Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-01-05
THE FUTURE LIFE.

No one who has ever heard Ingersoll lee
turc will deny that he is rare orator His
word-painting is wonderful, his eloqucncc
cntrancing. Thus far in his crusade against
Christianity this skcptic has appeared in
the eyes Of his followers a giant against
pigmics. He has encountered an adversary
however, seeming in every way his equal,
even in his own pcculiarticS of rhetoric, to
judge from the following extract taken from
| Il sermon delivered on last Sunday. or the
occasion Of the dedication OF the church of
the Annunciation at Kansas City, Mo-, by
| by Rev. Father David :. Phclan, well
known as the editor of the UcstcrR Ijdtci-
man. Having asserted that ''thc idea ofthe
soul aud the faith in its Immortality must
have come down from above, rs earth could
not have taught it, nor could death have
inspired it." the reverend father said:
''lr there is no hereafter, then life is one
long debauch, and the highest education is
to know how to find and how best to enjoy
pleasure. If there is no hereafter virtue is
Il deceit and hcroism is Il lie. See that
young man bleeding from 4 hundred wounds.
He died in defense Of a sisters honor.
If there is no hereafter that noblcst OF deeds
will go forever unrcwarded. See that young
sister in the hospital bending over Il victim
of the plague; tomorrow she will succumb.
and rapid ride and a hasty sepulturc will
reward her devotion. ftherc is no here
after her charity met sorry requital See
that man holding an allrighted child at the
window of burning building. He holds it
long enough for Il sturdy companion to grasp
it from below, and he then falls back into
his fiery tomb. lftherc is no hereafter, such
sacrifice is heartlcss and unmeaning cruelty.
Sec that troop Of soldiers marching by to
the beating of the drum. Their country has
called, and they go to defend her honor on
the battlefield. They follow that flag into
the thick Of the fight and when the buglc
sounds the retreat few return from the car
mage. Those brave soldiers died with their
face to the foe, and a smile was stamped on
their features in death. If there is no here
after their heroism was suicide and their cour-
age Il moclery of fate. Earthly life is closed
i'll death: the grave terminates all consort
and association with things of time but,
waited above the bier, the wreck, the tomb,
floats the sweet voice of God, saying: II am
the life"
Contrast the above with the following
from one of Colonel 1ngersoll's lectures, and.
beautiful and tender rs is the language of the
infidel orator, that of Father Phelan loses
nothing by the comparison:
Next to eternal joy next to being forever
with those we love and those who have
loved us; next TO that is to be wrapped in
the dream-ikc drapery Of eternal death.
Upon the shadowy shore of death the sea of
trouble casts no wave. Even that have been
curtained by the everlasting dark will never
know again the touch Of tears. Lips that
have been touched by the eternal 81
lcnce will never utter anotherword Of grief.
Hearts Of dust do not break. The dead do
not weep
The Kansas City Journal, publishing the
sermon. says that his subject matter was
only cqualcd by the grace and charm of its
delivery. 1t is hardly likely that Mr.. In
gcrsoll will attempt to ridicule this Catholic
priest, as he has SO many assumed defenders
Of the Christian faith. Father Phclan is
master Of the weapons Mr.. Ingersoll uses,
and the iniidcl orator must eat porrid-c
from his own dish in on encounter with this
Knight Of the Cross.-Fhiia. Record