churc
cards is already half an Episcepalian
by the time that be, or she, has n
csived half dozen in exchange, he, o
SIZE, has been sent right over the line
1t is amazing that Presbyterian divine
have not seen the danger that lurk
here.