Present Era, The.
I heard a great Voice saying, Go up higher.
1873--1873 Monthly
New York, NY.
Language: English.
Editor: Dorus Morton Fox, S.B. Brittan.
Succeeds: Present Age
1/1, April 9, 1873.
16 pp., $3.00.

The masthead showed the sun breaking through clouds and illuminating a prosperous town, fertile fields and a train and ships indicating progress. The journal presented itself as a "weekly Journal, devoted to Religious, Political and Social Reforms, Polite Literature and General Intelligence. An exponent of the Spiritualistic Philosophy; and an Independent Critic of all Popular Movements. . . . [It] starts under the most favorable auspices and issuing twenty thousand copies weekly. While, as its leading feature, it advocates the Spiritualistic Philosophy aud the 'Liberal' side of all religious questions, it is largely devoted to Art, Science, Literature, and the material wants of the age. Boldly, yet charitably criticising all religious sects and Political parties, it commends itself to all who heed the admonition 'prove all things,' and 'hold fast (only) to things which are good.'" Brittan had been trying to combine spiritualism with a popular journal of general interest since the days of the Univercoelum, Young People's Journal, and American People's Journal, but without success. This journal was another attempt, published at the same time as Brittan was still publishing his ponderous Brittan's Journal. It had news and "filler" of general interest ("Do Torpid Toads Respire?), articles on the generalities of spiritualism, and contributions by Brittan, Hudson Tuttle, Frances H. ("Fanny") [Green] Frances H. McDougall, J.K. Ingalls, Laura Cuppy Smith, Alfred Cridge, "Flora Freelove," and others but (despite the claim of thousands of copies being printed) seems never to have thrived. Fox left the journal after no. 3 (assuring readers that his departure was not because of "inharmony" with Brittan) and the journal itself seems to have lasted only five issues. Before starting this journal, Fox and Brittan had been producing the Present Age which was merged into the Golden Era in June 1872. The Banner of Light noted on March 22, 1873 that the "Present Age" had resumed publication in New York under Fox and Brittan after a hiatus, but the reference must be to this journal, the Present Era. The Banner of Light for April 26, 1873, noted receipt of the second number, "looking as fresh as a newly-blown rose, and . . . just as fragrant." No mention was made of any connection with the Present Age. American Antiquarian Society (2 issues).