Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-19
The Future Life.

CATHOLIC PRIEST CN INGERsOLL's VIEWS
From the Philadelphia Record
No one who has ever heard IngersOll lecture
will deny that he is rare orator. His word
painting is wonderful his eloquence entrapcing
Thus far in his crusade against Christianity this
skeptic has appeared in the eyes OF his follow
ers giant against pigmies. He has en-
countered an adversary, however. seemingly
in every way his equal, even in his own
peculiarities Of rhetoric. to Judge from the fol-
lowing extract from sermon delivered on last
Sunday, on the occasion of the dedication of
the church Of the AnnunciatiOn at Kansas CITY.
Mo-. by Rev. Father David S. Phelan, we'll known
as the editor of the Western Waterman. Having
asserted that 1.-The idea of the soul and the
faith in it's immortality must have come down
from above. as earth could not have taught it,
nor could death have inspired it," the reverend
father said:
II there is no hereafter then life is one long de-
bauch, and the highest education is to Know how
to find and how best to enjoy pleasure II there is
no hereafter virtue is deceit and heroism is lie
see that young man bleeding from hundred
II there Is no hereafter, that nOblest OF deeds will
90 forever unreWarded. See that young sister in
the hospital bending over victim OF the plague;
tomorrow she VIII succumb, and rapid ride and
a hasty sepulture will reward her devotion. II
there is no hereafter her charity met sorry re-
qutal. See that man holding an afrrighted child
at the window Of a burning building He holds it
long enough for a sturdy companion to grasp it
from below, and he then falls back into his fiery
tomb. II there is no hereafter, such sacrifice is
heartless and unmeaning cruelty. See that troop
OF soldiers marching by to the beating of the
drum Their country has called, and they 60 to
that flag into the thick of the fight, and when the
bugle sounds the retreat few return from the car
mage. Those brave soldiers died with their face to
the foe, and smile was stamped on their features
in death. II there is no hereafter, their herosm
was suicide and their courage mockery OF fate
Earthly life is closed in death; the grave termi-
mates all cOnSOrt and association with things OF
time; but, waited above the bier, the wreck the
tomb, floats the sweet voice Of God, saying: 81
am the ltfe."
Contrast the above with the following from
one of Colonel Ingersoll's lectures, and, beauti-
full and tender as is the language of the irfidel
orator, that of Father Phelan loses nothing by
the comparison:
Next to eternal joy; next to being forever with
those we love and those who have loved us: next
to that is to be wrapped in the dreamiike drapery
OF eternal death. Upon the shadowy shore or
death the sea OF trouble casts no wave. Even that
never know again the touch of tears. Lips that
have been touched by The eternal silence will
never utter another word of grief Hearts of dust
do not break. The dead do not weep.
The Kansas City Journal, publishing the SER
mon, says that its subject matter was only
equaled by the grace and charm OF it's delivery
1t is hardly likely that Mr.. Ingersoll will at
tempt to ridicule this Catholic priest, as he has
SO many assumed defenders Of the Christian
faith. Father Phelan is apparently very diff
ferent adversary from some Of the pulpit
mountebanks Mr.. IngersOll has encountered
whose driyeling sentiment and lmping logic do
more to fnjure the cause of religion than even
Mr.. IngersOlrs fnsidiOus arts and eloquent
periods. Father Phelan is master Of the
weapons Mr.. Ingersoll uses, and the infldel
orator must eat porridge from his own dish in
an encounter with this Knight of the Cross.