The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-08-24
Ancient and Modern Religion.
Ediforc Dem

L
giving is almost at hand in the religious
world. Christian denominations are laying
aside their antiquated legeniry that bound
them down by superstition TO ancomtort
edge advance religions customs and rrac-
tees must advance also. The latitude oi
christian thought is broadening and the
control of the masses through necromancy
and mysterious buffetings is vanishing.
At one time diseases were supposed to be
cured by sooth sayings aid charms. Queer
orgies we're held over the sick, and II they
recovered 1t was through the mediation Of
an invisible Christ shedding holy POWER on
ais..chosen priests and special disciples, sbut
il relief failed to come, the machinations of
an evil spirit had been permitted to enter.
The ghost dance and scalp dance of the
Apache aud Red Cloud Indians whose un.
told barbarity anG cruelty are practiced on
their cap,ives. Is but a synonym for early !
christianity, |
We are shocked at thoughts of human
beings being burned at the stake in America |
because they we're though, TO be witches;
but we have only to look few years into
the past to see smoke ascen1 ling and hear
the shrieks of the tortured at the stake
rending the morning air OF Salem, Masachu.
sets. People don't like TO tax of such
horrors now. They want to forget that
they eve: occurred, and are trying to edu-
cate themselves TO the belief that the story
is legendry. There Is something repulsive
about its yslation jus, as there is in the con-
temptation ct cannibalism. When mla-
Aind Is forced, through eircams'a 'ances, to eat
human flesh, he ir:esissibly refrains from
speaking Off. All she Interesting story of
priyation and dgnger is sold with the GUS
tomary embellishments I'LL III e feast Ct can
nibalism is set dewl tc, bat tha,-oh iha,
ho-,id thought-its horrors dispel the
gTacss, banish the charms, dissipate the
manly virtues and fortiiude that cling a.
round the dauntless narrative. Just so with
the narrative of primitive religion. 1t is
Stunned because Il was barba-ous II was
wild; it was delusoy and dangerous
Through sorcsry 4 leg.rdermsin the wise men
of the chrr,t es forced system of fetich-
ism on their hearers. AS long a people
could he kept in ignorance tkey eoald be
controlled ~hh superstition. When
speak of primitive caristiapanity | am
speaking from the earliest d.t= recorded
up to within few years gen. by. Near
enough the present. In fact, :hrt the echoes
Of christian superstition have scarcely died
on the air since they left the preachers lips
while "a the pulpit, TO find Judgement in
his credulous, unsophiscAted converts.
Within ,ae memory of those little mos:
than quarter of centuries reirospec,ion
hell was dispersed from the pulpit as a
literal cauldron Of sca,hing bimAone
4 Long tongues Of biue flames that emitted
suifocating Games wee ready TO lick and
lap ihemsel=es around the unbe.isver ;a=re
20 remain time without eni. Iss-eai of
modern cremation with the asaes ami pre-
cious cind-rs Of the soul, t~o hoa-s after the
irery furnace has been reached turned into
the bot ing works to be herneirically
eorked up, where microbes or snimalcrlse
cannot attack, corrOd. OF ab orb, or tears OF
mourners delug- and wash away the eatire
corporeify would be resurrecIed % roast
forever but never Consumed. Shocking
thought, but ii was taught, and the worst
1 - sf s- A.rtz
posed Eibefal education because the,
thought i, would lean 10 wirke iness. Tns
educated might ,hsve iOndness for move
reading and vile ihnugats thus be incnlca;-
ed.
To be good and chrisi Ike vas TO b,
humble and obeiient - the gosp:l as inter,
preted by the minister.
Lately the bonds have been broken, tS'
Environments tern do~r. and no~ bell i
tsrmen', and ;oGmen: is UNREST oi mind
Imagination, or something else or no;hins
. at all;no one kaows OF pre,snis 10 describe
A little more th1n two doz=n y>ars ago .
congregation IN one OF The Albany churches
zas ripped asunder ard Christian zealo:
/, were ej.csed from Tie housc::of their 5Teih-
: ren. whose loving kininess they had enjoy
ed very long becaus- au organ was brough
into the church 10 m:llow the songs o
E praise as they assembled iro,a the fiock.
3 The serii feeling siirrei up over Iha
c iltle music box was never appeased. Tht
church became divided against itself an
: some members pulled on, ana never II
/. urnel to participate in wha; they cousidere'
sicrilege. Tney believe the lniniste
: should lice th. hymn, as he had lone in ,h'
s good old days, and all the congregation
lin in singing. Soon after the introduc
ton ol TIE organ, :raine1 voices directe'
U and led all the singing. bat the; were re
quired to observe short meter.
Now paid choirs do the singing. and the
liberal feature is. the choir is no, com
posed of christian believers necessarily, bu
they are composed of persons who knov
how 10 sing without discord. They ar
not expected to sing dry hymns and dul
psalms, but something lively. with triIls
sudden stops and quick starts; and they ar
accorded the assistance Of the big below
ing pipe organ. an expensive. but attract
a i've machine; or the squeak.ng violin
originally known as the wicked fiddle;
tie harsh whang of the bass horn; the
shrill squawk of the clarionet; or The hun
drum Of the spanish guitar. A0y OF all o.
these instruments that were formerly be-
llieved to be the devils FIRE makers, are nov
! necessary adjunc's to success in sacred
places. A church member that would dars
go to the thea eI, circus. or ball room, wal
considered hereto, and was expelled
from The church. Now the best patronage
} of these places Of amusement is gotter
from the churches. The last barrier &c
modern religion was fiction reading, hu
that has recently tumbIed down, and nov
} christians are not hampered in their read.
E ing. They are free to chose Literature
8 that will satisfy their fancy. What woulC
S have been The consequences 20 or 30 year
E ago, if consistent christian bad beer
versed in Scott. George Elliot. Irving
g Magic stories Of Alhambra," or Mari
Twain's ssRnnohino I, p" You know ant