, 1879-06-15


Of hope beyond the grave.
Surely there is nothing in Col Inpersoll'
words to justify Mr.. Arnott's assertion tia
lie mourns as one without hope; nor is ther
anythin. in the public utterances OF the eio
| guens Colonel to warrant llis statement that hi
| talitv.
The peculiarly orthodox cry OF "int1del" is u,
/ longer terror to thinking minds. Nor will /,
| serve as an excuse for uncharitabieuess or max,
less uuchrlslian the nttacks against every mar
| who reserves the right to think and reason fol
himaeN on religious as we'll as other matters
| Neither does the fact that q man does not be
licve in tile inspiration OF book justify the as
sertton that he is without hope in God; moi
should It rob him OF the right to sorrow over
| bis dead -
But 1t Is pretty generally conceded fact that
| with certain class Of men, nu human exper
ence is to-, sacred Tor their rough handling uud
atppant Criticism, except, 1orsooth, it be the
Church aud the uttcrances, OF the self-consti
| tuted exponents OF our creed.
u1aintain that Col lngersoil's grief over his
brothers ilfeless form is no more inconsistent
with the hone Of future. life than was the
.gonr OF Jesus, which found expression in the
ddespairins cry, my God! NY God! Why hast
] Thou forsaken me?n
| Does not Col. Ingersoli,: IN the language
quoted. recognize the eternity Of the future Us
| well as the etcrutY of the past2 And does be
look beyond' admit tile possibility OF beyond
Is the fact that Col. IngersOll rejects the God
| Of Moses evidence that he does not believe in
and worship the God of the Universe?
Is the fact that one denies tile sacredness Of
Moses writings proof thai we reject the inspi-
! rations OF the great book OF Natures
Is it more unnatural that Col. Ingerso1l should
wecp over the iifeless form of brother than
that Jesus should weep at the grave Of dead
Lazarusl
Mr. Arnold, in referring to the death of Sir
Walter. Svott, parcs the joyous death Of the
Christian with tie sswreck y of Mr.. 1ngersolrs
life. The comparison is unfair as between the
living and the dead, and the conclusion drawn
from Seott's last words to his friend is also uu-
fair: Be good, be yirtuous. be religious, for
nothing eise will console you when you come to
die"
Now, If Col. lngersoll, instead OF Lockhart
had reee'yed the diving Scouts advice, he no
doubt would nave replied, All these prccepts
Now mark Sir Walters dying words: "Be
good, ,''-uot believe iu the plenary inspiration
of the book you have beeu rcading. s'Be
virtuous," ,"--not believe III eternal punishment.
BE religious" not bigoled and uncharitable;
for good aud virtuous life, not belief in dog
mas; noble deeds, and not faith, can comfort
you when you come to die.
The calm and restful words, the last uttered
BY Mr.. Ingcrsol, II am better now" are as
assuring as tile recorded utterances Of any
Christian. II am better now!" What words
could be more suggestive Of peacea
The unfarness which has characterized
Christian men In reviewing Col. 1nsersoll's
opinions is not wanting in a1r. Arnold's crit
iclsm. he refers only 70 such portions of the
address as could be distorted into a support OF
the theory be wishes TO establish viz: that Col.
1ngersolli is without hope Of Immortality, and
thar his brothers. Life went out in the blackness
of despair.
The Colonel saws Of his brother: s.He was
fvtan7 of hurte ha had o1fr Ind At1a