Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-14
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
@Curious Questions"

To the Editions of the Appeal;
Under the above head some really 'curi-
Gus" things appear in your issce OF the 10Th
Instant. 1t is alesded," and is without sigma
ture, and i. in the editorial page"-all that;
yet cannot think either Of the editors wrote
the "earious questions" with which that
more than hsif-colu@n article abounds.
Speaking Of the progres. Of science in the
lsst quarter Of a century IL is said that The
attention Of the world has naturally been
turned mainly toward material phenomena"
This is not so strange. But e,sno aside TOR
the next! ITO 90 great an extent has this
one aspect Of a great philosophical problem
absorbed thought, that even grave and brill
liant sapaas have not scrupled 70 attribute 10
matter power and potency sufficient TO pro-
duce all emotion, thought and moral serti-
nent." Now, who ever heard or read the
like of that before? Power and potency 10
produce emotion, thought and moral SETH
msntp' And these attributed to mere matter!
What grave and brilliant sapans" have ever
admitted so much concerning matter? A
schoolboy who would write such compost
ton for his Friday evening exercise ought TO
be turned back in all his studies and
be "kept in" besides, till he retrsct
his efusions Of nonsense. A half column
follows the above quotstion, without enough
Of point even 10 Justify an objection, yet it
seems to be beating around generally, az II
trying TO tx on something to oppose in the
creeds concerning immortality. Finally
Job and Jesus" are put in opposition to
each other BY misquoting Job and attributing
to Jesus" the words OF Paul. This Is the
siyle and depth of our SaVior's sending out
the "curious question: under notice. Yes,
Job Is 80 quoted 10 make him oppose the
dectriRe of the resurrection, whereas he says
himself that he expects that 10 his corporal
capacity he shall zee God after death. Sol.
ONION is made 10 bear testimony also gtinsi
the resurrection Of the human body BY quot
Jog incorrectly what he says concerning the
spirit of the beast and that Of man. The
quotation is co made as TO make Solomon
teach that there is in no respect at death
| and after any difference between q beast anC
msnkind, whereas he teaches the very
reverse of this. he holds that bath ar-
| Indeed alike in the mere fact that they both
die as animals. This is his point. But in
cidentally he plainly teaches the great diff
ference that the spirit Of man gees upwart
] ito God who gave i'll, while the spirit Of ths
beast goes downward. This downward
may mean no more than mere oblivion, ss
suppose il does, in contrast with the spirit o.
man that sscsudeth 10 God for iudgmen Mt
| and then for immortality in the eonseiAn.
nees oil the hades OF the rich man, or IN I'M
"rest that remaineth to the people OF God
have chosen to suggest these things be
cause we often OF late hear Boosting Of su
perior knowledge these latter times of wha
"science" teaches and how it overturns thu
vague notions Of Ignorant" but "enthusiss
tic" religionisls. Theee would-be scientist
too often expose their ewn ignorance, boil
of the Bible aud of science. Although tn
"curious question: referred TO appear Z
editorial, feel warranted in the belief tina
no editor Of that journal wrote the article
1t must have crept in by inadvertance some
how. wholesome lesson is found in the wis
man's "cencldsion Of the whole matter-fea
God and keep his commandments, for this
the whole duty of man." This clears ava
the dust and doubt created by "curiou
question" curious than wise-cor
corning mind and matter and their relatio
to each other. Some people seem detel
mined 10 be like beasts if there lie any chanc
to be go, and there generally ia, in some r,
specis. Why any erect biped should strai
the Bible and science both clean out OF 4
reason to make himself mere anims,,
cannot understand. DID. HooRE.