National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-04-12

Tho National Theatre was packed last night
to hear Colonel Robert G.. Ingersol's latest
lecture. What Must We DO to be Saved 2'
Colonel Ingersoll, in beginning, briefly paid
his respects to the Rev. Ananias Cook, as he
termed him, and denounced that gentcman's
statement that he (IngersolD favored ths dis.
seminatiop, though the mails of obscene liter.
ature as silly llo. He next read
a resolution offered by him and adopted by
the Liberal League condemning tho dssomi.
nation OF obscen literature, whether inspired
or uninspircd Then turning to the subject
matter of his lecture, Colonel Ingersoll said
that the question, what Must We Do to be
Saved p has agitatcd the world Tor ages, and
out of it have grown all the troubles the
world ever knew. In discussing the Christian
system, ho secs in Christ, back of all the
wrong that has been written in his name, u
serene, placid man, who was an inildcl in hi:
day, who hated wrong and tried 10 reform the
people whom God had failed to civilize. This
Christ had given to tho world a scheme by
which men arc to be saved, and this scheme
he would consider.
To begin with them, il Is conceded now by
educated men that neither Matthew nor Luke
nor Mark ever wrote a word of the Gospels
bearing their names; Christ never did; not
ono of his disciples did so far as we know
Tho Gospels were written by the Church.
which added verses whenever it suited their
then quoted extensively from the evangelists
named and also from the Gospel Of john and
summed up by pointing out that in all of il
there was not one word about belief, faith,
baptism, creed only that If you will forgive
others, God will forgive you. The
Gospels as we havo them were manufac.
tured by the early Church; they contradict
tho Sermon on the Mount and tho Lort't
Prayer; they have filed the world with horror
Ho said that ho had read all there was in the
Gospels on the subject OF salvation, yet about
1900 sects have each founded thoir special
doctrines upon 1t, and thus the Bible is like
the jugglcr's bottle out of which any kind OF
wine is poured which the audience desires
Colonel Ingersoll thcn considered tho various
croeds, from Roman Catholic to Unitarian, dc.
nOuncing each IN turn, declaring the latter
like suffers trading with both armies. He then
proceeded to show what science teaches.
First, wo want good health; let them teach
cooking; one good soup will do moro for the
happiness OF man than two new religious
systems. Let us understand and preach tho
gospel of health. Next the gospel OF cheer
Iulnoss and happiness. Most of Christians
always talk about death. Why should we
have always that shadow in tho pathway of
our life, shadow 50 black that we cannot
oven see the roses and violets blooming under
our feet? Why should tho grave be covered
with horror? simply because priests have stood
there a3 ut the gate OF eternity.
Then let US have the gospel of justice. God
cannot forgive sins; you have to settle with
the man you havo wronged, not with God.
want every man to understand that every
crime carries with 1t absolutely its own pun
ishmOut. You must reap what you sow, and
If you MI this world with unhappiness you
cannot expect to bo a very good subject for
Heaven. The gospel of intelligence Is tho
secret Of all human happiness Lot every
man, woman aud child DO taught TO think.
Religion has simply lived upon the credulty Of
mankind, and made of this world hell sim.
ply on tho promise of a heaven in the next
Then the gospel OF humanity. Let MS help all
fellow.crcaturos. There should be no more
war, but everything among nations. as b..
tween individuals should be submitted to ar.
bitration. win not tho Church do it2 No!
Theology breeds hate, The churches hate
each other worse than they do me-.
Above all we must get rid of the fear Of
death, Death Is the penalty of lifo II some
had not died, we could not live. Let us try
to live in the memory of somebody whose life
wo have made blessed. We will fud out
after u while that Il man cannot injuro another
without injuring himself; that doing right
will pay, and doing wrong will not. There
may be some things we may mover find out,
but one thing is surc-that the mau who docs
to his felowman as ho himself would he
done by will be saved, If any salvation is
necessary.