The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-13
BALTIMORE, April II, 1873.


Correspondence OF the Register.
BALTIMORE, April II, 1873
The skeptic, the scholar and the curl
Gus were RECALLED last night with tue sec
ond lecture by Bob Ingersoll, on the CAR
istocracy of the Air." He had large
but motley audience. The major part Of
it we're OF that middle class between cul'
ture and ignorance, who are described as
having that "little knowledge" which "is
q very dangerous thing" and which IN
matters OF religion is sufficient
to enable them to get up q
theory Of their own, differing, oi
course from the orthodox standpoint
wherein consists the smsrtness. But
there was q sprinkling of intelligent
thinking men and womeu-of lawyers,
doctors and even clergymen. Many
who despise his teachings are never
theless liberal enough to give him hear
ing, which is the right spirit. 1t is only
an evidence and admission OF weakness
for a man, or sect of men, TO shut
themselves up in position and refuse TO
hear an opposing argument.
Bob makes some good points, or rather,
SAYS some good things in pleasing way,
vet those who 90 to hear him with the
expectation that he will tell them some
thing new and startling and convincing
will be thoroughly disappointed In
deed, the most natural conclusion to q
man already settled in his religious be-
lief is. that if one OF Ingersolps ability
and force cannot make q stronger argu-
ment against Christianity than Is con.
tanned in one of his lectures, we ought
to be pretty well satisfied with the
stability OF the Chrstrisn doctrines. His
lectures are without logic or force OF
argument, go far as they seek to disturb
the basis of Christian faith. He rldlcules
with good deal of effect and with
reason, some OF the ancient and even
modern tenets of the Christian church, but
his attack upon essential doctrines Is TOO
flmsy to be respectable. he seeks to
tear down, but not to build up, He has
DO substitute in the way Of religion, to
offer in lieu of any other religion winch
he denounces-and he denounces all OF
| them alike.
His position, as illustrated by himself
is that he is on ship-he don't know
from whence it started nor whittier 1t is
tending-he don't know the captain and
has never seen the pilot. This ship may
! 90 down in the night OF untathomaOle
sea, and If SO, he will have to 60 with II;
or 1t may run into port, after while, oil
unsulned light and happiness, and in this
event he will also be there to 60 ashore
with the other passengers. If he should
find there such God rs is SAID to exist
be will be glad to meet him and be as
sured of that fact
For the present, however, he Is con-
tent to take the world as his entire por-
tion, and whstever else there may be
bevond, if anything, be will be glad to
share with the rest of humanity when 1t
comes But he believes in nothing now
that he cannot see and handle. He
takes no stock in the "Aristocrecy OF the
Air,"-that is, in spirits, ghosts, DC,
which be claims are the idols OF the
Christian church.
In all of these harangues which Bob
is making against religion and things
generally, there are but one or two POSI-
tons that are we'll taken and unimpeach-
able. One OF these is against the ilhber.
alitv and straight.jscket attitude OF the
| Christian Church. He says that or
thodoxy is simply cessation OF growth,
and that heresy is the act of mind that
has begun to think, which Is not alto
gether inappIicsble as defining the con
duct of many spologlsts Of the church
He very humorously remarked in thl:
connection that he had been told by
many pious, Christian people that II be
did not change his course he would be
damned, and said be, "if they do not give
better argument than that III be
damned if do"
Another position which he assume:
and in defence of which he is most eIo
quent, is that happiness is the result o.
doing right toward all men; of an en-.
deavOr to make all men happy; Of kind
ness and love in family relations. IhI
does not differ from the Christian teach
ings-in fact, we think, Is tht
direct offspring of the Bible. Bu
Bob puts it on different basis. He say
it grows out of the nature of things, that
to be what we call good brings happiness
not bv virtue of anything an over-ru..
ing God may do or has done to bring thi
about, but it is simply result growing
out of nature of our relations to eacl
other.
When you sum Bob up, he is simpI!
this: An ingenious thinker, a gilt
talker, with al the western directnes
and bluntness Of speech, possessing NOR
than ordinary culture, rather torclbIe a
a public speaker, but more suitable 70
the hustings than the lecture stand
good deal of the sledgehsmmer style o
oratory, without sny ,uperhuous polst
either in manner or matter, aod one Wh
impresses you as quite as reckless IL char
ac.er IS bis principles would indicate an,
yet with his ingenuity and force Of eI
preston ca Culatet to carry the pOpu.sc'
with hlm in any direction he may choos
to throw himself. but his attack
upon the Christian religion are shout tn
thnnest things it is possible to cUncelv
OF, and the only explanation of his st!i
tude is, that ne is seeking notoricIy rsth
er than 10 incuIcste an honest opinion.
A companion piece to Bob Ingersol
lecture is being enacted this week a
Ford's Opera House by the fsvorlte Fan
ME Davenport. 1t Is the familiar oil
plav of the "School for Scandal" whic
seems never TO tire by repetition. 81
is being supported by Days Fifth Ave
nue. Company. But decidedly NOR
entertsining p.sy than me one nsmer
which Is also we'll rendered By tnis CON
, p4ny, is the play called "Pique a
society play, with al me sccomPan
ments of good scenery and startling e.
fects, the play OF "P.que" mas few equs.
The dramatic season in Bsltimor,
2 now drawing so Lear It's close, ID
3 been creditsble to the management
as most of the engagements have bee
first Glass, but the hard times hsve M
.erially Inter.ered with the public ps
ronsge, and consequently the profit
The season OF Lent always depletes II
attendance on such entertainments, sn
:, ba. haaD o. asDaoislly- rnarEa5 this yes