The Columbus journal., 1881-04-20
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.
what Bob lnger~olI Has 20 Say
ON tie Subieet.

ed for my smartness," said Robert
Ingersoll, before an spplauding
throng in the Brooklyn academy OF
music last night, shut I'll take my
chances" Mr.. Ingersoll's theme was
Liberty for Man, Woman and
Child" The lecture was under the
auspices OF the Young Mems Re-
publican club, the lecturer to have
half Of the net receipts A score of
tall young men in swallow-tsil coats
filed upon the stage, and last of all,
like an opera tenor rushing through
the chorus, came the lecturer, who
swiftly strobe to the foot lights, and,
without any ceremony, began:
ain my judgment, after all, it is a
question of intellectual develop
mentp T--g. rEr t.t.i
Mr.. Ingersoll has round head
and smooth, fat face. His hair is
gray and thin on top, and his eyes
are dark and bright. They seem al
most buried in his round cheeks
when he laughs. No public orator
gesticulstes so much with the top
most part of his body. Ingersoll,
with a stiff neck, might be worth
only 500 night. Now he refuses
offers at 5000 night. He tips his
forehead this or that way, and has
most effective nod. He throws in
an exclamation point with a nod.
"Honor bright" is favorite reitera-
tion. at won't dol" is another
which he emphasizes with a shake
Of the head. He is more theatrical
than Beecher or Talmage. He peo-
Piles the platform with imaginary
dummies, and then fails them to
the delight of the audience. By
constant recurrence to these he
keeps them before his audience.
Last night be had "a rude dugOut in
which fiosted a native ssvage-one
of our ancestors with teeth two
inches in length, with spoonful of
brains i'm the back of his head"
This, to start with, he seemed to
place at q certain spot on the stage,
and when he went over that way
the audience instinctively recalled
his description, aud was prepared to
hear something about the dugout.
Mr.. Ingersoll's voice is soft and
melodious. His manner and move
meDts upon the stage. with his
wonderful nod, are the elements of
his success as popular orator.
81 was once in the company of
some Baptist Minister'S" said In
gersoll. IL don't how I ever got
there, and they asked my opinion as
to baptism. l said that with soap |
regarded il as an excellent institu-
ton. Ii you tell me what a mans
religion is I'll tell you what is the
high-water mark of his intellect
just how many he carries to the
pound. When a man thinks that he
has found Ii all out, he is orthodox.
The man in dugout is orthodox.
Heresy is cradle; orthodoxy is a !
coffin. Heresy is a banner; ortho-
doxy is the shroud. Heresy gives |
new idea a welcome and a warm |
place by the fireside of his heart |
orthodoxy regards the new idea as
tramp. and keeps bulldogs in front
OF the house to frighten off every
new idea that comes along"
Referring to the lowest form of
skull that had ever been found, he
said that it was probably found in
Delaware. ..- 10
"There has not been a patentable
Improvement on the devil for 5000
years." said the lecturer. "I'll tell
you what causes bronchitis among
ministers. If you talk solemnly
when you don't feel it, that makes
bronchitis. Did you ever hear that
an auctioneer had it? call it par
sonitis. Laughter. This lie my
doctrine: Give every other human
being every right you claim for
yourself Keep your mind open to
the influences of nature. Receive
new thoughts with hospitality. The
religionist OF to-day wants the ship
of his soul to lie at the wharf of
orthodoxy and rot in the sun. He
delights to hear the old opinions
flap against the masts of old creeds.
He loves to see the joints and the
sides open and cape in the sun, and
il lie kind Of bliss for him to repeat,
DO not disturb my opinions AS
far as L am concerned, wish to be
out on the high seas. wish to take
my chances with the wind and wave
aud star. And had rather go
down in the glory and grandeur of
the storm than to rot in any ortho-
doI harbor whatever.
AFTER all, we are improving from
age to age. The most orthodox
people in the country two hundred
years ago would have been burned
for the crime Of heresy. The min
listers who denounce me for ex-
pressing my. thought would have
been in the Inquisition themselves.
Our fathers worshipped the golden
calf. The worst you can saw of an