Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-23
1.-The Arguments for the Being of m


say at the outset that do not regard q belle
In God as founded ultimately on reason.
hold 1t rather TO be natural and universal
although vague, belief, arising cut of sell
consciousness. The personality OF God i
proved by the argument of design. Tn
fret cause is known to be intelligent and ire
hy the manifest traces of intelligent purpos
Ia the constitution of the world. We ar
struck BY the fact that there is coincidenc,
and cooperation OF physical or eficien
causes Tor The production of certain effects
But our observation goes further. We invol
UNFAIRLY assume that this coincidence oil
causes is in order that peculiar and specific
result may follow. 1t admits of no question
that observation of he order and design in
nature proves that there has been a design.
ing mind concerned in its origination, and
the rules OF nature must have been designed
Naturalists cannot describe plants or ami.
mails without constantly using language
which implies intention as revealed in struc.
ture. The human body in its relation 10
mind is another evidence OF design. The
mind itself Is the product of organizat ion
and every purpose which the mind forms is a
phenomenon OF matter necessary in its
origin as the motion of the lungs.
| Ihe physical and moral arrangement of
the sexes TO each other which result in the
family, In the production and rearing of off
| spring, the relation of the family to the
| State, and the relation of family and state 10
the kingdom OF God SIS evidences of pre-
| conceived plan are overwhelming. When
we see preconceived purpose carried out we
are obliged TO trace the operation to an in
| telligent author
| "Kapi has two criticisms on the argument
\ OF design. The first is that ii can go no fur
ther than to prove an architect or Trainer OF
| the world, and not the creator of matter;
but the conclusion that the author OF the
order which is wrought in and through mat
| Ter algO the hnr nf the is
irresistible. How God creates is a mystery
which cannot be fathomed, at least until we
know better whatmatter is; but whatever mat
ter Is in its essence, we know that there is an
ultimate unconditional cause which is intel
Igent and free, and suppose that by the side
self-existeut being.
"The second difficulty raised by Kant lis
that strictly infinite being cannot be in
ferred from finite creation. All that can
be inferred with certainly is an immeasura-
bic power and wisdom. The validity of the
objection may be conceded. The infnity of
The attributes OF God cannot be understood
by the finite mind, but the attributes are
partially disclosed TO us in the order of the
hnlte world. 1t is sometimes said that the
order OF the universe is possible because il
actually ID. The question, however, is
whether it is possible without an intelligent
cause. The doctrine of evolution is not in
consistent with the argument from design.
Evolution processes to explain the origin oil
different species of animals and plants by
the agency of second causes"
Prof. Fisher then argued at length that
evolution was in reality perfectly consistent
with the theory of the existence of |
first cause or divine being, and said
There is therefore no reason why pious
people should be thrown into such panic |
by The doctrine of evolution" DR.. Deems |
int Il
professor would say that last sentence little |
louder" The sentence was repeated and |
the professor continued: at is objected to |
the belief that God is personal, that personal |
Implies Limitation and that a personal God |
could not be infinite and absolute. But
when l say that God is infinite mean that
He can do rif things; -Ghat-no amount of
power can be added to the power of which
He is possessed. 1t is only when infnity is
taken as the source of all existence that |
personality is made to be incompatible with
Gods infnity-is such conception of Him
as Is needed for the satisfaction of the rea-
son or the heart of man. Enough that He
Is the ground of the existence of all things
outside OF Himself and was the creative and
sustaining power. There are no limitations
oil His power which He has not volun-
tarily set. The moral argument for the ex-
lstence of God is based on the conscience, /
and through the conscience His character as
righteous ruler Is Establishes" |
said there was no argument outside of reve- {
alton which proved triune God.
