The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1885-02-28
lincoln County Leader.
Ba.lrsay, February =, 1885.
vvra. o.rrp-. zet4.Or =. zeeep-aetss.
Sstsrsa At tho Post OHce at White
0skS, n. n. AZ second Glass matter.
INFIDELITY.


There is scarcely any denying
the fact that in!idclity is fast at
tanning a strong foot-hold in this
country. We can remember the
time when the people OF the Unit
ed States were either pronounced
protestants or Catholics, and to be
even ! Uuiversalist or Unitarian
was to invite remark the opposite
of friendly or complimentary,
while acknowledged infdels were
almost unknown. Nowadays con
troversy in the pulpit, on the plat
form, and through the newspapers,
reveal a growth Of open infdelity.
Without taking the trouble to re
view the merits Of such cortrover-
sy, the question may still be perti-
uently asked "of what benefit to
the public, either from q moral or
intellectual standpoint, are contro-
yersies Of this character Would it
make the world better, OF happier,
or wiser, if its Christianity were
utterly eliminated, and if we were
entirely given over to intidelity Z
lfthe immortality Of the soul were
proved to be myth, and the doc
triue OF future accountability cstab-
lishcd as liable unworthy OF belief,
would the world be made better or
worso!" ''If men and women were
fully convinced that they had no
immortal part, and were only like
the beagts that perish, would it
make them better men and wo-
men'' Surely & negative answer to
esch Of these qnestlons would in
voluntarily well up from the heart
Of every inquiring mind. Such
belief could only degrade humani-
ty to an infinitely lower plane than
it now occupies. Then why seek
to do mankind an injury Even
we're Christianity fable, it is al
innocent one, and is calculated to
make people better, nobler, kind
or and more sympathetic, and has
elevated mankind from Paganism
to an infinitely higher plane, and
as it has given and is giving the
greatest happiness to the greatest
number, it should therefore be sus-
tanned by every well wisher for the
improvement Of his race.
And, then, the Christians hope
the hope Of a blessed imIoortaIi-
ty hereafter-has smoothed the
death-bed Of countless millions of
the human race, and sottened the
bitter pangs of dissolution Why,
therefore, should our race be de-
prived Of this comfort and left to
60 down into the grave darkly,
hopelessly, despairingly! Tho
bitterest paug that the lnhdel
Hume ever felt, was at his moth
er's death-bed. She had been bred
q pious Scotch woman, but herson
had reasoned her out of her ra!ig
ious faith, and taught her TO be
an inhdel ike himself. The poor
soul at last lay upon her dying bed,
with the dark shadows Of the fu-
ture gathering before her, without
q satiating ray of light to iIIumine
them, and she piteously implored
her inhdel son to give her some
stay, some comfort, in place CT
that which he had taken FROM her.
But he had nothing to give, and
saw his mother die before his eyes
in the blaclett despair
There 10 nothing philanthropic,
nothing e!evating in discussing
propositions or opinions, even were
they true, which only degrade the
human race, and make it more
miserable. But it Is fortunate furus