Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Cheer Hiui with Kind, Good W O rds
of sympathy.

Cheer Him on with Kind, Good words
of syIspsthy.
To the Editors OF the Appeal:
The very wise, eloquent and anonymous
article in your issue of Tuesday, can hardly
be considered other than "a hit, very pal
pable hit" at one of our most popular
preachers. In brilliancy of expression, it
rivals even the reverend gentleman's finest
efforts, but he cannot fail to fall meath the
rhetorical shower; the sharp hailstones of
irony, which the fair writer relentlessiy hurls.
Whether the impulse, thus to cast a slur
upon the efforts and opinions of deep and
earnest thinker is begot of malice or dissent,
is hard to conjecture, so skilffully does the
writer cover up the scathing track with the
balm of compliment and honey of sweet
words. Her lingering faith in the fable of
Moses is yet mistaken, although it de-
serves as little credence as the -Ovidian pee =
ping of the world. Her faith in the eight
cen centuries OF test, which it has SO
lar undergone, still buoys her up and she
seems TO return devout thanks that she has
not fallen victim to doubt by the wayside.
There lives more faith in honest doubt be-
lieve me, than in half the creeds;" perhaps
your correspondent has not yet crossed this
poetic sentiment which SO fully re-
lieves and satisfies our conscience
for want OF reverence. Our cling
ing habit OF reverence has grown so ancient
with the cobwebs of faith, so musty with the
dust of creeds and so threadbare with
schism that It's renewal is scarcely possible,
except selected anew by reason and in the
light of modern truths. That this popular
preacher has sought to break from the
chains OF bigoted and unreasonable dogmas,
should he be thrust back, should he be ostra-
cised? That he attempts TO solve for US the
inexplicable, should We not rejoice? That
be gives US the least of stones upon which to
rest our feet, should we not encourage him?
''Let him who is without sin cast the first
stone" was the command of a Master, whom
your anonymous no doubt recognizes, and
which command is duly taken advantage Of.
Whether words Of reason and truth come
from Mohammed or Buddha, from Christ or
from Jew, they should surely exact resp CT
and attention, if not belief and conviction.
Whether the unknowable is expounded to us
by Descartes or Newton, by Swedenborg or
Talmage, we should long for every atom of
light that could possibly lead US to final
truth. Our minister's path was from the
eernfeld to the depths of theological conjec-
ture, though perhaps not with the blessings
and cares that lay between the manger and
the cross; it may have had even its Geth-
semanes of prayer aud Calvarys OF agony.
He has said himself that he has wrestled in
the depths OF despair with atheism and I'M
belief-that he has passed through seas of
doubt to the firm conviction of Immortality.
The silent dead of Elmwood are not more
enjoying the reality OF the life hereafter
than its surety is implanted in his heart.
That he gives US this comfort is sufficiently
soothing, and the weary soul troubles itself
not with scientific conjecture. ssoR.
DELICIOUS medicine is DR.. Leslie's Qui-
nine Wine. Can be taken by children and
others, where quinine cannot.