Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1881-07-31
BLACK AND INGERSOLL.

The discussion now going on in the
North american Revis,g between Judge
Black and Col Ingersoll will command a
great deal of public attention, but will
not result in changing the views
of half q dozen people in the United
States. For some years past Ingersol
has stood in the erena Of public dis
cussion and challenged the world to meet
him in debate Here and there have been
found ministers of the gospel who have
mounted the rostrum in reply. The news
papers have reported these discussions fair
ly to b,th sides, and what was the result !?
The Ingersollian ement laughed and re-
marked that Ingersoll had utterly crushed
aro.her preacher, and those of orthodox
faith wondered if the great intidel would
ever again have the termerity to appear in
public after receiving such signal defeat
at the hands Of q christian clergyman. Such
a form of discussion can never have the
slightest effect upon either inGdel or
christ an, from the fact the foundation on
which the testimony rests is not accepted
in common by the disput4nts. The
christian produces bible, which to his
mind is certified copy of al the evidence
necessary. He bases his whole case on
this evidence, but when it is produced the
infidel pronounces it utterly spurious and
worthless Called upon t. prove its spur
iousnees the in6del produces translations
of inscriptions found in old temples in
India and says: lyon claim that this New
Testament contains the sayings of Jesus
Christ, who lived less than two thousand
years ago. Here fnd the same language
inscribed in temples built thousand years
before Christ was born. How is this 2
The christian At once replies II do not be-
lieve that such inscriptions exist" There
can be no discussion on the subject after
this. as one brushes asidet evidence pro-
duced by the other. Thers are now in
existence, according to McCartby's Sta'isti
clan, upwards of one thousand and one
hundred religious creeds. Believers in
the Christian Bible amount to 35S, 900 900.
Believers in the religion of Budlha num-
number 1916, O0e, 600. The Jews number
6 ,000, 600. O,her As attic religions claim a
following of 26O, OOO, 900 and the in6dels
&c, OO0. 900. Thus while $50 ,0OO, OO) PEG
pie believe in the divinity of Christ much
larger proportion do not 1t is natural for
believers in any creed to hold that their
faith is not only the only true faith, but
that it produces better results in the lives
and conduct Of its believers. This is the
grand mistake which b. ings about all the
discussions and wranglings. Christians
do not look with sufficient charity upon
the faith of other people. Tie follower of
Mahomet sa'utiug the rising sun at
be ieves as firmly in his faith and
follows the precepts of tru b and justice as
closely as we do who on Easter morning
sing the anthems of the Resurrection. The
truthful ness, charity, humility and good
ness o the Buddhist would put to shsme
many who claim to be guided by the teach
ings # the New Testament. If the religion
of Christ has been attacked it is not be-
cause of its founder, but because of those
who profess q creed which they disgrace.
Should Christ be pronounced only an ordin-
airy morta his teachings would still stand
IS guide to any who wished to follow
them. Should his divine origin be estab-
lished beyocd doubt. the many who out
wardly profess his name and inwardly
repudiate him, would not change for the
better.