The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-11-10
Mr.. JOHN {. REMSBURG DELIVERS AN
ELOQUENT ADDRESS BEFORE THE
NEW YORK FREETHlNKeRS.
In Which He Analyses the Claims Of the
Church That She is the Conservation
Of Public Morals
He Pronounces Those Claims to be False
aud Gives Various Reasons for His
Positive Judgment.


craft nouEshes and the Christian church is
upheld There are In Christendom 10000
priests. and $1,000 100000 worth OF ecclesiastical
property. To these priests are accorded privi-
leges accorded to no other men, while this vast
accumulation of wealth is exempt from the
burden Of taxation. And whyY because, aside
from the truth or falslty OF her dogmas, II is
claimed that the church has done. and is doing,
a boneAcent work for mankind. propose to-
day to meet these supporters Of the church
upon their own ground, and discuss this sub
teot from utilitaran rather than from a radl-
cal standpoint
THE CHURCH AND MORALITY.
II IL claimed that the church ia the conser-
vator OF public moras-the great moralzlng
agent of the world This claim is false. The
church is not promoter of morality. Chris
tianity is system Of religion, and religion and
morality are not synonymous terms. A re-
llgion is Il system Of faith and worship pertain
ing to an imaginary being called God; morality
pertains to the conduct Of men rs social beings
in relation to each other Religion is supposed
to relate to the welfare of man in future life
and In another world; morality relates to the
welfare of men now and here. Christianity
ignores morality. Many Of its dogmas are ut
terly demoralizlng in their nature.
Take the doctrine of total depravty, or
moral depravity, IL you please. What effect
has belief in this dogma upon morality? To
believe this doctrine you must feel that you
are living example Of its truthfulness; you
must be depravOd. Take little child; toll II
that 1t is poor, dcpraved wretch; instill this
into Its mind from day to day. and what is the
result This child becomes low, immoral
being-a Christian, so far as the doctrine Of
moral depravity is concerned.
Take the doctrine of vicarious atonement.
Has the human brain ever conceived more
infamous idea than thisg The idea that the
wrath of a mercilul God can only be appeased
by the sacrifice OF his innocent Son Here lisa
father with family OF children; all of them
are depraved Williams save one, bright and
noble boy. The father has become so enraged
at the conduct OF his vicious children, that the
only way he can become reconciled TO them ia
by having them murder this innocent child
This murder atones for all their crimes.
Washed in the blood of their murdered brother,
they become pure and holy. BY this act they
merit and obtain the renewed affection of their
parent. such doctrine is shocking 10 every
sense of justice, is antagonstic to every prin-
ope of morality
Take the doctrine of forgiveness for sin
What effect has this upon public morals2
Teaching that the effect of cause can be ar
rested-that the penalties of violated law can
be evaded-is license for crime. Suppose that.
Governor Cleveland were TO issue procama-
ton proclaming that all convicts now con-
fined In the prisons at Auburn, Albany aud
Sing Sing would be released by simply making
application for pardon and expressing regret
for the various crimes committed; suppose
that he should so further and proclaim that in
the future all persons committing crime would
be granted a full and free pardon by comply
ing with the same provision. What effect
WDuld this haVa the n
StateY Now, this is just what the church
teaches respecting her moral Governor of the
universe. This doctrine of forgiveness for sin
has done more to foster vice. to I'LL our jails
with criminals and furnish candidates for the
gallows than all other causes combined.
Take the doctrine of future rewards and
punishments. The church teaches that beyond
this life and beyond this world are two condi.
lions or localities, called heaven and hell. This
heaven is a reward. But reward for what?
Good conduct mol A reward for believing
doctrines which no rational human being can
believe. This hell Is punishment. punish
ment for what? For crimes committed2 mol
For failure to believe what IDIOTS and demons
only can believe.
IL has been claimed that the good will be re-
warded and the wicked punished. None but
heretics claim this. What taught the church's
founder, Christ p
ne tnul DtlltNcln anu Is DhptlLcu SNAIL DO
saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned" Mark xvi, 16).
What taught the great exponent of Christian
"a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith Of Jesus Christ. for by
the works OF the law shall no flesh be justi-
$40 him that worlSeth not, but believeth on
MN that lustlheth the ungodly, his faith is
Therefore we conclude that a man is justi-
lied by faith without tbs deeds of the law"
What taught the founder of Professionalism,
worker Is accursed, for he walketh in the pre-
sumption OF his own righteousness" Table
"If men only believe enough I'm Christ, thoy
can commit adultery and murder a thousand
times day without periling their salvation"
"He that says the gospel requires works for
salvation, say fiat and plain he is liar"
What taught the founder Of Methodism,
Wesley referring to certain clergymen OF
England, he says:
"rhey are well pleased that their parishioners
grow more dilgent and honest. =. Nay, they
are glad that they are brought TO practice both
teach that all this is nothing before God"
(Wesey's Mis-. Works, vol. ill., p. co.
According to the teachings OF the church,
nan an may may I'VE pure and noble life and yet
Is damned. man may lead life OF vice and
crime, aud yet, II he believes, he Is saved.
You are many Of you familiar with the Mer-
rick tragedy which occurred In indianapolis
some years ago, one of the most hoartless muir
ders ever committed; A brutal wretch strikes
down in cold blood his faithful wife. The
hey. pr. Bayis, the leading Methodist divine
of Indianapolis, was Merrick's spiritual adj
wiser Al his first visit the following colloquy
took place, as reported in the indianapolis
Sentinel
Baylis ~ suppose you want me to give you
spiritual advice. We're you raised religiouslyI"
Merrick-"My parents were Methodlsts. /
was baptized ~ my infancy, and when came
to Indianapolis Joined Trinity church. attend
ing as we'll as l could"
"Do you believe In the Blblel"
YES, belle We in the Bible"
DO you believe that every word that is In
the Old and New Testamehts is true p
yes"
"Do you believe In future rewards and pun.
ishments, In heaven and hell that are endless
in duration2"
II do
"Have You any hope that If you are exc