The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-09-24

Mr.. Editor:-lf 1t were not FOR the
fact that we have always cultivated
the disposition of treating kindly
and gentlemanly those addressing
themselves to us, particularly when
accompanied with the hope that our
acquaintance will not only prove
pleasant, but profitable as well to
them, we should not at this time be
found intruding into your columns,
remarks on an article in your Issue Of
August 18th, 1881, under the above
caption; for it hardly attains to the
dignity, nor does it contain the ele-
ments of an argument to which to re-
ply.
In view, however, of the disposi-
ton referred to, and lest silence
should be misconstrued, with your
permission, we will notice the con-
tents of the aforesaid article, in or
der.
Mr.. NJ, in the first place, states his
willingness to leave to the intelligent
reader, whether or not, his reply to
Mr.. n, is merely "a pleading or bold
assumption" and we, for the present,
are willing to submit the reply for
decision to the same tribunal, and,
therefore, ask the court what is an
assumption? Webster defines it "the
act of taking for granted or suppos-
ing thing without proof" In re-
ply to Mr.. Ms It'll query, Mr. NJ.
says, "he (Mr. NJ must remember
that as one (the body is material
and the other 1.-THE soul) is inmate
rial, &C." Now we ask, has he prov
en- the soul to be immaterial, or does
he not boldly assume it? We pre-
sumo the intelligent reader will read
ily distinguish between the assertion
of fact, and the proof of it.
In affirming that Mr.. Ms reply
was but special pleading or bold as
sumption, he charges US with pre-
sumptuously-which is but another
word involving the same idea as as
sumptuously-stating what is not
true, in the face Of what he calls
upon Mr.. N specially, to remember
but without having attempted it's
proof, to-wit: that soul is inmate
rial-the very question in issue. One
certainly cannot be presumptuous in
affirming of another what he himself
boldly declares. However, in max
this charge, he, unfortunately, placed
himself in an awkward position by
logically stating that public opinion
considers his reply what we have
termed it, and of that opinion we are
the oracle AS to what public opin-
ion considers his reply, he is, no
doubt better acquainted than we, and
we thank him for giving us the deci-
sion of the tribunal to which he has
submitted himself; but, as for being
oracles of any opinion, we make no
such claim.
In the next place, Mr.. M. says we
call Socrates foolish and devilish.
We did no such thing, but proved by
Paul that his wisdom was foolishness
with God, that the Immortality of the
soul taught by him was not the i'm
mortality of the soul taught by Jesus
and his apostles; for the reason that
the Immortality taught by them was
hidden in the times of Socrates, and
was only brought to light by Jesus,
through the gospel, by his resurrection
from the dead, which the disciples of
Socrates denounced. But, in reply
inc to the last charge, Mr.. NJ, has
committed an irreparable blunder.
He saws, "Socrates was the first mar
tyr to Theism-and lived up to his
light. all that is required of any
man." Then consistency is belief,
however erroneous that belief may
be, is all that is necessary for saliva
ton, according to his theory. Let us
then have no more light; for the
more we have the greater the respon-
sibility, and, therefore, less certain
the chances for salvation. There
fore. stop at once your expenditures
for Bible translations and distribu-
tons, your missionary enterprises,
and your colporter efforts; dismiss
Immediately the whole tribe of eccle-
siastics who live and fatten on the
hard earned substance of the masses
end leave the heather in the light
they have; for all they have to do is
to live up to thst, and that is all that
will be required of them. For it is
notorious they are far more consist
ent than the so-called Christians.
The proclamation of the gospel
is superfuous from Mr.. Ms stand
point. and therefore, if he is clergy
man, let him resign at once, and re-
turn to his flock the cash he has ia
ken from them for the useless stock
in trade he has been fraudulently
representing to be of Incompatible
and inestimable value, and tell them
honestly and plainly, to live up to the
light they have, for that is all that is
necessary, and caution them not to
seek after more, least they jeopardize
their prospects of salvation. Con
sistency is the one thing needful.
Allow me to introduce him to Mr..
voltair, MIR. Paine, and Mr.. Inger-
soil.
Mr.. M. next says, that he might
have saved us the laborious task to
prove him sinner. had he known
that we did not know all men are
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