New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-01
RELIGION AND DEMONSTRATION.

A LETTER FROM THE REV. DIR. SAMSON
FAITH IN MENTAL TESTIMONY THE FOUNDATION os
KNOwLEDGE-THE FIRST And LAST IDEA OF
CAUSE.
TO ths razor Of Ths TrfbWHG
SIR: The following 10 cut from an article
in THE TRIBUNE Of this morning, quoted from Prof
Swing:
prove you that the square OF the hypoihenus.
Of rig1anged triangle IA equivalent 20 the squares Oi
the other two sides but when comes 70 proving 70 YOU
to else the propositions OF religion, mstash
to be excused. Here deal only IN probabilities and
ia demonstration you demand.
The character of Agericln life 40 much requires that
everything even rols truth, he presented In pract
eel ono m glt say 1supercal form, that tn above
statement unfortunately reflects too much the spirit u
the day. Hence, critics who have written on the 40
called Conflict between Science ard Pehson" hass
recognized deficiency 0f statement In religious discus
sion Tie question is natural one. How religious
convictions be no auiyersa ona corto ling among in.
tell .ent men unless they can b" y inon,tfftcd TO 10
TRUTH The briefest glalNe At two u'ris-hrst, The
nature 81 all demonstration. even fUatIcuacll; ahd
secondly the elaborated omoust alton 20 lc Sous truth
will throw ths impoi3nl demand ~ te day iaio relief
Men before ana since Aristotle hayt appreciated ind
,pprocd his analysis OF the nature AMI s,uccs " a
tiy. knowledge: grouping aud mixing n ograi connec
ton ~ he did. only the thought Of h ran prrde
r,ssors bat also Of Br,hnin.c sage. whose writing.
were sent to him n Alexander collections When snT
one Is asked. What bo Lnows aui huai tf Malone
and souce Of hs knowledge" be- vili of oour. .cf,r
FIRST - his scn-cs csp,calx Co t1- ol t. eyc otf
sad 10 ioh ~ universally acc fed Illr.s in.pieds
Y, ne must admit that even ;ur e,r nl otra ITO
deceived and that tie COW. though .It coca doe MOI
have intelligent knowlcdgc II Hc, tNo ei,s are c.sb
iishcd FIRST there Ia m n3u mind bars of the senses.
an existence spiritual or material tl1t d.ri.. vhfibsr
the soHses can De- trusted not and tsmni farr fos
itself know ledge ont of tnc testimony OF m .ns.. an.
conclusion then b. inc, itaD-lt o. dman.f..r ft,t
knowledge Icait on thc cuualcnco W, have ia tf, it,
mnuy OF the nnd derived through Be-. instruments t.
ests d. other words. lnoplcls. BE- nothing bat ath
iu meut9i -timouy.
Pc. n from ti, view " mo nliu.e of tnosleirs g.
rived froin no, -rus 10 tle UI. h.ulf.tll fy.ms ~
INST t-rtu-" come into view. Material rilo.ofay.,.
r.l,t-rutcf bs Af seeks tn .buv. iu apl1 i D. surh
thiuEsts as Arsio, ani FHnt, tluf the Hsi conyr
t,n two tiags equal Go q ii.id a.s equal 10 ,ach
otHrr" h. tratiuon, Of thr 'ytaeht -o,aos boz.
.t.r. iu Plato rhet tn' iy Tiunut Dos ,ppaaeai mo
sirt that when d.pbluz ihlt tfo THINGS ars oqlilv.
perceive tlmt tle lou-r. nc scrtrif. ths tro mhs
sup..r.. to br cqni ti. uo.. li .f sIltf mrguah
'ra. Two facts then are Demonstrated ffsi uu
,au lib isau ira arondF in to mind. f' Whpse iravs
,rc ..ll'ue 60 nuproytuat o.ir.f. tI' a' M ya
which .lu never Dee n oJ ni .'. 'f' Hafs r.sIF
ruuf. second, here, s- D.. .o.., 900, inIn 'iol ~ Ell
.naNcdro f i.mnratiat,i 10 .iur.r 'i..t .u ic.'A
Testimony.
rrlnud thus 81, .npr It, tho hnpoa.at derived
tr,m iaat hriuttir,l d.rar-i ttul ae .trui. mlras
.aUh tt, stnIFht.a.e Cd. kOt u1sl Is. tH thDa
.i mctlfiiy...II o.. distinct Dorm .i.li i, 'irfnn
1890 iris it.s phone u.ri 1 D.. r'u.d .rI. UH4 f n.
Iu.tl ini .' slH-r. 90. e'' a.t H.HI .'nnTslHaa
IH.t ot trII. r,fc.f of tHa,r .nd of lH... Hit ps
o, lInr, r, nD'. t.Ii ..aro Do Htnt'f '.-rH -
1900 ..fIon o. tn l.W tir .Hfae. No "H.f. .fo.fe
believes .f ..I.. i.I.U.h WcHtn...HI na.' vs
I.'.f ..fI...tH..- f'. IrIH.'H I.t .." T7
n.H H.'r l... '.F .t