Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-04
What is Truth ?"


This question of PLATE, addressed to our
Savior, was that of cold, skeptical man of
the world. 1t is evident that the Governor
did not expect or wish for an answer, for
''when he had said this he went out again
unto the Jews" The inquiry was intend
ed, probably, as a kind of sheer. The
common belief of cultivated men, like Pr
late, at that time was, that the search for
truth, at least in religious things, was use
less that either there was no such thing
as truth, or that its discovery was impossi-
BILE, or if such a thing existed and could be
discovered it was of no practical value
whatever. Accordingly, when Jesus said,
ITO this end was born, and for this cause
came l into the world, that | should bear
witness unto the truth; every one that is
of the truth heareth my voice" Plate
seems to have thought that the Being who
stood before him was some dreamy mystic
or enthusiast, and therefore turned away
from him almost cOntemptuously, with the
inquiry-"What is truth ?"-implying his
disbelief in the existence of truth, or the
possibility of ascertaining it, or its practi-
cal value if discovered at all.
The same question is often asked in
precisely the same spirit still, in the same
doubling, sneering, skeptical tone, with
the same coneeited, supercilious manner.
There are multitudes for whom truth in
religious things has no value and even no
practical existence whatever. There are
many who question whether there is such
a thing as absolute truth in religion, or at
any rate whether we have any means of
determining what it is, and whether, even
if it could be made certain, it would be of
any particular interest or concern to them.
This is the form which much of the inf
deity of our day assumes. 1t consists in
an Indifference to truth, in a disposition to
overlook the distinction between truth and
error, or in an openly avowed persuasion
that the truth Is of very little importance
whatever. We meet this spirit everywhere.
1t Turks under much of the religious senti-
mentalism Of the day. 1t speaks in many
so called christian pulpits. 1t pervades
much professedly christian literature. This
spirit Of negation, denial and doubt, that
is so eminently characteristic of much OF
the religious speculation of the present day,
is but a reproduction and reflection of the
spirit of the cultivated, railroads.&c. pagan
mind, as represented in the courtly and
polished but skeptical Roman procurator.
+ And nothing can be more utterly dreary,
' soulless and lifeless, than much that passes
among US under the name of religion and
, that lays claim to special honesty in its
: search for truth, but which really amounts
practically to a denial of the existence OF
the importance Of truth altogether. Moth
= ing can be more unsettling in its intellect
, ual and moral tendency than the indul-
gence Of this spirit of doubt and skepticism
as to the very essence of truth itself We
e may not think that we have found the
truth we may still be in search of it; but
l we must at least believe that there is such
a thing as truth in religion, and that thi:
truth is something which is not vague and
5 shadowy, ever GLIDING the grasp, mere
will-o'-the-wisp, but real and positive il
its nature; that it may be ascertained by
5 US, and that it is of immense consequence
that we know the truth and be able to dis
tinguish it from falsehood or there is al
: end to all spiritual happiness and rest; W,
are out on boundless, trackless, storm
e swept sea, and beneath a streaming sky
with no star piercing the gloom to guild,
e us on our uncertain and perilous way
e | IFdtchmaa and Reflector.