MIRACLES AND THEIR PLACE IN CHRISTIAN
EVIDENCE"
DR.. Fisher said in opening, claim to have
| supernatural origin, the sanction of God,
Ind revelation made by Him. In the {
Early days of its life its apostles denied that ]
heir religion was OF man, but of the one {
Tod, supernatural and also the God ruling
natural causes. To aid them in their teach
ngs of the Deity they were given the power
If performing miracles as means of show :
ng the unbellevipg that they were the rep
esentatives OF the true God. The purpose i
# christianity is 10 restore man to 1
with God, from whom he had /
placing pardon and publication {
within his reach. Miracles were not append I
lges but part of the plan. They were the n
credentials of the apostles necessary ele- I
neHts in the PRONUNCIATION of christianity, +
'isible evidence of the power of God. a
Miracles do not clash with natural laws. \
hey are merely sn overcoming OF the forces
nature by Supreme will, as the law v
I gravitation is overcome by human i;
ill wheH a ball is thrown into the !,
ir. Miracles are no more Inconsistent s
nth natural laws than is the lifting +,
{ the hand by an act OF mere volition. &
vents are happening daily seemingly con- n
rsry to natural causes or reason, which 3,
annot be explained until we know the G
auss. There was no disturbance of uni 2
ersal harmony in Christ's miracle of the q,
uring of the paralytic. 1t affected but W
ngle case. Miracles cannot be inharmonious q,
18th the system of being of which nature W
but part. The belief in the miracles ia a,
OF, however, a necessity to the attainment | ~
the christian faith. They were necessary .,
My 10 the introduction of the faith. The n
oubting craved some manifestation as an
Elective character. They wanted some at
station of the claims of the teachers, and
lie supernatural was shown by miracles by
hrist and his apostles, who were given this II
over to convince. The evidence of power
Iual with and characteristic of God being
wen, the inchoate faith rose to an assured
,nfidence. Christ's resurrection from the
cad was the supreme miracle and part OF =
lie plan of redemption. Miracles are the V
atural complenents of internal evidence. m
he two sorts of proof had mutual support, L
nd conspire together TO satisfy the candid n:
quirer that christianity is of supernatural ii
'igin. OF
In the discussion that followed Prof. M
isher said he considered all mir cles on the ct
me footing 80 far as possibility goes, but as al
whether they actually occurred is ques- OF
On dependent upon the testimony, Their DC
,iect, he stated to DIR. Abbott, was to give II
assurance of divine authority 10 inquiyers q
iving an incipient faith. The question was m
Used as TO whether miracles were performed u
the present day, as In answer to prayer for re
e sick, tor rain, or in the rescue of a party hi
sufferers, as cited by the late DR.. Bushnell. ed
rolf. Fisher said he saw no reason why they co
uld not be performed now as they were in dc
.ars gone by, and said he was not prepared su
say that miracles are not performed now. r.
e should not be incredulous in cases sup "a
,rted by undoubted testimony where other es
ristians might be of supernatural inter- lii
ntion. There are phenomena that cannot wi
accounted for by natural causes, and In
cannot deny that these are supernatu- nc
I. DIR. Deems asked if one must be- ga
we in all recorded miracles, those of the Bl
osaic dispensation, the prophetic period ps
ID the christian dispensation, all of which ut
emed designed to enforce belief in the dis pr
.nsatious OF each period, or could he reject Sc
e miracles of the fiery furnace and Daniel re
the lions den, and accept that of the p
surrection of Christ? Prof. Fisher an &C
,unced that it would be unreasonable TO oil
lieye in an occurrence simply because it "a
as miraculous 1t was a question of record, "
and the theory of the inspiration II
the Scriptures which the investigator er
lids. We believe in the miracles because 80
e believe in Christ, not in Christ because al
the miracles.
Victor Hugo's Demented Daughter. CO
Victor Hugo has a daughter, Adele, who W
Is now for the past ten years been the in ca
ate of private lunatic- asylum in the in
.ighborhood of Paris. She is now about |
ty years of age, and the story is sad one. th
,me eighteen years ago she fell in love with Ell
naval officer, who had some property in
ngland and several estates in Trinidad. A
er relatives were opposed to her marriage.
1t as che was of full age she carried her p'
lint and the newly married couple pro- | er
eded to the West Indies. After few years b;
life together the commodore abandoned v
3 wife, whose previous eccentricity under B