The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
B. f. Underwood at Canton, Mo.
We make the following clipping from
the Canton Press of April 3:

lldil LII NdulOIi, ny u. : OhNlei WV, "
celebrated Boston Freethinkcr, and gave
publicity to the announcement that Pres
ident Smith, of Christian University,
would review these lectures at .he Ger
man NJ. E. Church.
Mr.. Underwood came among us with
the prestige of having already won dis
tinguished laurels in the field of contro-
versy, and from his acknowledged ability,
the novelty of his themes and the read
ness of the human mind to grasp at
something new he was awarded a pa
tient and respectful hearing on the part
of his large and approaching audience.
In the first lecture he maintained:
l. That civilization is not due to
Christianity, because high type of civil
lization had existed in ancient Greece
and Rome before Christianity was known
2. That the Bible is not the founda
ton of the best egislation-part of its
teachings being but a rciteration of the
fundamental principles found in other
systems, and what is essentially biblical
we have outgrown.
8. That Bible readers are not the most
intelligent and refined, though intelligent
men are Bible readers.
4. That the Bible is not entitled to
credit for the elevation of woman, but
rather teaches her subordination.
5. That the Bible is not sustained by
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ryi1npco
In his second lecture, Mr.. Underwood
presented as his theme "What do Free
thinkers offer as a substitute for Christi
anity," and proposed;
/. For the Bible-nothing. 1t is valu-
able for its history and antiquity, its
code of morals and its literary treasures,
but only what is reasonable should be re-
ceived
2. For Christ, he would offer no sub
sttutc. He was man of excellent char
actcr, descTediy esteemed for the purity
of his life and the wisdom of his teach
ings, but he was not divine.
3. For baptism, he would substitute
regular and frequent bathngs.
4. For churches, lecture rooms with
out stecples.
5. For prayer, lie would substitute
self-reliance
6. For worship, nothing. Worship
itself is condcmnablc if devoted of dcvC-
ton.
7. For God, he would substitute moth
ing, Directing only the Christians con-
ception of God and would substitute
therefor the aggregate forces of nature.
Mr.. Underwood's third lecture was de-
voted to the consideration of evolution as
! opposed to the common idea of creation,
and the lecture commenced with the
! proposition that space was infinite and
! eternal, and hence there was one entity
not created. From this he predicted the
eternity of matter, because science teach
/ es that matter is indcstructiblc, and if
eternal in the future, it must be in the
past That all matter contained "the
promise and protency of life" and all or
ganisms had been evolved by the aggre-
/ gate forces of nature from one primordial
form. Ergo, man, the highest type, had
come up through lower forms of life from
the same primordial germ.
We have thus given in brief the out
lines of the views rs represented by the
lecturer without attempting full report
of the line of argument or illustrations
presented.
At the close of Mr.. Underwood's third
lecture it was announced that these lee
lures would be reviewed by President 3.
Ii. Smith, at the German NJ. L. Church,
commencing the following evening. This
is the largest church in the town, bat at
an early hour every seat was filled, and
each succeeding evening brought out Il
large, intelligent and approaching audi
cncc. President Smith had been cng#g cd
I during the week at his accustomed duties
/ in the University where his classes en-
gagged his attention from till each day
day and consequently he could have but
very little time TO prepare for the occa-
sion; but he came to his appointed work
with the spirit and courage of one that is
ever ready to give to every one that askcth
a reason for the ''hope that is within
him." and molly did he acquit himself in
+ the vindicat:on of ''thc truth as it is in
Christ Jesus
Taking up the topics in order as pre-
scented by Mr. Underwood, he successful.
ly controverted every position assumed
by the champion of the FreethinkerS, and
showed up in proper colors the boosted
| civilization of Egypt, Greece, and Rome
with their abominable idolatrics and laws
giving sanction to theft and crime, and
infidel France of modern date, with &
common harlot deified as goddess of
liberty. In marked contrast with these
revolving pictures, he portrayed the IN
fuence of the Bible and Christianity upor
government and socicjy ut large, and in
the array of unquestioned facts presented
gave to Christianity full and sufficient
vindication.
On Monday night President Smith took
up the subject of Evolution, and relying
wholly upon the writings of Darwin, Hulk
ley, Tyndall and kindred authors, he
showed the glazing defects and palpable
absurdihes in the doctrine of Evolution
as opposed to creation; challenged the
presentation of a single established fac
of science as contradicting the Bible, and
by his mastery presentation of the truth
confirmed the faith of the wavering, ant
as the result of the contest, so far as thi:
community is concerned, we may note &
decided advance in Christirn confidence
and a settled conviction of the truth o.
the Bible and its high and sacred origin
and as an indication of that sentiment
we may refer to the pleasing incident o.
the presentation to President Smith of {
superb copy of the Bible as Il token o.
regard for his triumphant vindication O
the Gospel of Christ.
CUT THIS OUT,