St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-03-24
First Truth, Problem of Oertitude--The
Second in DR.. Vests Course of
Lectures.
Hon. P. Il. Kelly Says Mr.. Campbell Will
be Confirmed as Marshal at an
Early Day.
A Heathen With White Mems Ways
Visitors to the Hotels From
Many Points.
One-Handed Smuggling - Dancing In
MIikado Costumes--Gossipo OF
the Streets.
FIRST TRUTHS.
DR.. West and HIS Hearers Through
LabyrinthS OF Thought.

Labyrinths OF Thought.
Rev. DIR. West, of the First Presbyterian
church. delivered the second lecture of the
series at the Central Presbyterian church
last evening. AS on the evening of the
previous lecture the church was crowded,
which would establish the propriety of call
ing them popular lectures, although they
have tendency to exhaust
grey matter to a considerable extent.
The large attendance indicates that there
are good many in st. Paul that are in
terested in, or are willing to be taught
something about the philosophical and
psyche metaphysical problems and
Issues that are troubling the schools
of the present age and making
more or less progress towards
popularity and the citadel of theistic re-
ligion. The interest is in itself compli-
mentary testimonial of the doctors success
in making the topics of academic groves
popularity ineligible and interesting. The
topic Of the evening was The Problem OF
Gertrude, First Truths.
The speaker alluded 10 the great systems of
philosophy spoken of in the last lecture
and which were athelstic in their essence.
There were many questions and doubts 10 be
met hy the thinking mind. Was there any
truth on which we could rely? What knowl-
edge what truth, what the relations
and uses of both? Is objective faith
getting out of the labyrinth OF problems
which present themselves, the true method
was necessary, and the first problem TO be
studied was man himself.
There were in the mind intuitive truths
which were as certain as God himself was
certain and the demonstration OF many other
truths rested on them. Some of these priml-
tive truths were: Cod the SOUL cause,
power, substance, matter, will, space, inhn-
.ty, right, wrong, good, beautiful, law, obli-
cation, independent and the absolute.
THESE PRIMITIVE TRUTHS
were the natural beliefs of every mind. They
were seen directly by the human reason as
The eye sees the stars. They were ultimate
realities beh nd which the soul could not
20. They were seen, not proved; given, not
acquired; data, not DEDUCTIONS. They were
gell-eVident truths which were inn lanted in
every breast, and anythn that contradicts
hem was necessarily false. They were revela-
lions from God in the soul of man. They were
the staple Of philosophical thinking and all
philosophers, ancient and modern, had been
affirming, denying or modifying them. II
was important that we begin Alright in study
ing them. and the various systems of false
philosophy abroad in the world were
the results of false beginnings
of taking for granted or affirming some prin-
ciple regarding some of them such as the as
ferent forms of the same thing. Spinoza and
Hume were the two giants of our unrest
and when these were answered
all other skeptics were answered.
The growth of the sciences was the result of
a separation Of these from theology and
metaphysics, although the separation
was conventional and not absolute
Physics, metaphysics and theology melted
into and threw light on each
Dther. Evolution crowds all into a single
atom, a blind force. We do not doubt that
we doubt. 1t was its own proof, as the
shining of the sun was its proof Of shining.
The agnostic was certain Of what
was somewhat doubtful, and was doubtful
pf what most certain. He knew that the
hid not know that he knew anything. By the
Study of ourselves we learned the reality of
our own thought, the reality of ourselves.
Ind the reality of distinction between self
md thought. Here is an act of thinking, of
iaith, Of knowing. These intuitive truths
ne know by their self-evidence, their necessity,
their universally, and their simplicity. A
nan would perceive one of these truths, then
mother and finally he will look up and say
"Thou" and IL" The belief in q distinct
personality was the most important primitive
ruth. By a knowledge of self we rise to q
knowledge of the personality of God,
distinct from ourselves and the universe. By
M intuitive idea of duty we rise to an ac-
ceptance of the overruling providence of
God and his retributive laws.