The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-14
A Metaphysical Problem.
Shall Nlen Pray or Note

To the Editor of the Press:
Two greatly distinguished men, both I'M
believers, and both claiming to be philosophers
and ''severe" logicians, have lately disturbed
the religious world by suggesting a problem
or prayer-test; and all our religious papers,
and many ofou ablest preachers have conde-
scended to grapple with the proposition, as if
it were not both preposterous and inconclusve
and wholly unworthy of serious consideration.
The proposition was, to set apart certain
portion of the sick in some hospital, make
them subject of special prayer, and then
compare the result with hospital average.
And this, these philosophers and ''severe To-
gicians" call test!
But how are you to secure pararrer casesr
Unless alike, unless identical indeed, how
should we be able to reach safe conclusion?
But who ever heard of two cases exactly alike,
in ward-hoSpital, OF elSewhereP And if not
alike, alike dangerous, and alike in age sex,
temperament, and original constitution-pre.
cisely alike-what would be the worth of such
a test?
Well-suppose fifty set aside, fifty select
cases, or fifty taken at hap-hazard-how are
we to know that the average remaining are
not prayed for by somebody, by parents or
friends, husbands or wives, or clergymen?
II those who are not so set apart do not pray
for themselves, how can we be sure that spec
ial prayers do not &c up every day for some of
their number, if not for all?
But perhaps our philosophers may urge that
the fifty are not prayed for separately, but in
the lump, so that unbelievers and scoffers
may be able to judge for themselves. and be
satisfied.
And now suppose that, after certain time
how long time is not even suggested, so
that another insurmountable difficulty lies in
our way-suppose that larger proportion Of
the fifty than the general average of that par.
ticular hospital, have died, or taken their place
among the incurab,es, what would be the I'M
escapable conclusion of these philosophers,
and"severe logicans?' Why, of course, that
prayer is not only useless, or inefficaous, but
positively injurious!
Believing as they do, or unbelieving as they
do, what other conclusion would they be able
to reach?
And now, suppose the other alternative
should occur; suppose that of the fifty, made
the subject of special prayer, a larger propo-
lion recovered than the general average of the
hospital, what then? Would these men be sat-
sfied? would these unbeievers believe, as if
It were geometrical or mathematical verifi-
cation; or result in chemistry, problem
followed by @. E. D.? Would they not de-
mand more time, another trial, and wider
field of experiment? In short, whatever
were the result, would It not be er-necessitate
rei inconclusive and uusatisfying, not only to
these men, but TO others? Would they not
urge that inasmuch, as the cases were not
Identical, as how could they be?-the result
had determined nothing?- best it was but
accidental
But agaiu, who are appointed to pray for
these fifty? Believers or unbeevers? These
Logicans and Philosophers, Mill, TyndalI,
and their confederates. or protested believers?
Would no allowance have to be made for the
prayers of the Episcopal church, throughout
the world, for call prisoners and captives, sick
persons and young children P" Upon this ell
ement, no sugg estions are made by our in
quisitors
Now, inasmuch as these two Philosophers
reject the Bible, they wao believe in the BIZ
BILE have ''no standing in court" no com
mon superior, no umpire.
SO ignorant are they, for nothing but gross
and deplorable ignorance of what the bible so
plainly teaches, can either excuse or palliate
their laundering audacity,-tha they require
10 be told that answers to prayer have been
only to believers, and withheld
rom unbeDievers. The Jews ask for a sign,
being both Philosophers and Logicians-prob-
ably; and the sign is refused to ''wicked and
adulterous generation" Yet sign is vouch-
'ated to Gideon, and repeateI, that his rever-
entiai misgiving, not his unbelief, should be
.,a s and the fleece wringing wet with
wnlle the earth about is dry, and then
uty' while the earth. or ssAoor,, 10 all wet
800 now patiently God bears with cons
Anu 50 WIN Hezekiah. He asks for . sion
that his life is to be heightened eftoor 80.
aud the prophet proposes that the shaaou'
the dial shall go down ten degrees. and whon ON
the weeping monarch objects that it wero Go
light thing" for the shadow to go down TON
legrees, and begs that it may go backward
ten degrees, God humors him, and whyp
was 1t because Hezekiah was a believer, or
an unbeliever?
ana what says the Saviour to the centurion,
vaose child lay dead? Gas thou hast be-
'ieued. so be it done unto thee"
And again GAN things are possible to him