The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-02-26
Mitchell vs. Christianitv.

l see Dy tile Duluth tribune OF the
Goth that more than column is de-
voted to the consideration of SER
mon by Rev. Mr.. Bible Of that city
on the Power of Prayer" in which
an effort is made to throw discredit
on wcll-authenticated illustration
used by that gentleman. Two facts
remain in spite of the writer's efforts
to throw discredit upon the case. viz !:
The .mother offered the prayer:
and the daughters strength was re-
stored. 1t matters not how many
persons say they do not believe it
was in answer to prayer. Negative
testimony from parties not present
does not invalidate facts. If offer
a prayer for a specific purpose, and
that purpose be gained, I have
right to believe that it was given in
answer to my prayer; and no matter
uow much you may try to prove that
that the result was brought about by
some other cause than prayer, the
fact remains that what asked for l
received. You might with as much
reason assert that when man goes
to store, asks for 20 yards of mus
lin. and gets it, he gets it for some
other reason than because he asks for
it.
For months the Duluth Tribune
has been filled with invectives against
christianity in general, and Duluth
clergy in particular. Mr.. Mitchell
seems earnestly to covet a cheap no.
toricty, and has succeeded most ad-
mirably in making himself obnoxious
to the better class Of Duluth society.
Like the Immortal J. n" he seems
to want his fellow-citizcns to look
upon him as a noble specimen of a
modern "martyr for the truth,' and
deems it his bounden duty to Gift
the. veil" and "assume the pressure"
Like Paine and 1ngersoll, whom he
:ranticalIy endeavors to initiate, he
mokcs use of the intiAel's onl y argu-
ment-ridicule. But his attempts to
use that weapon are as ''skimme'a
MILK compared with the rich ''cream"
Of Col. Ingersoll's sallies.
Their denial of God does not an
nihilate God. Their disbelief in the
Bible does not disprove its truth
Their disbelief in the power of pray
er, does not in the least destroy its
power; and many people of Duluth,
far above this would-be martyr in
mental ability and moral stamina,
will affirm their unshaken belief in
these things, Notwithstanding his ef-
forts to convert them.
In his paper - few weeks ago he
published an article on the fall of a
minister in Iowa, and in his CON-
ments he said in substance that ac-
cording to the christian religion any
man could commi adultery or any
other crime, and all lie had todo was
to cast his sins on Jesus, and his
adulterous and sin-blackened soul
would go to Abraham's bosom. No
Christian minister breaches that doc.
trine. That doctrine belongs solely
to REV. Mitchell's'' new theology,
as he is the only one who has taught
it. Repentance is u necessary condi-
ton Of acceptance, and then there is
decided difference between repent
ing and saying you repent. This is
only one instance of his misrepresen-
tations, and shows too plainly his nat
ural tendency.
His proposition to the clergy of his
city to have them read any 100 ver-
ses he may select is just what might
be expected from man of his nat,;-
raj iuclinations. He and his kind
live in moral dissecting room, and
take a fiendish delight in finding and
displaying to public gazc the moral
delinquencies of their fellow men.-
The Bible uses plain language, and
describes plainly the sins Of mankind
10 all honest truth~seeking person
they will have a plain meaning. Any
100 verses in that Bible may he read
before any Intelligent congregation
without shnme-f.cedness. There arc
some people, however, who are affiict-
ed with Il f.lse mo'lesty, or are given
to turning the true meaning of some
phrase or sentence into an unnatural
one. Before such people, and Mr.
/ Mitchell is prominent among them
it would lie Il useless task, for he and
they are always too ready to- give
to even the purest things of life ar
immoral and obscene appearance
They cannot look upon SUCH = heanti-
FL St,tue as Hiram Powers 'Greci,r
tSlave' without 4 lecherous leer alld
the most unl,oly thoughts and desires
In con1lusion I ,x1auld sou tl,Ak-