New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-17
ARGUMENTS ON UNBELIEF.
1NGrRsnLL Ar BooTRs THEATRE.

INC4ERSOLlI Al BOOIdD luEA1AAAs
A VERY LARGE AND ENTHUSIASTIC AUDIENCE
ATTACKS ON WHAT COLONEL INGERsoLL CON-
sIDERs sUPERsTIuON-THE SERMON on THE
MoUNT-sYsTEMs or THR sECTs.
The audience which greeted Colonel niger
soil in Booths Theatre last evening taxed the ut
most CAPACITY Of the building and was Of better hp-
pearance and seemingly more intelligent than
Sunday night gatherings outside OF the churches
usually arc. Before the opening OF the doors all Inc
seats stairs nod and seats in the galleries
we're at q premium. Waen tho doors we're opened there
WAS a rush for admission. and 1t continued
until after 8 o'clock that the appearance
OF the lecturer delayed fully twenty
minutes. He was warmly received, and II
was evident from the frat that he had sympathetic
audience Throughout the entire lecture which lasted
two hours and quarter, there an almost continual
ripple OF laughter and much applause A marked
success with his hearers was obtained he placed in
iuxapositlon what he claimed to be contradictory eX
tracts the Gospels. But the audience seemed To
be most enthusiastic when he denounced tho convent
system OF The Roman Catholic Church. Then, Instead OF
the usual clapping OF hands and laughter there Wa'
cheering which for the moment interrupted the course OF
the lecture The OF the lecturer such that
nc appeared to take his audience into his confidence,
and his frequent remark THAI II won't DO coupled
with al nimtabe shake of the head at the conclusion
Of nearly every illustration never failed to cause
laughter
heard through tho continued applause winch
greeted his appearance the platform said he wished
so tar as could get what he called superstition
Of their minds tor in his Judgment there was no Goa
In Heaven who wOud give a bird wings Ond then damn
HIM for 4, ingi who would give tc man BRAIN ana
then punish him in GulfS OF eternal hame
for expressing his honest thoughts We must remember
that We had bcCu taught from our cradles that there
was some infinite tyraUt high who was
making notes Of tGOughts. Courage stood erect III
lis honest expressions OF thought faith crouhed and
crawled auG put lips IN the dust OF humiliation and
fear. Did we believe that God would crown stu
pdity and damn intellect Did it not strike
one that heaven wOald become monOionons
with everybody arguing the question
on tho same side, and that Il would thEH even that
country with thrill OF Joy for soul To say, once IN
three four Lousand years No. that Is not NY opin
ion - Baspht ny has been considered greater crime
than even the shedding OF human blood. You could
moi sin against God because yOu could innrc him.
Yun could stu against your fellow man because you
could decrease his happiness ana Increase his
uIscry. And yet. for al these thousands OF
years mer had been len thousand times ms
afraid 10 think they had hern 10 commit crimes
against their fcllcwlncn. II WAS lime. lie said. hat
men Loud he cnfranchised from fear. Fear the
dungeon Of the mind and superstition nr dagger with
winch hypocrisy a9sas sInHirs the souls OF non.
This concluded Colonel Incrr-ol's general introduc-
ton MS subject ana he next referred to the Christian
amc und the pov"r' drunk ennesS and crime OF Great
Britain. the nrst Chrisa" nati" 81 ihc world Chris
iian nations were The h'tt "'TlAt &" INC world lnVrni
canton that will how Can ian brdiUn mt eici
ma frost than ATTY uher cttnn Hnd you ID asa
millionaire rs get your patent. Tacn Tho
lecturer essay ed to give tie history ~ the CHRISTIAN ss
ten, going back Ia the account al The
Grafton. aud describing the alleged errors
therein In n.ch The same wrris as nre used 10y
ia his published lecture. Sou' stuke- OF Moses"
In Tower OF 3abci aud lie Flood he wen on 10 the
time Of Inc Mosaic d-prnsAtion, wn'n God.
al "a a In nj ff.
WORLD. took tribe, the Jews. and thought
III, would what IIr could do TO rIviIz them To
ga. love He them pr~iiirrr anu famine aud
"ayr giving laws TO the people. Bnl iilry
cot worse and Finally lie civil zrd
ma 20 slti . i-;r.' tltt ihy killed Him tue hs@i
Sp aEine Of tie rcrrInony OF sacrifice Colocl Inrcr
soil said That for many ycHr- people wci" iau"t that
when they DID mem thing they must XII
the bocg with Ce,tnn crime thu Womb b. credited
with one shcci' Now. whcu the Chris,i old s"nr.
Thing wrong he sIlnpt so !. Cniig" ~ Dlrng all
thOst n1n was tau-n a. "a IN annual cuuid ,ut'r
IN hls ra1ss lac; 9n""y WE "'re TOO in'' Ga
comb he credited vita H. vrinc, CHRIST lie uid not
want 60 10 heaven the virtue, Of ANYBODY else.
e winged panJrr "i thc sk'. I". hlir'n py-oln' re
sad. tat has o. tclicyr something, whether br
nrei Taught by Jesus Christ but he fudr.-
vorcd 10 show by guoi1tlo rom The G">rcI
' ,csI ,nto ihc Nm Trsia,i,nI Er lain, ,, b had
Sermon &C. Mount, AM argued iha' Chr!-t- or
Vbns' character Il man b. expressed adu,ri-
tlon-uowhrre mentioned belief IN mtpI-m
the Z uItV. church M Ub- lip 10 be uiIal
{" eciGal salvation. CbrN I'D Eri sIy Wud .nut
keeping Suni g. loving tn Lud hr!lry ia tLr
IHblc Jonah AM Tie WhHi" lie preached
love and human iHrglycUc-- J. H. this world
ngaIn Er On. lccturrr would Oh" lis ;rcijd would
probably b. cti'td uiHn 20 defend II IA from
fhc clergy. WIN wrir Away ready swap
treasures Of Heaven Tor hard cash. Chrl-i'-
trainings were not 81 cr'c.s. hd! uf dee ,'s.
G"', de taught wculh iiy"tt wao g'y.oiaci-,
;lit wo,3d be al io .hr hrTnl lnIlr t. iat ov
iHs gentle to thC gru;l". far ICei WI. CON
ned ~ counted Crrrst Of ilis side.
XDC rn rrirrrcd tO tilr differences hrtvrrn
me sy9tcmr uf The vail. rs s,ct-. ia. Roman
Cathode rcdGiOn, DC sald, dominated hIIIm
ftrrd1m IL rpan Il Stood rolsfuy crcr ;
The CnIcd Suites II cJd"lrd ..rd crOurh"h.
Tie u.ON" the samr; ~" IttIt only n. red.
1he system he described AZ nfi"'.. aud drtw
picture OF the Young glrl VINO was led to To- 1--we that
nv hiding from the sunshine, by avoiding
ull eAifh's ettOymtuiS Rl human iny aud
affection. siis cou q !rasuIp the Iuhuitr
Being madc SGch tnunstruiis h,pocrt.v. q
made his blood colo. IaI rapidly dr.cflb
the salient features the crrcd- ~ III, -rcts from
bis point o. view, hc next stated what he w,uid
gilc IN plaza OF item. HIS Gospel. he said
81 iheriy, Of Justice. ~ intelligence There an
fahhitc Beng who gave reason II that might
IL ana upon lllia rock he stood.