The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-28

DIR. Cyrus Mutt, the President of the State
University, has made an interesting contri-
button to the famous prayer gauge test
which will probably arouse the advocate OF
that peculiar notion. The argument is con-
tanned in asermon issued in neat pamphlet
The motive which called forth, the
writing Of the paper is given
in the opening sentence: "the reasons why
the christian world does not accept the
"prayer-test" of Professor Tyndall should
be given to the public. The author then
proceeds directly to a statement of che orig
insl "prayer-test" suggested some three
years ago by Tyndall in order "to ascertain
the exact value of prayer as a force in ma
| terial nature" The writer asserts that the
simple presentation ofsuch test is suggestive
OF the beliefthat "these scientists are under
misappreheDsion in regard to the true ma
ture of prayer" 1t is the opinion of the
author that "no christian supposes that
that it can be properly called a force like
heat, light, electricity, or gravitation; nor
does 1t operate directly upon any of the ma
terial forces" But the christians view of
prayer is THAT it is addressed to God,
and moves God to act on matter,
to adjust and readjust the causes and forces
operating in the world of matter, as in the
world of mind" sand, in answer to prayer.
results are brought about different from
what they otherwise would have been.'
To this "prayer-test'' of TyndaIl, as
limited and qualified by the scien-
lists themselves, the author then pro-
ceeds to state several 'serious objections"
First, is sits contempt for Gods past revele.
tions to man." 1t is asserted to be ga chsl-
lenge sent to the Almighty to do his best,
with the condition attached that, if this per-
Torrance conforms to their notion of
things, they will acknowledge him; il not,
they will repudiate him." Besides, ''they
desire the devout, confiding and humble
christian men and women of all lands to
tempt the God they trust and love-" Sec
ondly, DIR. Mutt believes that "this chal-
lenge proposes an impossibility." To bring
all the immense numbers of the Christian
world to such an arrangement and faithfully
to carry it into effect, is an impossibility:
OF those praying, some by accident might
pray for those i'll the prohibited sick ward,
mistakes would be made as to time. ETC.
Some patients might be unwilling to enter
the goddess ward" some would be forced |
to, and thus the rate OF mortality thus in |
creased would vitiate thevalue ofthe expert |
ment. Thirdly, it is urged an objection |
that "to comply with the proposed test
would be wrong" This proposition, it is
argued, '1eaves out small section, and re-
quires that they shall not be prayed for, ;" the
christian is commanded to pray for all |
men. And again to offer such a prayer as
this test requires, we must believe that it is
Gods will that those sick in the prayer ward
should be the special objects of his favor,
while those in the other ward, God wills to
pass by and leave without his sympathy or
help" But christians are taught that God
Is no respecter of persons, etc. Fourth
ly, the proposed test confounds
two distinct p'anes of action the spir-
itual and the material" cit seeks to transfer
the laws and modes of matter to the realm
Of mind or spirit" and besides "of the realm
Of the unseen and spiritual. and the laws by
which it is governed, we know but little. 1t
Is absurd, therefore, to attempt to measured
and test it by the laws and forces
which govern matter" Again, it is
argued that "such a test would be
For should the number of recov-
cries in the ward tor which prayers were
offered be far greater than in the prayerless
ward, they (the scientific skeptics) "would
affirm that there was some mis-
take, and that the conditions we're not COM
piled with" Sixthly and last it is asserted
that "we know that our prayers are an
swered," "and that material nature is af-
fected;" "the sick are restored to health,
dangers are averted. and success attends the
efforts of Gods people," and it was finally
believed that "the atheist, the materialist,
and the most determined skeptic will, in
the future as in the past, call upon God for
mercy in spite of their false philosophy |
whenever they are surrounded by sudden |
and great peril"