Year: 1870

The most remarkable religious discourse de-
Iivered within this Metropolitan District yester-
day was that at Lyric Hall Of the Rev. O. b.
rockingham. Recent events have brought
him into bold relief among the new school OF
Puritan doctors of divinity as an expounder Of
the mysteries of Christian free love and
spiritual affinilies. The discourse in question,
like all the other sermons of the day, was on
the resurrection-a text, however, which this
belligerent dispenser Of the gospel OF peace
could not refrain from perverting to the con-
dign punishment of his supposed enemies.


He said, for instance, that ''some men-nay,
almost all men--hold selfish views in relation
to Immortality and the resurrection, as If it
was their inalien able right" and that they
would go to heaven no matter what was their
condition and status in this life. 'It was
only the other day." he remarked, in iilustra-
ton of this human weakness, ''th at poor
wretch imbrued in the blood of one Of his
fellow men, who regarded not life and who
killed another poor man with no more COM
junction than he would have shot deer, went
out to be executed, and as he went by the
cells he shook hands with another, and they
both said they would rest in the bosom OF their
God. Aud then" said this benevolent
teacher of Christian charity, "think not OF the
caricature of this, but of the blasphemy."
Did he forget that the excellent Institution OF
purgatory, where the sinner of the darkest
crimes may be purged and purified by fire and
then released to better state of existence
did this Mortified divine forget that here we
have provision which takes away all the
alleged blasphemy of this reported earthly
Mcfarland? We fear that Brother Frothiag-
ham is believer in the eternal roasting of the
offender against his peculiar faith.


We have no complaint to make of this
preachers denunciatons of the gods or god
desses of "fashion, drink and debauchery, as
the gods mostly worshipped at this day. We
agree with him that many things ought TO
be changed;" that "drink should not be
allowed to men to make beasts or murderers of
themselves" and that "the press, If things
were changed would not be allowed to insult
people, and corporations, and everything,
with their bold calumny Of unceasing asper-
sions;" but that "the sweetness and blessed
ness of the marriage relations should be con-
sidered with view to it's better develop
ment" is proposition which, coming from
this reverend gentlemen, is open to the suspi-
cion of free love and free love leave to the
Oneida community of the Rev. Doctor Noyes,
where all things, including husbands and wives,
are held in common.


But the most remarkable feature of this very
extraordinary sermon is this: that while it
| has for it's text the sublime theme of the re-
surrection, it is in reality rambling disserta-
ton on the opinions and personal grievances
| of the Rev. Mr.. rockingham in reference to


the Richardson cFarland case. His mind is


filed with it and his wrath is great. Hence


his allusion TO the blasphemy involved in the


farewell between poor Jack Reynolds and Nc


Farland; hence his passing. side blow at the


press for its insults to people, and corpora


tions. and everything" and its bold calumny


of unceasing aspersions; - and hence his pecu-


liar philosophy on "the sweetness and bless


edness of the marriage relation" The friends


of this exasperated and thick headed free love


parson ought to take charge of him, for other


wise there is no telling the extremes to which


his strange notions and foolish rage may carry


him. He is not fit, in his present condition,
| to preach the Gospel.