Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-07-16
sosrpuu usAAkEn.

have lately been reading . volume
entitled "Modern Skepticism," by
Joseph Barker. Tho author viii
be remembered as an Infdel
lecturer, who held forth in Ottumwa
some sixteen years ago-a man Of tall
ent and culture and seeming candor,
who, while denying the Divine au,
thority Of the Bible, was yet, an earn
est advocate Of puro morals. Having
since renowned his belief, and taken
his place among tho friends Of Chris
,ianity aud the Bible, he relates in
this volume the story of his life, with
special reference to the change in his
religious views.
Barker was originally . Wesleyan
Methodist preacher In his native en-
gland. Expelled from the church and
the ministry on account Of departures
from their doctrines and usages, he
continued preacher OF such doctrines
a. he believed, aud public lecturer
on moral, social and scientific sub
jects. Fur a time he wasin Fellowship
ith the Unitsrisns, but gradually de-
par.ing further and further from his
original position, he became the chsm-
pion OF the Infldel Secularists OF En-
gland. Entering the political arena he
was highly popular % : radical re
former, and while under arrest for al
legged seditious language, was elected
10 the Briiish Parliament.
In 1861 he came with his family to
the United States. identifying himsel,
at once with the most advanced and
radical reformers OF that day. He set
tied In eastern Ohio, nouinally % .
farmer, and then, some Eve or six
years later removed to Nebraska
During the ten years of his stay In the
United States, Ia addition to numer-
Gus courses Of lectures Ia various
places, against the Divine authority OF
the Bible, he was . prominent actor
and speaker In various anti Bible con-
ventions ut Salem. Ohio, Rochester,
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and
elsewhere.
Every where he challenged discuss.
ion, and In q number Of places had
public debates on the Divine author
ity OF the Bible. Among the most
noted o. these were his debates with
Rev. VIM McCalla and Rev. j. f.
Berg, d. D., Of Philadelphia.
He returned to England in 1860
His unbelief had begun to fail him.
however, before leaving this country,
His residence In Nebraska, lonely, far
removed from debate and strife, with
pecnnisry disasters and domestic If
aictions seems TO have made him feel
the cherries and comtortless nature
of his skepticism-no Saw. or, no hope
no God, no Immortality. Gradual,
he retraced his steps, aud some years
later. to the great disappointment OF
his Secllarist lriends In England, be
himself 90 believer 10
Christianity For some yesrs past he
has been . minister In connection with
the Primitive Methodists In England.
using the pulpi: and the pr % In the
interest OF Christianity The book
will repay perusal, and yet II will BE-
are certain doctrines held by large
portion OF the Christian world which
he repudiatcs and holds mp to repro.
baton and In regard to the inspira-
ton of the Scriptures, his poeitiOn will
not be quite satisfactory to Evangelic
al Christians, generally. The style OF
the book 10 model Of perspicuity and
force, pure, effective, English, without
an ambiguous or misty sentence In the
whole Of 1t. And the story of his
journey into the land Of doubt and
back again. can hardly be read without
deep interest, especially to those ia
miliar with the road. J. M. NJ.
-sror sale by I. L. Tavlor 4 Co