Wichita eagle., 1886-09-21
..INGERSOLLSM.''

The lecture of Rev. Hughey on "Ingersol-
ISM at the First NJ. E. church last evening.
was not, considering the charitable object
for which it was given, as largely attended
as might have been expected.
After an introduction by Rev. Hodson. the
speaker without much preliminarles took up
the main points Of his subject. His briiiiancy
and depth of thought and the eloquence with
which he delivered his lecture, held the at
tention OF the audience from the beginning
to end.
Man and freedom was the first point to
which he called attention. According to In
gersolism man is but an automaton, subject
to an undertaking law and without freedom
of action or thought; the same atoms that
combine to make the brain of a thief coinbln-
ing only differently to form the brain OF the
Judge who tried him. Such n rule said the
speaker, would make all legal restraint q
farce and impossibility. Such teachings as
that are an insult to intelligence. and the
more that they are examined the more ridic-
ulous and absurd they become. Mr.. HuShey
said he admitted and accepted the doctrines
OF Huxley and other great scientists, so
far as they have been proved by experiment,
and no further When these men pose before
the world as lecturers and teachers OF reilg-
ion they loose their force and power. Every
man is free to act .as he will, the limitation
only being his ability. The whole doctrine
of ,naterialism is in contradiction OF the con
science and reason OF man.
Mr.. Ineersol, he said, denied the existence
of a God but Acknowledges the eternal exist
ence of matter There must be q creator III
order to have created matter Matter or
mind then. is eternal: which is it. The aethe-
ist say matter, and that mind is only Its
product after force has taken hold OF II. The
RELIGIOUS man believes mind is eternal and
matter is created. The tiniest stone to the
largest planet is formed by plan: if We so
the deepest stratas we find design and plan.
Everywhere and running through all things
in existence is the appearance OF design.
The aetheist, however, will not give this
sensaless matter to the world III this gulse,
but he clothes it with life and calls it force.
The bridge at St Louis was in the mind OF
Capt. Fades, the designer, before 1T spanned
the Mississippi same with the sculptor and
the painter; they have the design OF their
work in their minds before formed from the
marble or upon the canvass. This idea OF
trial and failure which the ATHEIST advances
is revolving to the mind of a conscientious
man.
He then quoted Hume's memorable remark
about miracle, aud said miracle Is nm
possible only if there be no God. A miracle
depends upon proof, and the Lord IS working
as powerful miracles today as ever he did
before: tho conversion of one soul being in
fnitely greater than the raising of Lazarus.
The origin of life is miracle in itself it
sprang from chaos at the word of God.
The speaker then called attention to what
might be called the more practical part OF
his subject. the effect of this kind of teaching
upon humanity. Voltaire although perhaps
the greatest of French writer's was one OF the
most wicked Rousseau by his own con-
fesion was villain. The reign of terror was
an example of a population entirely be-
yond all religious control, and the terrible
effect is only too well known. Religion tends
to govern man by controlling his conscience,
throw this away and you viii have an end to
all human society. The greatest enemy OF
man i, the greatest enemy of God, the high
priest of atheism. How true does this APP
pear in the irreligious anarchists that strive
to overthrow man ana his government In
oersol is doing all he can to overthrow the
nation: and the ministers Of God to build 1t
uD. If anarchists succeed in their object II
requires bavonet5 and soldiers tc bring order
out Of the confusion, Napoleon took the
sword to quell the revolution; and again
General Bazine took arms TO queil the COM
mune.
Ingersol says the highest duty of man Is to
be happy, and to be happy is to make others
happy. But men seek happiness in different
WAYS. All men do not as Socrates did seek
happiness in thought. Generally, take away
religious influence and men seek to do evil
When we see this condition of affairs and to-
wards which we are now drifting, thought
full men may well trenlble for the safety Of
the country.
''Besides. BIr IngersOl does not believe
one word he says" the speaker remarked IN
conclusion and then rea ling from his works,
pointed out their many Inconsistencies.