The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-02-28
INVESTIGATE,

have attracted the attention of few
of our readers, among others that of
one of the clergymen Of our city
who, to put It mildly, found con-
siderable fault with Us In his re-
marks last Sabbath evening. Now
we are perfectly willing to be found
fault with at all times, provided
good will come of 1t, bat we must
confess that we should have been
better pleased If the gentleman,
whom we believe to be perfectly
sincere, and for whom we have .
very great personal respect, had
seen fit to have answered the article
through our columns, since, IS 1t is
at present, only q few of our read
ers will get the benefit of the inUes-
LEGATION he has given US. We have
no desire, however, to enter into q
religious controversy, our only mo-
tive heing-so far Rs the religious
aspect Of our subject is concerned
that religion, pure and indebted,
9 religion that lie not afraid to have its
deepest foundations examined, may
gain new force and new defenders.
We are, we trust, a sincere believer in
the christianity which was establish
ed by our Saviour, and we should be
panied to think that anything we
might say should lead to the oppo-
site conclusions but we do know,
If credence can be placed in human
testimony, that the history of the
last eighteen hundred and odd
years, bears US out in our every
statement. Now, every one who
knows anything at all of the history
of the church, is well aware that its
internal divisions and discords have
been q more prolific source of evil
to peoples than aught else. Inves-
tigatIOn on the part of scholars has
shown that the causes of division
and discord were all grated upon
the doctrines of the church by men
who, by SO doing, could best serve
their own ambitious schemes. The
consequence is that these eEtrG ele-
ments are being slowly but surely
eliminated. Now we are persuaded
that mankind can never rise to any
thing higher than Christianity, if by
Christianity is meant the religion
which was revealed to the world in
the teachings of Christ, but we do
not believe that the world will be
redeemed till all the elements of pa.
ganism, which have, like fungi, at
tached themselves to these teach
ings, are removed. Whatever pro-
gross has been accomplished in this
direction has been by the aid of 9
free discussion, or, in other words,
by the means of investigation. In
deed 1t is essential to our idea OF
truth that it is capable Of self de-
Tense; but here we are asked to
make . great exception. All things
are to be proven except those per-
tanning to religion. Theology, how
ever, is excluded from the realms of
discussion, because theologians are
unable to agree among themselves.
How are thoughtful men to be won
to Christ 80 longas they see such con-
trAdiction among those who profess
to teach His doctrines Christ GER
tainly taught but one doctrine.
What IL that doctrinel Each sepa-
rate sect claims to have it. 'Tis
true the assertion Is advanced with
all the FEASIBILITY Of an argument
that so long as they agree upon the
main point there is no need of worry +;
but this is . mere begging of the
question. There lie but one point in the
matter. Christ established no sects.
Each party feels itself to be right.
hence it must believe others to be
and that there are so many
views, IL in itself fatal to
fair argument.
That the ground DIS upon which our
religious belief 10 founded are not
altogether tenable, is proven by the
fact that the sch GLARS In the church
have been compelled by criticism,
both friendly and adverse, TO choose
their best aHd wisest men to revise
them, aud these fathers of the
church are to-day giving the death
blow to some of the so-callsd truths
which this gentleman advocated
last Sabbath evening. Many things
which we have been led to believe,
by teachers occupying his position,
to be truths, are pronounced fables.
Things which our fathers would
haYe pronounced rank beresy, are
now believed by the wisest and the
best. \ broader knowledge of
Gods doings In the past is leading
On to q still more enlightened view
Of His doings in the present.
What would have been done with
. divine of the n. E. Church ten
years since, had he dared 20 assert
hat he did not believe In the eyer
asting punishment of the wicked ?
Yet one of the most celebrated of
he divines Of that church, one who |
has been honored by the degree of
D. D., has, during the present year,
pade suph an assertion in 9 public |
Meeting of divines OF his own
hurch, and still is . menber, if we
not OF that church.
Now the reverend gentleman
Vho investigated our article, We
ave no doubt, breaches and be-
ives in everlasting punishment for
he wicked, while another member
{ the same church, who Is equally
Yell read, earnest and eoRscieu-
Ious, breaches and belieFes that
nch is not the case. We submit,
that here Is matter for
lyestigstjop. Which IL right7
1hat did Christ saSohs But, says
ne, let every man decide for him
If. That IL just what We propose
do; bHt hefore the declsion is
EIDE the argg@sBts BVst b. heard.