The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-03-17
A GNOSTICISM.

In his discourse, at the opening of
the new chapel at Princeton, DIR. Nc
Gosh spoke as follows of Agnosticism
as the prevalent modern type of skep-
ticism:
"When thoroughly and conscien-
tlously carried out, it means that we
can not know anything. More fire.
quently it means that we can not dis
cover any truth beyond what the senses
reveal, that we can have no certainty
of spiritual truth, or, indeed, moral
truth, except as utility, or the power
of imparting pleasure. Only those
who have penetrated beneath the sur
face are aware how much this creed,
or want of creed or rather sentiment,
Is lowering the moral tone and relig-
ious faith of the educated young men.
1t is bred in the damps of the earth;
1t rises up and is in the air; it covers
the heavens from the view, and we
breathe 1t as malaria. 1t is easy to
show that it is suicidal. 1t is contra
dictory to maintain that we know, that
We can know nothing. But
when we have done this, we have not
destroyed the error any more than we
have killed specter by thrusting a
sword into it. For the strength of its
defense is that supposed truth is con-
Trajectory, and therefore not to be be-
lieved. The only way to mend it is to
stand firm, and to point to truth which
we know as being self-evident, and
which we are constrained to believe
What we have to do with those who
favor the system is to set the truth be-
fore them and let it shine in its own
light. We know that we exist, we
know that others exist, Proceeding
on IN the same way, we find that God
exists, that we are capable of knowing
the distinction between right and
wrong, and that we are responsible to
God for the deeds done in the body,
whether they have been good or wheth-
er they have been evil. We have a
strong evidence of the higher and spir-
itual truths as we have of the lower.
| have evidence that | exist, but
have also proof that God exists, the
Author Of my being. These men
would accept the lower truths, that can
be seen and felt, in pleasure and in
pain, in what they eat and what they
drink, in meat and in money, and
some are as anxious to secure as many
earthly goods as possible Their ag-
Mysticism, practically, and in fact, con-
sists simply in their affirming, and try
ing to persuade others, especially the
young men, that we can know nothing
of the higher truths, of moral and spir-
itual truths, of God, Of immortality,
and a judgment day. 1t is seeking to
kill the germs of spiritual life which
are deep down III our nature, so as to
keep them from terminating. 1t is
undermining the faith of the rising
generation, and holding back all the
aspirations Of the soul, which lead to
high ideals, and to deeds of heroism
and self-sacnfce. 1t can be shown
that we have good and valid proofs of
these higher truths Of morality and re-
hgion, even as we have of the lower
ones of sense and sight. If we neglect
either kind Of truth, evil consequences
must follow. If we do not eat and
drink, we must die. If we refuse to
believe in ethical and spiritual truth,
we offend God and must suffer the
penalties of a broken law, and live
without the grand belief and hopes
that elevate and cheer the mind God
is declared in His works. "The heav-
ems declare the glory Of God" the
whole earth is full of His praise. 1t
is the declared doctrine of Paul, and,
[ may add, of the highest philosophy
which ever carries us up to this high
region. The invisible things of God
are clearly seen, being understood from
the things that are made, even His
eternal power and Godhead. ;"