, 1880-08-08
r. ". ON. INGERSOLL.

A1VVN ny kN6 SEAGFaa 10klTU4kA81s
New York, July 2n.-To the Editor Of tts
Ne.0 York Herald Men entertaining inndel
opinions for the Last twenty or more years, and
until the appearance Of Robert G. ngersoll
have seldom obtruded themselves upon the
public There IS nothing in the manner or mat
ter Of modern divines either to provoke or in
vite antagouism. CIeruymen do not, us for
rnerly, dwell and lngcr upon the dark features
Of theology. Nothing is now heard of the fate
of ''tnfants not spun long" The ministry OF
our day IS ministry OF peace, charity, and
goodwill. This generation leurns to love and
scrve rather than to dread and distrust our
Crcator and our Savior, Whatever grounds
existed formerly to tempt scofrers and rcvtlers,
the religion OF our time disarms and gilenccs
unpretudiced criticism.
Col. Ingersoll, whom / do not know, has tho
reputation OF being Il gentleman Of education.
with a well-stored mind and attractive personal
manners, who speaks nuently and eloquently. A
man thus gifted can do much good, but much
more ovil. according to the principles espouscd
and the line OF conduct marked out for himself.
Col 1ngersoll, it seems, upon the entrance into
active life. CHOSE tho left instead OF the right
pathway, and becomes u reyler OF, instead OF n
believer In. religion which hns been making
the world wiser, better, and happier for almost
nineteen centuries. Without questioning Col,
Ingcrsolis sincerity or impugn1ng his motives.
am persuaded that ii half the time nnd iubor ex-
pended In fortlfying himself with arguments
against religion had been devoted tn I'M intelli-
gent and impartial Reconsideration Of the evidences
establishing its truths the country would huve
had instead OF q revilcr gifted follower OF Film
whose mission labors, nnd character, viewed
merely from worldly standpoint, Inspire adtni-
ration. affection, and gratitude. Is it not. there
fore, painful to see men richly endowed pervert-
ing their gifts. mislsing their talents In pre-
sunptuous rcvllthgs and rlbAl1 testngs against
q Creator mad IL Savior from whom every earthly
bounty and blessing e.nanntc!
NJ net Ut tho Sayior's life and no word He
ever uttered has been or can be construed or
tortured into hostility to the wefaro and happi-
ness Ut every member Cr the human family.
Human laws are founded upon the Divine law.
Al! that concerns our happiness here and hopes
Ct happness g, hereafter =. is Is derived a 1 from the
ity done for us7 VIII! profits by It's teachings7
After deprlvsnz Its followers of their belief tn IL
does it otfer In exehanae for ifo of immortali-
ty? II. for example. Col. 1ngersoll should be
summoned to the bedside of dying friend
Spe or saua ws be @ & g. eeSr ~bst servee Ct
could he be to that stricken friend? Would
he nggravate the snffertngs Of one whose
was nothing but the cold. dark grnve awaiting
him? This cruel theory IS repe!led not only by
Instinct With evidences nnd con trtnMtionS of the
truths of revelation. The vegetable and aornl
world only de to live again. The products Of
the RQF{n 4ltE uQQ Ole a0Uu4uE. 1QE QQfiGQ
acorn reproduces tie living oak. And vet int
deity insists that man. themage Of the Creator,
wonderfully endowed aud gifted, under whose
auspices the world has been enlightened, ctevut-
ed. and adorned. Is after n brief existence to bo
as though no had never been. Contrast tho Ia
bors or Coltalre and Paine with those Of John
Wesley. Can It be sMtd with truth that the for
mer two made any une better or happier? Hum
drels Of thousands OF the followers OF John
Wesley have lived nnd died aud other hundreds
of thousands survive, rejoicing Iii their CONVEX
sion frr,n u sinful to Christian life. The neln-
ory Ut Wesley Is everywhere cherished by the
good and the pure, while Votaire aud Paino are
only remep bered for the evil rather thnn the
good they did.
