Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-16

ingersoll were statesman, instead Of mere
politician, he would see good and sufficient rea-
son for the forbearance to legslate directly upon
the subject. He knows probably that the in
huenee OF the Christian church alone, and with
out the aud OF state enactments has extirpated
his bad feature of Asiatic manners wherever its
doctrines were CARED
will present some of the considerations which
would compel me, wereI judge or juror in the
cause, (the acceptance of Christianity, to de-
eide it just as it was decided originally. First,
there is no good reason to doubt that the
statements Of the evangelists, as we have
them now, are genuine. The multiplication Of
copies was a sufficient guarantee against any
material alteration of the text Mr. Ingersoil
speaks Of interpretations made BY the fathers
of the Church. Ali he knows and all he has
ever heard on that subject is that some Of the
innumerable transcripts contained errors which
proves the present integrity of the documents.
Second, call these statements dispositions, be-
cause they are entitled to that kind Of credence
which We give to declarations made under oath
but in much higher degree, for they are more
than sworn to. They were made in the immedi-
affect the conscience Of an atheist-neither
would an oath-but these people manifestly be-
lleyed in judgment after death, before q
God OF truth, whose displeasure they feared
above all things. Third. The witnesses
could not have been mistaken. The
nature of the facts precluded the posi-
bility of any deluson about them. For every
averment they had ''the sensible and true avOuch
of their own eyes" and ears. Besides, they were
plain-thinking, sober, unimaginative men, who,
unlike Mr. Ingersoll. always under all circum-
stances and especially in the presence of eterni-
ty, recognized the difference between mountains
and clouds. 1t Is uncomfortable how any fact
could be proved by evidence more conclusive
than the statement of such persons, publicly
given and steadfastly persisted i'm through every
DorSpcnfiAD forf
to the last agonies of lingering death. Fourth.
Apart from these terrible tests. the more Ordi-
nary claims to credibility are not wanting. They
were men Of unimpeachable character. The
most virulent enemies of the cause they spoke
ana dled Tor nave never suggested reason for
doubling their personal honesty. But there is
affirmative proof that they and their fellow
disciples were held by those who knew them in
the highest estimation for truthfulness. Where
ever they made their report it was not only
Deneved, but believed with a faith so implicit
that thousands were ready at once to seal it with
their blood. Fifth. The tone and temper of
their narrative impress us with q sentiment Of
profound respect.
1t does not appear that the statement of the
evangelists were ever denied by any person who
pretended to know the facts. What we call the
fundamental truths of Christianity consists of
great public events which are sufficiently estab-
Ished by history without special proof.
From the facts established by this evidence it
follows irresistibly that the gospel has come to
US from God. That Silences all reasoning about
the wisdom and justice of it's doctrines since it
is impossible even to imagine that wrong can be
done or commanded by that Sovereign Being
whose will alone is the ultimate standard of all
j Justice.
Judge Black. after making number of quo
tatiOns from Col IngersOlI, such as 1.-The punish
ment OF sinners in eternal hell is excessive"
Christians have been guilty Of wantOn and
wicked persecution. 1.-The gospel Of Christ does
not satisfy the hunger Of the heart - ''Christian-
ity is perniciOus in its moral effect" concludes
that Mr. lngersOll, as jealous apostle of the
gospel of dirt, must throw good deal of
mud and adds: when l answer that all we
have of virtue, justice intellectual liberty moral
elevation, refinement benevolence and true
wisdom came to me from that source which he
reyies as the fountain of all evil, am not
merely putting one assertion against the other,
Tor L have the advantage of speaking what
every toerably well-informed man knows to be
true"
An eloquent perOratiOn on the Christian re-
ligion concludes Judge Blacks article in this
striking and full-souled language Sc This re-
llgion has come down to us through the ages
attended all the way by righteousness. justice
temperance, mercy, transparent truthfuness
exuitlng hope and white-winged charity. Never
was its influence for good more plainly per-
ceptble than now. 1t has not converted. puri-
fed and reformed all men, for its first prin-
ciple is the freedom of the human will, and
there are those who chose to reject it, But to
the mass of mankind, directly and indirectly,
it has brought uncOunted benefits and bless
ings. Abolish it-take away the restraints
which it imposes on evil passons-silence the
admOnitions OF its preachers-let all Christians
cease their labOrs of charity-blOt out from
history the records of its heroic benevOlence-
repeal the laws it has enacted and the institu-
tions it has built up-let its moral principles be
abandoned and all its miracles of light be extin-
would we come to? need not
answer this question; the experiment has been
partially tried TIE French nation formally re-
nOunced Christianity, denied the existence of the
Supreme Being, and so satisfied the hunger of
the infidel heart for time. What followed?
Universal depravity, garments rolled in blood,
fantastic crimes unimagined before, which star
lied the earth with their sublime atrocity The
American people have, and ought to have, no
special desire to follow that terrible example of
guilt and misery.
sit is impossible to discuss this subject within
he limits of review. No doubt the effort to
be short has made me obscure. II Mr.. lngersOll
thinks himself wrOnged or his doctrines miscOn-
trued les him not lay my fault at the door CT the
Church, or cast his consure on the clergy
''Adsu,n qui feel in me conUe,'tite ftsT.u,n"