Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-17
Tho Honest SEeptic.


But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus,
was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We
have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except
shall see In his hands the print of the nails, and
put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust
my :. hand into his side shall not believs'
The following is synopsis of the address:
All skeptics are not to be classed and con-
demned together. '"There is great difference"
says Malebranche, between doubling and
doubling. We doubt through passion and
brutality; through blindness and malice; and,
finally, from fancy and the very wish to doubt;
but We doubt also from prudence and distrust;
from wisdom and penetration of mind. The
former doubt is the doubt of darkness which
never issues to the light, but leads us further
and further from it; the latter doubt is born of
the light, and aids in a certain sort to produce
light in its turn"
AN HONEST DoUBTER IS BETTER THAN HYPOCRITI-
CAL BELIEVER,
for the former will come to the light ultimately,
and the latter untrue to his convictions, false
to his belief, demoralizes himself and stumbles
others. I am almost ready to admit that
an honest doubter is better than a
believer who has come at his belief
only through heredity, since the latter is like
a tree grown up in forest protected by other.
trees but when they are removed and he ia at
last exposed to the winds of doctrine, which
sweep past him, he is uprooted, while the 9TH
or IN an open field swayiug while in the blast
sends his roots at last down into the soil and
stands fixed, thing of strength in the storm,
and of beauty in the sunshine. But suffer
word as to further classification of doubters.
There is first the affected doubter, who thinks
it q sign of intellectually to doubt, and hasn't
an idea as to what it's all about.
Second-The prejudiced doubter, whose mind
has been preoccupied by doubts. 1--WE do not
approach the study of philosophy" says Sir
William Hamilton, Ignorant but perverted"
and this leads me to third class, the i'm
moral doubters. The mists by which they are
halations of bad life. And this is perhaps
the largest class; men who realize tho immense
abyss between themselves and the received
standards OF moral character, and strive to re-
deem it by bringing down the standard.
Fourth-There are small fnical doubters,
who spend the time which ought to be occupied
in the study Of the broad grand principles of
sacred philosophy in foolish questions and
never get beyond the question as to the variety
of the forbidden fruit, or where Cain got his
wife. "5.-
Fifth
THE UNIVERSAL DoUBTER
who denies everything. As the boy who couldn't
learn to read because when the teacher under
took his case, and asked, pointing to the first
letter of the alphabet what is that? answered,
II don't KNOW ''Wen," said the teacher,
''that's A." Chow do you know said he?
why, when was little girl my teacher told
me so.' well, but" said this youthful ration
alist, "How do you know but what he lied?
They refuse to believe anything they cannot
understand: and thus their range is exceedingly
limited.
Sixth-There is the opinionated doubter,
whose pride of opinion is so strong that he
cannot learn of others.
Seventh-The ignorant doubter has never ex-
amined for himself.
Finally, there is the class to which we wish
to address ourselves of honest doubters, who
encounter difficulties and know not which vgay
to turn. We have such an one in the case be-
fore US. There had been great meeting of
the disciples, and Jesus had appeared to them,
saw the Lord" G'wo disciples were absent,
Judas and Thomas, as Judas had ''gone to his
own place." but where was Thomas?" We do
not know what kept him away. Perhaps it was
rainy, perhaps he had to post his books, OF
something; at all events, he wasn't there
Soon after some of the glad disciples met and
told him of the meeting, and Thomas wouldn't
believe. 1t was too good to be true. Except
shall see in his hands the print of the nails
and thrust my hand into his side, I will not be-
Ee7e."
While there is energy in this mans skepti-
manly outspeaking which we cannot help ad-
miring Another Lords day" comes and
Thomas is where he puts himself in the way of
conviction, you see. Christ appearing and
after pronouncing his benediction, he singles
out Thomas and says, Reach hither thy finger
etc.
Now note this mans skepticism. He only
required evidence; did not deny fact, but re-
CURED proof. It was an intellectual doubt
His heart yeared to have it SO, but his mind
was not convinced. He loved his Lord. Three
months before he said, ''Let us go that we
may die with him. ,.. ... .r
1t was a frank avowal, and made with the
intention to believe, if proof were given. The
reverend gentleman said we have to-day many
such doubters. And they can be dealt with
and treated as was the disciples-by personal
example; exquisitely tender administered
proof; and by condescen'iing to experimental
tests. The conviction and. conversion would
be effectual. .--r
!tswas not the touch of his wounds but the
spirit which reduced this unbeliever. It sug-
gests to my mind the following rules:
First-The church must discard all methods
which 90 not rest upon moral basis-in a
word, which are not honest, manly and tender.
second-In tho employment of, not rejecting
and scouting, scientific methods; use them
with the joyous certainty that ali with us is
harmonious.
Third-Determine which are the essential
OOctrlnes ana defend them.
Fourth-Manly, outspoken condolences among
ourselves.
Fifth-Appeal to the fruits of Christian life.
sixth-Actual proof by an appropriate ex-
ternal life. -
Seventh-Appeal to the experimental charac-
ter. taste and see."
In conclusion, the speaker eloquently urged
these rules, and enjoined their observance so ,
that Christians might become models for the
conversion of doubters.
Sermon for Raitroad Hen.
An interesting sermon was preached by the
Rev. DR.. Dana at Plymouth church last even
ing on the subject of christian Work Among
Railroad Men," Following is an abstract of the
Sermon:
The limits of mans achieving power seems
to be constantly extending. He is open on one
side to the depths Of spiritual nature; to the
attributes of God. Men differ in nothing else
moro than in respect to faith. Through the
latter they become energetic and repulsive. It
is safe to say that no one ever Influenced great
masses who had not some leading opinion
some profound belief.
In this intensely active age the field of dis