The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-01-04
Christmas and Ohri.tianitv,

To the Editor OF the Northern Pacific Farmer:
The bright, celebrating air Of Christmas
prompted an extensive tour among our neighbors,
and the wide contrast between the neager cele
bration Of this holiday now. and its hearty OBJ
servance nifty years ago, furnished matter for
dreamy reflection On Christmas night. Ordinary
labor was Suspended throughout this valley a.
1t 10 on Sunday, but We heard no allusion made
by any one to the zacred origin Of this festival,
and We saw no sign Of special rejoicing OF COLE
bration except some gathering up of girls for 4
dance at private house In the evening. We got
good, common food at common meal time, but
were neither offered extra Christmas cake, nor
asked to toast "a Merry Chris1&s"
The stores and other places In Wadena wore
closed. and the aspect Of tho village was like
Sunday, except that all tho saloons were open,
and tho capacity Of each ono tested to the utmost
Our limit will not admit . detail Of the reli-
1lous exercises which ushsred In the Christmas
Of our fathers; or the merry festivities and OK
ploits which celebrated its close; but old people
remember these enjoymsnts, and young people
have heard and read of the "Nerry Christmas"
which IL now vanishing among the misty memo
ries of the past pertinent question Is: Are We
gaining or losing BY these religious and social
changes1
Fifty years axo each adult member Of COM
munity had 4 specified ereed and belonged to
some branch Of the Christian church. This was
the rule and tho exceptions were few. Now the
great majority in most communities have no par.
ticular creed and eeaeng to no church. This 10
now tho rule, and the church members are few.
What IL causing this change, and are we going
backward Ia Cur religion and morab7
A friend saerssts that our esaseral education Is
upreoting our religion, and for proof he quotes
cd adrxe: ignorance Is the mother Of devo-
tion." Ho explains that to maintain our reli-
zion intact our mental horison must be limited
hy distinct boundaries st by our clergy, who
must eonfne our reading and hearing within the
ruts made by our particular church. To Illus
trats, he says: A person may read all the books
allowed by the OatAo1io clergy and eea good
Roman o.shot1c, bit Il hs b allowed TO read the
Prot,st.nt Bible and other books these would
mil him for being Catholic, but he might still
be q good Episeopaiia1, Thea If no were allowed
to read al the works Of the modern Protestant
sects, these would spoil him for IN Episcopalian,
bat h might stu be aacers Presbyterian or
Methodist Now, give that nan full freedom to
reed aaA hear oil science and philosophy, and
to use his own judgment to interpret these. and
the last vsstiIss Of his religion will vanish. and
he will 70 over to the modern OF German, school
of FrecthinkeD.
This may Be true, but it 10 equally true that re-
lision 10 vanishing from tho ignorant classes a.
rapidly ~ from those who ars better educated
We believe that the rapid dissipation Of psrsonal
religion in this new country is largely due to the
great variety Of doctrine which We hear preached.
and the conflicting interpolation which digsrsnt
PREACHERS give to the nne scriptures.
At this school honss last week, Rev. g. told us
that each of W must study tho scripture plan OF
alyation for himself that our faithful belief and
aee.ptance Of these terms would insure our salza-
ton. and the preacher had done his whole duty
when hs had told ~ this. An hour later. Rev. J.
told nm that salvation could only be attained BY
h.inr bsttixed and received into the church
which Christ's apostles established. That the
Rfh1e va q product Of that church, and. 1t could
on,v be properly read and interpreted BY tho
,ersllv ordained and confirmed by the authorities
of that church.
short time previousto this va heard Cal-
ysnist axpsin the scripture doctrine Of sslvston'
Ho showed that only An elected few could be
sayed, and these fsw-a mere drop In the bucket
nl-vers predeetinsd to that end before mankind
were created. .zu-.
In the interval between these expeditions We
read sesuon by celebrated univsrralist, which
proved clearly ~ thsas same scriptures that the
whole human race would eventually be saved.
Now, to heaz and compare neae conflicting expo
sitions sf eur inherited religion must disturb, II
not destroy, or faith in it. divine inspiration;
and this decline Of religion IL achief factor in the
rapid increase Of immortality and crime which il
,preadinx oxsR tho whole country. ,-~.
The isolatel condition Of new settlements pre-
vents regular religious exercised, and blends the
Sabbath and Christmas with ordinary days.
This viii: 10 rsmedisd when - population in
crcases; hat the heathenism genarated BY the
vague and contradictory sermons alluded to, IL
permanent and increasing. Al ~ restraining
influences II neligion rsqufsel, in addition to
tho laws II 4As hsd, % keep aszazind within
honest limits, and our tendency towrd heathsn-
Inn must 10 reformed before We can sxPeot . eat-
isfkctory moral and political reformation. Ws
commend to III professional refofmen the serious
consideration ofthis important subject. y
~ :*zzs-z-s7s 4 = Yours, H. D.
ENGLAND PRAIRIE, Dee. =, 1852 ~