If 1t ba I'D that he promises Of the Savior
and thut the world Is us bad us ever. it may be
answered that religion is working out its mis-
sion; that its beniRu influences are constantly
extending. aud that light is radnting into tho
darkest rrcesses OF heathenisul and idolntry. 1t
requires no argument to demonstrate the fact
that our race is improved by civilization, or that
civilization owes its origin ana progress to re-
tgion 70 religious influences We are indebted
for nlf the RETURNS which benefit society. Our
Were Instituted ttat % an o1ed1ence to
are taught without money and without price"
all TINT concerns their present welfare and their
have enriched and fertilizcd, and continue to
enrich and fcrttltze. every city. village, hamlet.
and household throughout tho Chrstinn world.
our race with the consecrating Influences of
Sunday schools, soofers should bo shamed into
silence
WHAT RELIGION HAS DONE FOR NEW roRK.
Our city furnishes many examples of the
enedcence Of religion. Forty years ago II
locality too we'll known rs the Five Points,
with population OF several thousands. was the
others equally debuscd. Men, women, and |
children Ut nll nauonulities und colors herdcd |
h dspss y qR ppGaay IL se #
aess or depredat1ons. Their nights were spent
wholesome influences were excluded. Children
rev up 70 be come either street -beggnrs or ia- !
mates Of the al1ushouse. md their parents tIlled
oenitentinres and prisons: These orgies con-
inued year utter year, defiant and aggressive,
indi that Pandemoniuul WINS invuded by Chris
:Iau men and women whose patience would not
devotion has been rewarded by moral and re-
tgious reformation so complete that no part Of
a c5s dace Is aqeada 9re % qa Pou 9e Tso taan
ands OF children then growing up either /
,ngabouGs cuiprits are now Attending schools,
whGh 'sy anS by ann
instead, therefore, Of sending forth Idle, fg-
lorant, aud vicious children to prey upon
be be- Fire e Points" preparcd for usefnuess By By
moral a1ld religious trimming. find bnppy homes
4 our rapidly developing Western States and
Agntn. eight years ago Water street and its
urfoundngs eastward from Peck slip hud
otnricry almost as uncnvinbfe us that OF the
rive EDul3+ 1uHk ECxlUu WIS f1lE WIFI |
burglaries, pugilism. and their
inbred vices. Jerry McAu!ey was conspicuous
n all that was wicked ana demoraiiz:ng. fIc |
ad the. reputation OF Icing Il terror to the |
,recfuct, reputation which. by his own con-
eSsiou. was deserved. But this disturbcr of the
ubic peace WIS converted, and then he re-
Glvcd IT, devote tho remainder OF his life to the
crvice Of hts Muster. and, with faithful, !
Hectionnte wife as helper, he has abundant |
! atoneh for all his o1Yenses. For a
rug time the hisses u1ld huwliugs of his former
seriously disturbed his meetings. but
eurAxe, perseverance, and paticncta finally pre-
allied, nnd his work now progresses without In
eruption. The general character Of the neigh
orho,d has been improved; It's social nnd NOR
toue and atmosphere have. been purified.
aiiors' boarding. -hoilses have been reformed |
ailnrs now carry their Bibles with them to sea-
fOudy and 5ankoy hymns are sung In furc-
astes. Hundreds Of hnif-nnked and hungry
ives and children, By the conversion Of drunk |
n husbands and fathers, now rejoice iii com- |
,rtable and happy homes. The Mission Church |
crowded every week duy and evening nnd
1rce tllncs Sutiuy, with Intelligent Christian
len and women, who. rescuol from gnrrer and
utters. ure now reputable citizens, enjoying |
le fruits Of their industry. and relating with
rateful hoarts the ntscries Of their past, the
,ys Ut their present. and the hopes Of their |
uture. By uil who "went to scutf, but re- t
mined to pray" Jerry McAuley and his excm- !
larry wife IRE regarded With atYecdon, and will
G remembered with gratitude.
Let US cpntrNst the lAbors OF two prominent !
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