Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-05

provincialisms of the region as a reminder OF the
quaint old La Villa upon the heights, you would
see, away there to the north, q mighty tower,
Manaca Isnaga, another relic OF that tragic time.
1t fortified tower 400 feet high, built there I'm
mediatey after the uprising or 3d. AT its top is
monstrous bell which can be heard leagues In
any direction. Twenty-four strokes OF its giant
tongue were to warn the whites In the region
about Trinidad Of another REVOLUTION del Que
mado. But the enslavement OF blacks by Cubans
ceased when the worse ensavement OF Cubans by
spain begun, and the tolllng OF the great bell
never been heard through the beautiful valley.
EDGAR l. WAKENAN
GLADSTONE ON lNGERsOLL.
The English Statesman stously Cham.
piOns the Christian Church.
SEVERE CRITICISM OF THE ATHEISTS FLIPPANCY RE-
GARDrNG THINGS SACRED 10 cRRIsrIANs-RKLI.
GEous INVESTIGATION DUrY-REsuLr OF NIGER
SOILS LOGIC.
In the North American Revie,0 for May, the
RI Hon. W. E. Gladstone rises to confront Col
Robert g. Ingersolrs beliefs The ex-premier
describes himself as listening from across
the broad Atlantic to the clash OF arms and
the combat between Col. Ingersor and DR.. Field.
He pleads guilty to not having "the personal
knowledge which assisted those doughty cham
pions In making reciprocal acknowledgements, as
broad as could be desired, with reference to per-
ments are Of high value in keeping the issue clear,
II not always OF adventitiOus, yet OF all venomous
matter. Destitute OF the experience on which to
found them as original testimonies still In at
tempting partially to criticise the remarkable re-
ply OF col. IngerSoll, can both accept In good
raith what has been said by DR.. Field, and add
the pages have set before me. Having said this
shall allow myself the utmost freedom in re-
marks, which viii be addressed exclusively to the
Believers In the perpetuity OF the life OF the
ohurch adds Mr. Gladstone, not tied to believ.
the great Latin Communion. and that Communion s1
even since the council OF the Vatican In 1870 the.
Oretically admits, or does not exclude, the posi-
Dlity OF wide range OF local and partial error In
opinion as well as conduct. Elsewhere the admis-
sion would be more uneQuivocal OF such errors
In tenet or In temper and feeling more or less
hardened into tenet, there has been a crop alike
abundant and multifarious. Each Christian party
Is Sumciently apt to recognise this fact with re-
gard TO every other Christian party; and the more
impartial and reflective minds are aware that no
party Is exempt from mischiefS which lie at the
root Of the human constitution In its warped, i'm
paired and dislocated condition. Naturally enough
these deformities help to indispose men toward
unbeliet and when this indisposition has been de-
faults Of ali the Christian bodies and Subdivisions
O bodies are, as 1t was natural TO expect they
would DC, carefully raked together and become
part and parcel OF the Indictment against the d..
vine scheme OF redemption.
HOSTILITY TO RELIGION.
notice these things In the mass, without par
uculartty which might be invidious, for two i'm
portant purposes First, that we all, who hold by
the Gospel and the Christian church may learn
humility and nodeSty, as wei as charity and In
dulgence, In the treatment OF opponents. from our
CONSCIOUSNESS that we all, alike by our exaggera-
lions and our shortcomings In belief no less than
by faults OF conduct, have contributed to bring
about this condition OF fashionable hostility 70
religious faith; and, secondly, that we may res
Olutely decline TO be held bound to tenets, or to
consequences OF tenets, which represent not the
great Chrtstendom OF the past and present, but
only some hole and corner OF its vast Organization
canker to which that treasure has been exposed
through the incident OF It's custody In earthen
vessels.
do not remember ever to have read compost
ton in which the merely local coloring OF particu
lar, and even very limited sections OF Christianity
available and legitimate argument against the
whole than In the reply before US Col. Ingersoll
writes with rare and envtable brlliancy, but also
with an impetus which he seems unable TO con-
troll DenunciatiOn, sarcasm and invectives may
be said to constitute the staple OF his work: and
II argument or some favorable admission here and
there peeps out for a moment the writer soon
leaves the dry and barren heighIS for his favorte
and more luxurious galloping grounds beneath.
my mind the impression OF a battlefield where
every man strikes at every man, and all Is noise,
Better surely had it been, and worrhier of the
great weight and elevation OF the subject II the
Controversy had been waged after the pattern of
those engagements where a chosen champion on
either side, In a space limited and reserved does
battleOn behalf or each silent and expectant host
The promiscuous crowds represent all the lower
elements which enter into human conflicts: the
chosen champions and the order OF their proceed
ing signify the dominion OF reason over force and
questions that involve the main destiny of man I
viii give another instance or the tumultuous
method in which the reply conducts, not, Indeed
its argument, but Its case Dr. Field had exhibited
an example OF what he thought superstition and
had drawn q distinction between superstition and
religion. But TO the author OF the reply all religion
ia SIM ne ri fol
"You are shocked at the Hindoo mother. when
mand Of her God. What do you think Of Abrahame
or Jephthah7 What is your opinion or Jehovah
himSelf?"
SEVERE REJ0INDER.
Taking these three appeals In the reverse order
to that in which they are written, 1 will briefly
ask as to the closing challenge: "what DO you
think OF Jehovah hfmself?" whether this Is the
tone In which controversy ought to.be carried on?
Not only is the name OF Jehovah encircled ia the
heart OF every believer with the profoundest rev.
erence ana love- but the Christian religion teaches
union with COD so lofty that IL can only be ap-
preached In a Deep reverential calm. lido not deny
that q person who deems a given religion to be
wicked may be led onward by logical consistency
TO tmpugn in strong terms the character OF the
author and object or that religion But he is surely
20 Consider ~ Wen the and or s
II he POUNDS it upon allegations Of fact, these
his antagonists reasonable evidence that Il is
truth and not temper which wings from him
sentence OF condemnation, delivered In sObriety
and sadness, and not withouta due commiseration
for those whom he Is attempting 70 undeceive
who think he u himself both deceived and Q de.
ceaver, but who surely are entitled, while this
question is in process Of decision. 70 require that
he whom they adore should at least be treated
with those decent reserves which are deemed
essential when human being, say parent, wife,
or sister, is In question. But here contemptuous
reference 20 Jehovah followA nos upon o careful
investigation Of the cases OF Abraham and Jeph-
than, 6us upon mere summary citation OF them
TO surrender themselves, 90 70 speak a. culpr1ra
That IL 70 say, summons % accept &c once on the
authority OF the reply the view which the writer u
pleased TO take OF those cAoeA
Ir Is true that he assures US In another part Of
his paper that he has read the scriptures with
care aud feel bound 70 accept this assurance
but &c the same time TO add that II Il had not been
Qfven should Tor one not have made the discov.
cry, but might have supposed that the author had
01iloped NOT through but about theeacred volume
e man Glances over the pageo o. IN ORDINARY
Newspaper or novel Although there 10 no arYu.
ment e % Abraham o. Jephthah e<pyeassd upon
the surface, We must oeoune that ono y Intended
snd is Ssems 70 Be Of TIE following kind:
ss0o 0DE1f1Dd