San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-03-02
fngersOll VS. Major Penn.

We have several times been solicited by
the author to publish the following article,
but the FREE PRESS not being mach devot-
ed to polemical matters, we were obliged to
decline, save for n consideration" u hu-
initiation to which conscious genius, es-
pecially these hard times, WAS not inclined
to submit. But inasmucb rs it appears by
the following note which the author has
handed us, that number of our prominent
citizens are desirous of seeing the article in
print, we yield to their wishes, and casting
the responsibility upon them, give place to it
below.-EDIToR.
SAN MARCOS, Feb, Goth 1882.
EDITOR FREE Press: You will confer a
favor on the undersigned, by publishing MIR.
vogelsang's article, (Ingersoll versus Maj.
PENN in the FREE Press.
Respectfully,
J. l.. GLOVER, II. G. JOHNSON,
GID. G.. JOHNSON, i. p. RAYNoLDs
w. O. HUTCHINSON, THOs, H. FRANKLIN
s FISHER. ED. J. L. GREEN.
1NGERsoLL VERSUS MAJoB PENN.
The piercing light of IngersolPs reason
inps and the shortcomings of Penn's rell-
pious revivals are alike uncomfortable to
thinking men. Ingersoll denies the divinity
of the Bible and gives nothing in return I;
and Penn wants people to discard the rea-
soning faculties, and sign contract based
upon the plan of salvation in the gospel OF
ST. John. which he nor any one else under
stands. Nevertheless Penn and his focks are
happy; and Ingcrsoll and Others OF the same
stamp are unhappy; because human socl-
cites cannot holdwith safety such mighty
intellects in their folds, they are too large
for man and yet too green to be angels
RELIGION is a divine institution for the
purpose to act as a brake on the march OF
progress, else people would come to knowl-
edge before the allotted time; if the masses
of the civilized people We're endowed with
common sense and reason it would be an
inpednent to the divine programme. be-
cause they could then not be inspired TO
perform such fantastic capers in pubic and
private life. There is an old saying THAT
the union of science and religion is the mar
riaoe of heayen and earth The time is on
hand for a new world when science will stoop
and religion rise and harponize with science
Then neople will see things as they really
are inspirations and humbugs. will cease !;
all RELIGIOUS and other isms Will resolve into
one natriotisln and with divine permission
the principles of the ancient tower OF Babel,
will be law supreme. ~.
Thirty wears ago I thought and felt as
Penn: and if 1 had remained with some
religious creed it would perhaps have Deen
better for my personal welfare. Free
thought brought me to degree where IN
oeysoI is now but did not stop there, was
| after the whole truth. The prominent phll-
osophers did not satisfy, L formed an eX-
,,lanasion of man and nature Of my own and
| It satisfied my curiosity about here and 4efe-
after. Accidentally found that my dlscoV-
cries were in accordance with the astronom-
icsl, geological and meteorological teachings
! of the Bible. and close inspection confirmed
the fact that the bible Is OF divine orislll
and that its prophecies do not come WITHIN
the reach of human Interpretation be
cousa the foo,ishness of God is wiser than
men and the weakness Of God Is stronger
| than men. u Cor I-25.) On these grounds
! il is possible to explain the p, 2S aud 2Jth
verses of 1 Cor -I,-''But God hath chosen
| the foolish things of the world to contouno
the wise. and God hath chosen the Weah
! tb.nus of the world to confonnd the thlng'
which are mighty, and the base things ci
t6e World. and things which are despisec
hath God chosen, yea. things which are no
! to bring to nought things which are, ina
no fesh should glory in his presence.
Nv belief, that the prominent meh
history have ueen inspired 20 peform dralnl
accoriing to divine programme. illustrated
in the Bible and the great pyramid fC
the amusement OF angels, has not been ahak
en- of late wears. But the main object o.
man on earth is to multiply, because ths
earth is built for a nursery of souls 70 De
come an higher order of beings; and on the
same principle that atoms build nature, d.
vine architects build and regulate the uni
verse. It's not necessary that man snonh
know the details Of his occupation hereafter
else the Bible would have explained IT. lie
Eyiou i as aecessary as brakes TO q railroad
mt If all christians were 10 be oTthodo1
there woald be no progress freetninkeIn' :
and inventors q the age lGing forth theu
tbonghts according to tie divine Trogr'alltin'
and tbe ureates1 inches and knOvledge make
none OF then hapyy. Solomon sad 30 anl
the GREAT Hurnfoldi has repeated ~
The Bible i not the Only inspired book
iSs.tssr,eare. Schiller. Gusthe, and othei
= -rara a rruch iueTl7ed as SL Paul