Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-04
TIE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ASSOCIATION.


This Society held its fourth regular meet.
ing Wednesday night at the residence of Mr..
and Mrs. Nusbaum, on Eleventh street. The
esssyist of the evening was Rev. d. j.
Becker; subject: SIS our knowledge of
Gods existence innate?' Notwithstanding
the metaphysical aspect of the subject, and
the close application of mind required to
grasp ard hold such proposition, profound
interest was awakened, both in the essay and
in the discussion, and lively conversation en-
sued Mr.. Becker's paper was clear, con-
else and thoughtful production. L began by
de6ni G such terms as innate knowledge,
i" first truths, intuitions, primitive be-
liefs," and then followed the development of
the main proposition, with illustrations and
numerous quotations from eminent suthori-
ties in favor of the doctrine of " innate
ideas" concerning Gods existence. 1t was
shown that innate knowledge Is ~ not truth
written prior to consciousness upon the SUBJ
stance of the soul, which would imply ma.
terialistic view of the soul; ~ it is not
actual knowledge CT which the soul finds
itself in possession at birth, since the soul
has no such knowledge; 49, 1t is not sn idea
undeveloped at birth, but which has the
power of self-deve.opment apart from obser-
walton and experience.
But innate knowledge, though developed
upon occasion Of observation aud reflection,
is not derived from observation and retisc'
ton. This view ia sustained by Kant in his
"Critique OF Pure Reason y Cousin, in his
True, Beautiful and Good" Porter, in "Hu-
man Intellect" McCosh, in Intuitions. ]"
As McCosh says, the idea of Gods existence
ia innate. Man does not need to go after
this knowledge it comes to him. There are
three criteria by which we msy test an intu-
ition, or innate idea d. Innate knowledge
of Gods existence is universal all men man
ifest practical belief in this doctrine. There
is no tribe or nation Of atheists. Y Innate
knowledge of Gods existence is necessary /;
the mind is compelled by its very constitu-
ton to recognize this fact upon the occurrence
of proper conditions. t3.) This primary
knowledge has logical Independence of all
other knowledge. These innate ideas can be
resolved into no others and proved by no
others. In other words, our nature is SO
constituted IS to perceive certain things to be
true without proof or instruction.
There are three kinds of intuitions: a.
Our sense-perceptions are intutions. We
see and learn, and we intuitively know that
we see and hear without proof or instruction.
~ There are intuitions of the intellect Ak
IONS or self evident propositions. Man does
not need to be taught that every effect must
have cause; that a part is less than the
whole that there is a God, future state,
solemn murmur in the soul
Tells OF world TO be-
As travellers hear the pillows roll
Before they reach the sea.
The Bible does not prove the existence of
God. 1t takes for granted that man knows
this truth already; that his mental constitu.
ton is such that hs cannot conscientiously
deny it. g. Thsre are moral intuitious by
which man instinctively knows the distiuc,
ton of right and wrong, the obligation Of
virtue and moral responsibility. No man
needs to be taught these things. All these
intuitions may be developed by observation
and reflection, and the right use of all our
faculties. While the origin of our belief in
the existence of God is intuitive, reason may
confirm and develop the idea. Tn at God ex-
lists, is innate what God is, reason and
revelation explain.
There is no question that the devout schol-
arship of the world to-day is on the side of
innate ideas regarding the existence of God.
A vast majority of German, and constantly
increasing number of English and American
theologians and metaphysicians, hold this
view. Stars of the first magnitude, forming
brilliant galaxy of names, might be men
toned as indorsing this intuitive knowledge
of Gods existence. Calvin, Nitzsch, Muller.
Ulrici, Porter, Hickok, Farrar, Hodge, Cal
derwood, Liddon, Tholuck, Whately, Jevons,
Van Oosterzee, Afford, Sir William Hamil.
ton and others are but samples of this class.
The essay was thoroughly discussed by
nearly all present. Mr.. Henry did not accept
the doctrine Of the paper. He presented,
with earnestness and cogelcy, some argu-
ments on the other side of the question.
While he admitted tnat our ideas of space
and time and personal identity are innate, ne
did not believe that the existence of God be-
longed to this class. The next meeting will
be held in the psrlors of the Langham Hotel.
Mrs Nusbaum will read paper on Mate.
rialism, 50 to be followed by selection from
Rev. Joseph Porter, Of London, or The
Sympathy Of Science, as rendered by Hux-
ley the Noleculite, John Stuart the Millite,
and Tyndsll the Sadducee. Six or eight of
the best lecturers in California on science and
have already been secured for a
course Of lectures 10 March, April and May,
under the auspices of the Christian Science
Association. All these lectures will BE of
religio scientific character, and will deal with
live issues in their bearing upon modern SCI
ence and the Bible.