The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-04
tFOr the IntslligOnserI 81 "a
LeVItY In the Discussion Of Religious
TopIna.

j..
"Amicus" ventures TO suggest TO ~. II
McMechen" that between them there &
no difference. Any apparent disagree
ment arises from the fact that they have
In mind things which are nearly related
but which nevertheless are 10 be dlstin-
guished. Many q Wordy dispute has
originated In Q precisely similar manner.
BY levity "Amicus" means disposition
to trife. Often the New York Herald
takes up the most solemn religious mat
terS and discusses them with no more Sc
robustness than II II was publishing an
article about fashionable party. Among
the crews Of sailing vessels, and especially
Of those which are bound on long VOy-
ages, 1t Is the custom TO make light Of al.
most everything which can happen. II
o man loses his hold in the rigging and
barely escapes fall into the sea and
death by drowning, he is expected
TO treat It all as q joke. It Is
the custom Of some OF our newspapers TO
deal 10 somewhat similar manner with
the religious topics which they introduce.
This has thus far not been true oil our To-
cal press. 1t Is not al all probable that II
will DO true Of It. Still there seemed 10 be
a propriety at this early stage 10 say that
i is not 8 becoming fashion. ~. b.
McMechen," by leylty, probably means
the use Of ridicule, and that lighter artil-
lery In general with which It is no doubt
legitimate sometimes TO shoot at folly. To
this "Amicus" makes no objection,
though he Is doubtful whether as rule
1t Is an effective mode Of warfare. There
are people, Tor example, who have an aW.
full reverence for tribes. They begin BY
making themselves as unreasonable and
ridiculous as possible. Then as another
has said they are "for ever proof against
both wit and wisdom" As soon as any
one has learned 10 look upon the pairing
Of his nails and the adjustment of his eve.
brows as vital matter, he Is perfectly
impregnable. You cannot reach him.
Reasoning Of course Is thrown away upon
him. Ridicule he looks upon as sinful,
because nothing Is too small for him to
reverence. II When a man has
reached this point, he might as well shave
his head, and be thenceiorth inaccessible
10 all approaches, except such as may be
made through the "Ho Ping or ceremo-
NAL code, and the Lee Poo or ceremonial
council" Still, if laughter can be 90
turned upon such iollies as are suggested
by ~. b. McMechen," that It will rescue
any. one from their power, @Amicus"
would like to be on hand 10 help in the
good cause. 7Eo ITss Il
"Amicus" also had in mind different
sort Of problems from those Of. which
~. L., McMechen" writes. lie referred
10 such great subjects as those which re.
Gently have been introduced into the col.
umns ofthe IETELLIdENcER-io instance,
the crisis in the Episcopal church, the
personality oil the devil, and the fall of
man. In regard to these there may be 8
place Tor ridicule and satire. But Tor any
lack Of seriousness there can be no room.
Truth and lalsehood in reference to them
are vital and everlasting in their influence.
To the public ii Is oil very little impor-
lance whether we as individuals agree or
disagree. But comparison of our views
may serve more distinctly to bring out
the truth. And the writer Of this does
not wish TO be SO interpreted as to seem
10 lay any unnecessary restrictions on
such discussions. ggli = ANXIOUS. 1