The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-09
THE M.iRCH or INFTDFLTTY.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sr: Your
article ON The March Of Inldelity." touches a
very important subject. one that cannot be
shlrkcd or put aside. but must be fairly and
squarcly mot
Huxley, Tyndall. and Darwin are earnest and
able men: So Is Herbert spencer. have in my
library every work they hive 80 far published.
| have read all of them. some ~ them more than
once. freely own my obligation 20 them. They
have opened wider To nay view the kingdom Of
my Heavenly Father, and shown me how greatly
my Fathers house Of many mansions" is
adorned. Truo. they have brought TO my mind
many mysteries that / cannot explain. many
truths | cannot now reconcile. nor do i'eI
called on to de- So The little any Of III know
c2mnared with what remains 10 be- icarned,
in God and in divine revelation starts on mn en-
trcly different basis. an intuition Of the soul
longing for perfection for It's ideal. the Creator
of those works. they so earnestly study and 80
patiently describe To on educated Chris.
tan see no tendency In tleir teaching to over;
throw his faith. Certainly on my own mind
there has been no such influence. Michael
Farraday lived and worked fnrty.four years in
thing. his science nnother. between the two
there was no conflict Who made greater
original dis overics than he. especially in that
most mysterious of all for,s eleNrrity2 Who
lived NOR" dcvout life or lied "A ilrmrr believer
or more respected 10y these very men,
There Is On. influence You leave entirely out
~ your article. refer to the influence Of tn"
sensational pulpit. Wkor. the scientists make
one doubter, the sensational pulpit makes
many.
Think of a family Of children going every
SUNDAY Ia listen to the exciting hHrangues II a
red hot preacher. who himself believes ia
nothing except himself and cares not rush
what lie breaches, only 50 he creates s"nsa-
ton one sunday he breaches orthodox, next
"a "A Univcrsalist and 50 on year in and year
out. breaches all dprtrin,s and no do trino. but
always breaches himself in all forms and all
shapes. Think of these children growing M
s..s 4. a.. /.
lnilu"nc". Al times thcy may nave religious
feelings lao called. but they will have. they can
not hnve any settled religious belief. or acting
principle of daily life. the parents OF these
children giving. 10y their Attendance and sup
Tort Of said preachers, the sanction of their ex-
ample.
For the last twenty years how many sad ex-
amplfs 81 elect on young men have | seen
WHO. all unounsriously to themselves have been
and now are floating ON a sea OF Doubt The
best way know of 10 ren'h these men is Ia
sex their acquaintance or ms they are thrown
IN your way. improve the opportunity. Invite
them 70 your house; ygg viii soon ascertain
what their difficulty Is. Follow the plan of that
good Quaker john Wooman take them one
10y one, wisely and gently. Above all. set them
good example rule wei your own spirit lend
them some book. They Will h. interested IN
your library, Mr.. Lefchild Of London wrote
scientific men had unronscousy fallen into.
II was reprinted in New York. but the unipr-
tunnte inlrodu'tion. written hy DR.. Crosby.
spOils II Tor use Just where IL would he most
useful. DR.. Crosby had the bad taste 70 call
such men Ms Huxley. Darwin. and TyndalI
hufoons. and IN said Introduction speaks of
stripping IA" lions skin IN thcml
agree with you that III" mode 81 Dr. MCosh
il far better IN dealing with them. He has
studied phySlo and metnphVslrs. meets them
with candor. and seems Ia hnye some idea OF
the Importance Oi the suhlert- h" treats Of
These young men | speak 81 ARE many OF
them our hrlghtrst and lrst-ports. artists. and
thinkers they are charming companions. moi
settled. but eagerly seeking after truth. They
have formed an idr;l. and eagerly sock after II.
What better book can they read than the touI
Gospels Prevail on th"m carefully TO study
what our Divine Lord said and did; to III
their minds with these sayings and doings; T.
slnEl" out SOM one pr"oopt, to practice 1t SOM
one oNUmp", to follow II, and II higher thar
human iniiuenn" will assist them. Th"u
frightened and blessed. ;, Is. ii,