The New York herald., 1871-12-25
rA1rH-aoD oMHRorENr.

Uecture ~ Dr.. Pstigoissess n the New Yera
Assessbly Resnas.s assstcts
The Re-. p. julius Potsgeisser, whom many Of Dul
readers win remember was che Professor Oi NatuxA
Philosophy In the Fordnam College some twenty
years ago. delivered the third Of series OF tAeof
logical lectures at the New YORK Assembly R0onad
last evening to large and appreclarive audience;
The basis upon which the learned divine founded
his lecture was Faith. Ho commenced By arguing
the question Of the absolute being OF God and the
immortality or the soui. BY placing the suh1eet
in dinerent lights, asking himself sadvero4
questions and answering them down, the lectureL
succeeded In convincing his audience that Goa q
absolute, positive, omnipotent and thar man y q
responsible being. On the subject Of faith the lec
stated that many persons advanced the theory
that faith b opposed to reason; but the LEARNED
divine conclusively proved thar both can GO so-
gether. and the arguments he used were certainly
mosl convincing. According 70 nis theory faitht
NOT In opposition 10 reason, because, when allied,
they conduct TO the same result Faith h the root
and perfection OF science. II we did not possess
faith ~ we should be utterly ixnorant
For nf instance IN our early 4 years y We
believe what our teachers tell Us, and place
implicit reliance In their Ideas. Being wl l-h0nf
knowledge accept theories based pelief and II
remains with us to correct any erroneous mpression1
when We gain perspicuity as our years incxeasae
II person rejects faltn he must necessarily deny
reason itself. We none OF us know our own pai
rents; but placing faith In tradition, wililg
because accustomed. TO accept those wno stand
towards us In loco PARENTS. the lecturer argued
that II 1t unreasonable to reject human faith, tt
was much more so TO REJECT divine fattn. Ihe ques-
ton asserts itself as to whether God has really
spoken to men. Was 1t possible for Him to do
sof BY argument DR.. Fottsesser proved that
Creator ia really condescend to hold converse with
the atoms to whom lie had given llfe anu lne power
ABUNDANT, but many OF them are ABOVE our reason.
III God so spoke to Us that we Enew OF certainty
tnat u was ae VINO gave usseGance @ n 70 nns ne
Father has given Us intellects and It remains with
us 70 use them. Laole IS we all are to lapse into
sceptfcsm, we doubt ana wonder; bat the result ID
that we finally acknowledge the omnlpotency
Of tho great Originator OF our being; our sneerS
are drowned by the loud voice or conscience.
In every religion there are mysteries. FirstAshere
are mysterious truths wnlcn are above our comRre-
henson, and to say there are none would be eqqIyai
There are mysteries In nature, winch Is limited and
creased anu, OF course In the uncrSated there mlsi
electricity all mysteries. These things we would
never know were II not LOT tne worxings oi
the authority or Goa. Hels our great Teacncr, and
unless we place full reliance upon and nave I'M
pliclt faith in Him IL Is utterly impossible for
as to succeed in any or our undertakings. In con-
cusion the lecturer stated tnat revelation IL possf
BILE. He asked The question whether God has really
spoken to man, ana conclusivey proved TO the
satisfaction OF MIS- audience that the Almighty con-
OeSCenueu 70 hOiu communion lCu mOtAiS ~ 8sIes
mote period. rhat TACT was c0ndHned Dy tradition.
some may, many do, cOnfute the reliability Ofsre-
ports hanted down 70 US by our ancestors on the
subject Of theology, yet nations continue 70
believe IN the tncories ana historical reeerda
which have been transmitted by ancient writer's.
Our most revered philosophers, both ancient
and modern, derived their ideaa from tradt
ton, and with them that word means simple
faltn. The reader Of the Old Testament cannot but
believe that God held communion with mortality.
He spoke with our primal father, with Moses, the
patriarchs and prophets, and througn our Lord
Jesus Christ proved His love for mankind. the
reverend lecturer sustained his argument adrnira-
bly,, and, judging by tile applause which his re-
marks eicited, he possesses numerous admlrerss It
Is strange that not single German paper IN this
city notices the lectures Or Dr. P0ttgesser the more
especially as he labors IN good cause.-The benefit
OF the sufferers by the Chicago c0nnagratl0n. An
earnest, able expOunder OF truth, DR.. P0ttgelsser
merits much cOmmendatiOn.