Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-16
ssThe Failures Of Unbelief.,,
JOSEPH COOK ATTACKS NATERIALlSN AND DEFEND


CHRISTIANITY.
AT the Congregational church last evening
large audience listened to Joseph Cooks lecture on
''The Failures Of Unbelief." The greater part Of
the lecture was devoted to an attack upon mate
Hallsrn- The lecturer described the modern mate
lists as small band OF writer's, who were, In imi-
tation Of ancient military tactics, marching round
and round the mill OF London journalism. to convey
the impression that they were an unending host
Young thinkers in all parts OF the world he said.
We're apt to mistake the tread OF this insignificant
battalion for the march OF the mighty army OF
human progress. Materialsts, the speaker said,
mad Dut little influence In the domain OF modern
tnoughI He proceeded at great ieng,n 10 10
matter propounded by Prof. Alexander Balm, which
he characterized as the subtlest ever put forth
The course or argument adopted by the speaker In
regard TO mateltalism was precisely similar In
style and matter TO that which formed the greater
portion OF his lecture. "DOeS Death End All" The
remainder OF the lecture devoted TO Or1e1 re-
view or lnnde1ty and eclect1CiSn. Which, tcgetner
with uatertalisln. he said. Was supported on the
the four pillows Of unbeiief, namely: denial OF
Goa. Of immortality Of guilt, and OF he'll. He de-
Scribed an interview held with a celebrated London
physoogist. whose name he would not give puoilclS
Or Lionel Beale, in which he asked him certain
questions as to life and its origin. The answer
gwen by that great authority who Wa, was evi-
ceded organism and was the cause OF
1t. II life preceded the body, there was no reason
to suppose that it would not exist after the body
The one was no more marvellous than the other.
Lie was to the body the harper TO the harp, not
as the harmony to the harp. II the harp Is De
stroyed, the harper still lives The question put by
the ancient naterialiSt was "Where Is the song OF
the bird after the bird has been deyoured by the
edgiP!"
In the second phase Of his Subtect-infiielity-
the lecturer quoted Thomas Paine as the exponent.
and after giving him credit tor what portion on
his writings had accomplished In the cause oi No.
erfy. he spoke OF him a common Grunkaid. the
butt OF chiiiren and the shame OF thinking men.
Who would wish 10 have the teachings OF Sich i
man as support in the dying hour: lnt1deliiy. ne
years. II builds no asylUins, and Is not the ami
mating motive Of any good Or lasting talng III tis
world Its most distinguished apostle OF the present
time has borrowed all his arguments from Paine,
SO lar as they can be said to he arguments.
Ec1ecttciSm, the lecturer said, was picking Out q
few points from Christianity and q lew from I'D
eraltsI, and combining them all together to form
system of belief. This lavender liberalism had
placed the throne OF the universe on rockers, and
on the throne not father but a grandfather: lie
protested against any stretching OF biblical doc
Irines which shut out the necessity OF personal
surrender TO God. In order TO obtain deliverance
for the guilt and love OF sim he maintained, there
must be consent as well as assent.
''WOrk out your own salvation with fear ana
trembling for 1t is God that WOrheth In you both TO
Will and TO do his good pleasure quoted the lee
turer The first clause is good Armenianism and
the latter clause good Calvinism- The whole Is
good Christianity.