The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-11
COL. INGERS0LL'S GHOSTS.
ANOTHER FrRTOUs ATTICK CPoN TUB
CHRISTTIv RELIGION.
Orthodox Ciergymcn and their Teachinr. A.
sailed with Ridicuic. md "The Theory
of the Natural" ApprovinaIy set Forth


In Chickerirg Hall. last evening, large
and enthusiastic audience listened TO Col.
Robert Ingersolrs lecture on Ghosts" Ee
said that few years ago when people wanted
to know any thing they always went to the
clergy. who fed them upon superstitions: but
now. when they want to know any thing for GER
tain. or what is worth knowing. they begin to
consult their own understandings. or sources
OF real authority upon the subject And have
no doubt" sid the speaker that the clergy
really believe to-day that the instant We pass
out OF the atmosphere of old things and old
doctrines we shall rush straight into crime and
sin ms to II carnival But want to be told OF
single instance where man who has become
an inndel or an atheist has become ans
worse man in his kindly. domestic. and
human relations than he was before I
don't believe that any man has ever been
any the worse for thinking for himself instead
of refusing to permit another man to think for
him. don't believe that any intelligent man
has tnken to abuse OF his wife and children by
reason of having lost faith in Noses. The
more We know. the more we think for our.
selves. the better we will become Whoever
DOS wrong carries a cross; whoever does
right carries n Consciousness Of Joy that Is his
crown.
coidI,d9,a have no quarrel With c,Iergymen." the
~ a general thing. amuses me lLauehter.'
,Ihey give US hell in plenty, they are usually
lnguhrious enough. and, Il Happiness ever
her burial. lLaughterl II we cnn got along in
this llie plnasantly and make those around us
happy. think we arn do NJ better than ill ny
the future with the torments OF he'll Are The
,mts,Gt nra ,o OF tnr world nas been arrested for
solve questions which cannot poss bly, be solved,
or winch II Il no eairhir use e. solve What We
know Is science; what we don't know.-is the
Three theories seem to have governed men
Almost ron the beginning, First. the theory
M ol tne -up-.rnntnral second. the theory Of the
third. the theory Of the natural. The second OF
these Is prohaily the most popular at this day
rial SIN. is th,tthe universe. with ali.euhracnR
loving arms. takes every thing real and humnn
nii our hops aspiral 9ns. an thoughts unto
lrI ,hlsny BOSOM. Dos rny on gompre.
bend what muttrr is Can we understand
how plHnt grows and buds from a seed any
brain. or the hope from the hrartY W. simply
Know tnat We arr herr-that W. live; and amy:
thing that incr-as sthe mpterial rnjuym.nt nni
Is wroms"
The sp-nknr denominnted all outside Of ma.
ture or supposed 10 tx 81 outside of IT, as ghos;s
nnt uwelt ou the gradual gruwth OF snp.r.
s'ltious ideas ne superindu'el 10y the natural
NoranorS earthquakes. seasrS, prstilcnres
and ine Ike. winch were all NJ ono tine sup.
posed to hr the work Of ghosts and deviis
E'en now the Chinese religion IS moth ng more
tnan u Pr"puaton Of devils. unlrr the ldet
TINT Coz Is 80 s6oi rs 70 requr no propi;ia'
non whatever; while many Of our own orthodox
people have gut - tar adyan'Ad ~ 10 arknowl.
edgr tne sup-r-t tl9u> undations OF their owI
good restraining Influences N the case Of bis
Il used 10 think that men wore not restrained
hy superst tons.' said the speaker " hut now
admit Tint they are NJ man las ever been
r"stranrd from he comm is~ion Of u rrnl criu.-
man comm tied murder They got the evil
en We. V-.'1si l.iil uut T. con. rssad tlat he did