Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-27
A BELIEF IN GOD.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.

Vel III Uou. WHHc DcucSlIS III
Supreme Being, or great first cause,
the infidel rejects the Bible as His re-
vealed word given through direct in
spiration. just as the Indian "sees
God in Clouds" the infidel sees Him in
all animated nature. II would be un-
fair to Judge the whole membership
of church by some POOR, unworthy
member whose standing is very low;
even the most prejudiced ought to adj
NIT that it is equally unfair TO con-
denim a whole class of people on ac-
count of few. II is said that "Satan
finds mischief for idle hands" and it is
probable that his Satanic Maj
esty finds much more lin
proportion) for protesting believers,
than for the class to whom A. l.. 7.
refers. If death be an eternal sleep,
if there is no court hereafter whose
decisions are infallible, where the
wrongs aud injustices of this life are
righteously adjusted, and every man
receives the just reward of his acts,
there is little left to restrain outbursts
of passion, lust and hatred" Alas
for the honesty and morality of the
man whose fear of future punishment
is the chief motive actuating him. In
speaking ofimmortality, Tennyson in
his "Memoriam' says, ave have but
faith, we cannot know" but he thinks
that if humiliation is our destiny then
life is futile, as it is frail. Another
author, whose tendency is toward ma
terialism says, ITO live in hearts we
leave beh ind, is not to die"
Again, Tenuyson says, "'Tis better
to have loved and lost. than never TO
have loved at ALL and why not say
"Twere better TO have lived and died,
than never to have lived at ALL" How
many beautiful lives we may see, if
we are observant enough, whose gov
erning motive is to do right because
it is right, not wasting strength and
time in vain vain. futile speculations,
concerning the unknowable future. II
may be taken for granted that | have
not much faith in life TO come"
Such, however, is not the case. AS
soon would doubt the fact of my ex-
istence as that the soul of man is i'm
mortal. But that is no reason should |
expect everybody else to believe the
same way. Christianity, pure, consist
ent and devoid of bigotry is sublime. |
1t is not more christianity, but more
humanity that is needed to bring about
happier state of affairs on this nun
dane sphere. When we turn the pages
of history and read of many grand |
men who have had the pride and cour-
age of manhood tortured out of them
in the mining prisons of Russia, where
the head of the government rules by |
divine right, recognizing the bible as
the only authority, it is only natural
to ask where is the humanity in that
government? And yet if the proposed
amendment to our constitution-that
of making the bible the foundation of
law aud Christ the acknowl-
edged ruler-becomes law. just
such scenes of barbaric cruelty
IS were witnessed in Cotton
Mather's time, may be repeated all
over our land, for the hands would
then turn backward upon the dial.
Think of Boston in the early days and
contrast it with the Boston of to-day!
There will be found the headquarters
of infidelity and adherents of every
"ism', and yet it is the very center of
culture.
Mr.. Editor, this is notably an age of
progress and advanced thought. Not
only men, but women also, are finding
the old conventional ruts and grooves
too narrow, and consequently they
branch out and form new ones. We
need not follow them. But mark this:
those men and women are broad and
liberal. They do not say, "This is the
only right PATH" but over chasms be-
tween these ruts and those made by
other "dissenters," they reach out the
hand of fellowship. To these original
minds we owe debt of gratitude, for
they have given us much that is valu-
able in literature and science, and it
doesn't seem right TO give the devil
any of the credit of their work.
While unbelievers who scof are not
entitled TO the least respect, there is a
large class of "honest doubters," as
the Rev. Joel Harper called them, in a
sermon preached not long ago in ,
Wichita. Your correspondent would
like to make one of Mr.. Harper's con-
gregation occasionally, but lacking the
will be glad to read more
Of his sermons in the EAGLE. Such
ministers will do much toward stem.
ming the tide of infideIIty, because of
he kindly spirit of charity evinced by {
hem. UNA.
SENECA, Feb. 81. !