Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-18
POPULAR PREACHER.
Graspink AT the Stars and Trying 40
Solve the UnknOWabIe-EImW WOod
and the Church.

10 inc EuitOrs Of the n AplSni-
The writer went with the crowd Sunday
night TO hear a popular preachers de-
servedly popular preacher, in that he seems
possessed of all those qualities that sppeal
to the generality OF hearers; the possessor OF
talent, great gift OF ele9uence, an mex
haustible command of words, and deals with
live issues in a lively manner. man who
gives Moses the credit of being the frat evo-
lutionist and who, hopeless of making the
scientists conform to scripture, amiably pro-
poses TO conform scripture TO science, is sure
OF respectful hearing in these times of
speculation and unsettled convictions.
His Interpretation OF apparently irercou-
cilable points of difference between
the story OF creation as told in the
Book of Genesis and as auihoritatively as
serted by geologists is a skillful piece OF in
duction, a mastery adjustment Of means to
ends. To the ignorant (amoIg whom the
writer humbly ranks herself as chieD il is
30 mastery and plausible that any timorous
soul who is anxious but afraid, to accept
the rational theory of the geologist in pref
erence 10 the six-day wonder OF the patri-
arch, will sigh a sigh of blessed relief at
being accorded the privilege Of exercising
his reasoning faculties without risk Of cast
ing any discredit upon that time-honored
record, the Book OF GeResis. Such is the
force of early training and the power OF SUI
persttioD, that in spite vf all cur boastiul
assertions 10 the contrary, the majority OF
us still dare only whisper our doubts and
fears concerning the reliability OF Moses'z
assertions. We are afraid 10 disbelieye that
marvellous assertion th at this wondrous world
and all that therein is was created in one insig-
nifcant little week. II We muster courage to
say out loud, 81 don't believe a word OF il"
we feel very much as might an impertinent
child who has just charged bis grandfather
with fb. On the other hand, such is the
still cliDging habit of reverence for the pull
pit and everything that emanates therefrom,
that we hail with exceeding great delight
permission from that high source to credit
the rational rather than the marvellous
How the popular preachers rstiocinations
would hold against the powerful blasts OF
theologians of the old school is an
other question. We listened to some
beautiful imagery in that discourse
notably parallel between the diamond and
man, each, in place, the high hest expression
OF organic and inorganic possibilities. The
image WAS fine conceived and admirably
we'll sustained, and the sentences in which it
was conveyed sparkled with the brilliancy of
the diamond.
Again, the theory of the armament being
gradually eliminated by the power OF eeniri-
petal andt centrifugal forces from one grand
central ineandescent mass (the SUM while
gratifying 10 the Z q of sff fass
the theory of special sssa, stll. ese-ns, to
less advanced understandings, violently op-
posed to the statement "And God made
two great lights; the greater light to rule the
day, and the lesser light TO rule the night; he
made the stars also" Gen. 1-l6. But the
way out of all such difficulties l believe, is
to lay it on the translators. Either God old
not create the sun, and the moon, and the
stars, or the Hebrew Bible never said that he
did.
G. uba+ bat-aan ottr faa-u that all thie
time we are reading the Bible wrong, and
our still greater fears that the scientists and
the Ingersolls and all the rest of the disturb
ers of public peace are just laying so many
traps for the unwary, poor bewildered hu-
manity may we'll ask "What shall we do to be
sayed?" rnd turn with eager curiosity toward
the man who promises TO reconcile the irrecon-
cilable for them. II 1882 years has not proven
sufficient length of time for generation after
generation OF wise men, who devote their
time and wisdom to study on that one subject,
to settle the teachings OF Christ beyond
peradgenture, what hope for young men TO
come to any conclusion, whose day is but
span long.
One is apt to be very exacting with men
who grasp such tremendous issues az the
conflict of science and religion with the bold
assurance of one who has conquered every
difficulty, and to resent being suddenly sum-
moned from the glittering nights OF sublime
speculation concerning the awful mysteries
OF creation TO consider the teachers own
small personality, and follow him through
the trivial by-path OF oomplaeent retrospec.
ton while he tells US how and when and
where he first began to think of his own
responsibilities. 1t jars upon ones sensi-
bilities to be called upon suddenly 10 descend
from rapt contemplation of a great "cen-
tral nebula" casting off dazzling succession
of luminous planetary masses, 10 the move
ments (most creditable moyements) OF an
ambitious youth, who found his way from
the cornfeld to the college, and thence, of his
own vaulting ambition, to the boundless
fields of theological conjecture, The born
leader sinks his own individuality in the
cause he espouses. The true teacher deals
only with the teachings he would impress.
/ do not recall an occasion upon which the
Savior of man digressed from His text 10 tell
the story OF the Babe in the manger TO the
listening multitudes. The earlier part OF
that Sabbath day had been spent among the
peaceful beauties OF Elmwood Cemetery, and
as the writer sat under the gaslght. later on,
listening to the popular preachers flow OF
eloquence-an eloquence that almost per-
suaded-her thoughts reverted from the
quick who were sitting there in teverish,
anxious, questioning unrest, TO the dead out
yonder, under the cool nj ht shade, watched
by the ett rnal stars life's fitful fever over,
and above the popular preachers voice
sounded the words: ''For man walketh in a
vain shadow and disquietelh himself in
vain" The least among those quiet slet pers
is wiser than the wisest upon earth, who is,
after all, only more or less skillful guesser
at the great unknowsble.