Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-05-11
sscULAslsM vs- cHRsTIANlrr
The Greet -losrai Lss1er Charles
1atts. al Po@sfs. $. Lsst Night

~ s.ttsf a4l-ttf w tt.e fAlt'+sfiAtasta+ft--
aa.i- llsf zeek. Charlie s. alts. "a i-elioa.
IL a.fiana. leeiare6 st posaH-' tltera hsu-e
...-t ligaL agol -,-ca-.rl-al .nd Christi
4aIls large s3llal4ee llsteuet - the
GESTURE. aealIl every seat on ths tsg losef
H.ar- aeIns aeoap.s na uallber 9f per
-oas an lls r1ira t-os las cadence 'zls i
ss,dealis eonrased targets II psoe-s sho
lbias fa,oosls 3i liberalism. e. sho-u - TIE
fact .faf a.e lsale 9i llosns- Plle So re
oslsed isiin hearty appiaa.e ehen mentioned i
- = alaa zho aai come tree thought cub
soall,ns g. sell, lld 90 allo@ed - csu a.
teut.an t9 thsu aeuls before the speaker
sas Introduced. samuel +. Putnam. af
Aea YORK also made fes remarks before
Nf Watt appeared urgiaz uQon hberalist-
snd freethilkefs the importance of organ
izsuon. dc -ald that ths American Secular
Iniou uo@ aunber- over zo ffeethoaght
societies.
Mr. Watts began b. saying mat il Is very
unfortalats that gre q traths are sometime.
summed - society. and religious opinions
are tested only by their POPULARITY. he then
described the condition of the world shen
taat, although It wls intended To correct the
evils then existing, it had entirely failed 10
d. 30 4ftsg a trial ot ls0 years The a-cet-
ic.-ln ~ Christi teachings passed away
aitnin nflJ years after the death Of 81. Paul
Then Christianity took another fofm--the
cremonial-vh hich prevailed until the rofOr-
nation. Christianity a. taught by Christ
a.. f.-
lians to-day .ay great -tres- upon the cou-
linuity ~ their faith What is Christianity
IN one country l. not Christianity m another.
IL England Il is merely garb Of respectabil
IT,. Ia the United States L. j. more Of CON
, mercil pursuit After lsoo years il has
failed to correct the evils 0f society. IL has
/ hal fair trid ha. used untold wealth, nas
been supported by vast armies and set has
+ failed About the be- ginning Of the ulne-
.eenth century new era began % dawn
/ The speaker. Thought he had a better religion
I in ths fogln Of Secularisn- religion that
| h nearer la accordance with Christs teach-
ing Christ Denounced priest craft SO de-
Ne. said the speaker. The same may be
J said OF hypocrisy. We seek 20 destroy the
I errors OF Christianity ana preserve it,
+ truths. Seoalarism j. intended 70 be devOt-
+ al more 10 time than to eternity. II Is
I based upon justice. truth, love and fidelity
I Ii l. destructive I'd constructive. Ii means
+ % destroy false religion and build
~ pure. healthy religion,
I based upon the enlightenment of mankind.
I The speaker would first deny biblical idola-
try ne dad not want 10 destroy the Bible,
but objected To IT, being idohzed. In short,
/ 90 would destroy its errors and preserve IT.
I truths he could accept the Bible as
whole. He would have Bible composed OF
.he brilliant thoughts OF the best and bright
est men Of all ages, complied, and cemented
together with tine advanced aud enlightened
ideas Of the Nineteenth Century. Then he
would destroy human depravity. OF course
ne believed IN human depravity. We can't
help it, be said; We see too much of It, We
would kill II by releasing children
from the inhuenee of priestcraft. Next,
We would destroy theological suprem-
acy. Theology reigned supreme for a thous-
and years and that period will ever be known
a. the dark ages. And then We would de
troy belief IN the fall of man. and in the
atonenent. With 80 much destruction there
must bee Construction. We would place
reason before the Bible. Reason Is greater
than the Bible because the Bible has been
improved By reason. Reason l. the basis of
our belief. We appeal To your heart through
your head. not TO your head through your
heart NJ the Christian Tevivalists do. We
do not want 10 convert you
unless we can do so through
your reason aud Judgment. II you believe
that Christianity l. right it II your duty to
cling 20 your faith. We believe IN giving
supreme attention TO the affairs of this world.
We don't pretend to know much about the
next world, IL there Is one. If there Is another
world, you will not be questioned as to your
creed when you 20 there. If in this world
you are true 70 yourselves and just 70 others
You will be sure OF the best that immortality
affords.
Mr. Watts is an orator. and his discourse
was interpreted with many anecdotes and
witty sayings, somewhat like IDgersoll,
Jokes. but of a higher order.