, 1876-07-29

OIYMrIN. ". 7 !
,1uly 10. 1876.

, tristan Morals and dogma, l regret
tlat he has seen tit to alludC 70 me IN
,uch uncomplmcntary terms as "pigmy
rchcarsing vile ftl,ehoods' "ignorantiy
si,rcprescnt- his sNadling clothes ot
carly prejudice and superstition "bIind-
cl by hls infuntile prcjudccs" childish
ness" &c, SAY regret that your cor
respondent has seen fit to argue the case
in this manncr-becausc it is q kind of
Argument which gentleman never uses
and TO which of course cannot reply in
Lind. only refer to my unknown critic
because OF certain assertions OF his 50
palpnbly different from the facts that
they ought not to be permitted to 20
i.ncorrected. For the sake of your read
crs and not from any desire TO contend
with an opponent who uses weapons
Sith which I would not foul my hands
with touching-you will please make
room for a hasty notice of few points
in +. II. Ms. would he criticism. He
wants to know why | don't preach about
certain specific doctrines of the christian
systenl-annOunCcs texts sufficient tor
score or more flong sermons and why
[ don't crowd them all into one discourse
of twenty-five minutes lcngth-l reply
that cannot put all the facts and plin-
ciples of Theological " Science" INTO one
scrmon-I have horror for long sermons
aud the people of the Snohomish will
probably agree with me that short ser.
mons are the best as general rule--es-
pccially if they "hit home" as that
under review seems to have done--I
wasn't preaching about specific doctrine,
on the morning of June 25,-l was look
ing at the general outlines of Christianity
and its effect upon the world, and show
ing that it is good thing for mankind
u savior from sin and misery both in this
life and the lite beyond the grave. Had
your correspondent attended public
worship on the evening of the 25, he
would have heard me preach a sermon
which set forth specifically and reasonably
two of the doctrines mentioned in his
list. But then no one asked me to pre-.
pare the manuscript of that discourse
tor publication. ! might "get even"
With F. II. M. by asking him why man
who talks so lcarnedly about "scicnce"
as he does- and appears so familiar
with the whole field of universal nature
does not collect the scientific" facts and
doctrines known by men and promulgatc
them in half hours lecture TO be pub
lished in the NORTHERN STAR. 1t
would be an exceedingly interesting doc
lment to those who are not 50 "aceH up
IN Science as he seems to be. | am ac-
cused OF trying Ito smirch the character
ef the Free-thinkcr, by rehearsing the
vile ialsehoods in regard to Paine and
Eoltaire." Let US examine the facts.
! was speaking of "the comparison iu-
stituted between them and our Blessed
Lord"-with the purpose OF showing
that he alone like his system Of philOs-
ophy was by far the noblest that has ever
blessed our world; that while he was
perfect all the Others were marred by
some imperfection either of personal
character or moral dogma. In regard to
Foltair | only made the assertion that
" he did not dare to face eternity trust
ing to his infdcl principles, that in his
last hours no tremblingly sought the
sacramcnts of the church, which be had,
while in health so mercilessly assailed."
That is rather compliment than a
"smirch." 1t shows that he had some
wisdom left in spite OF his life of unbeiet,
and it is a part of Voltaire's history,
which no man who has made himself ac-
quainted with that philosophers lite will
attempt to deny. 1t is reported that the
professional nurse who attenden his last
hours was so Mortified by his agony OF
remorse and hopeless despair for the III.
ture Notwithstanding the blessing OF the
Romish Chulch) that she never alterward
would wait by the death bud OF an in
iidel. l nigh have said that, and other
things about him in ay sarmon, ,niugs
which saw fit to i--g- aid, u-r..sa I
never state any ..-g ara Jo.. W u,
pulpit or esewhcra which ~. no. are
pared to prove. ".- t1s stale :. h..
toricaI, and did no. ne TINT there